I was brought up in a Christian religion but have never felt a closeness to god. I have looked for a god but searching is useless when there is nothing to find.

I can't say it's a closer way to God but I can say it's a closer way to understanding poverty.
A week of mild starvation could easily remind us that people are starving everywhere involuntary.

It's one religious practice by Muslims that I've come to respect called Ramadan.
Only thing is that there's a bit of gift sharing that includes food or meats and money that is usually given to those that have and not the have nots.
A Form of Christmas of sorts.

I tried all kinds of self sacrificing strategies too. Yes, many times, I thought I was getting close to god. Yet, the very fact that I felt the need for so much effort, along with the fact that I didn't like or know god very well, but wouldn't admit, all kept me from feeling close.

Nope. Never had that. And I have done some deprivation training in the past. It makes me more introspective, then universally solvent...haha...the crusaders used to fast to get to a ecclesiastic euphoria...but if you take the religion out of it....just euphoria...I don't really remember how I felt, only that I learned to function with minimal food.

No, I have never felt that and fail to see what not eating has to do with it at all really.

You could probably achieve the same much faster by hyperventilating.

Food deprivation will lead to mental distress - hallucinations, lucid dreaming, disorientation, euphoria etc. It's just a chemical/neurological imbalance and has no objective meaning, just like a drug trip.

Once again, great opportunity to write up an encyclopedia with tons of arguments and rational examples but instead here is the best answer to your question..... NO.

My father-in-law did a fast for 28 days. Nearly killed himself.He's a Bhuddist, so he claims he felt Bhudda supporting him the whole time. I think the human brain needs calories to function correctly...

I once did 14days hunger strike too.
Back when I was religious. It was my final year in college, and I wanted god to grant me wisdom, knowledge and understanding.
Oh how much I have suffered from the hands of ignorance.

If Gawd is your toilet, I guess....

Nope. It hasn’t happened in connection with god. This type of psychological response is correlated with anything that you believe may bring about positive changes in your life: being admitted to a graduate school you like, getting an amazing job, falling in love, etc.

Wow, with another week of not eating you had a good chance to settle this god question once and for all.