God established religion in order to restore fallen man through indemnity. Through religion, God is teaching the method to strengthen a God-centered spirit and the method to reverse the dominion of the physical body over human life and character. This is why religion requires fasting, sacrificial service, a meek and humble attitude, and other such things. These are methods to reduce the force of the physical body and make the body obey the spirit. Usually it takes from three to five years to get rid of life habits centered on the physical body and to create a new lifestyle centered on the spirit.