Encratism, in ancient Christian scholarship, usually refers to the practice of radical renunciation within early Christian tradition. It often includes sexual renunciation (Celibacy), fasting (Fasting/Abstinence), vegetarianism, and abstinence from wine. There is little evidence for an organized encratite movement; rather, many individual Christians chose to use the Greek term ἐγκράτεια to describe a variety of renunciatory practices that ranged from sexual renunciation for the elite Christian practitioner to sexual (Sexua…