What is the significance of circumcision in religion?

Question

I know that many Jewish boys are circumcised but why? Also some Muslims and Christians do this. What does it mean to their religious beliefs? I have read where some people compare it to female genitalia mutilation. What are your thoughts on the comparison?
Love & Light
Sharon
One Planet = One People

Answer 1

Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, share the same spiritual patriarch - the prophet Abraham. It was Abraham through God's commands who was the originator of the practice of circumcision (for these religions). In Judaism it is a religious mandate to be followed. For Muslims it is more of a firm tradition than a religious obligation - since it is not mentioned in the Quran. However the Hadith (a supplementary compilation of teachings/sayings) does mention circumcision and it is prescibed for hygienic purposes. Christians largely do not practice circumcisions because it was deemed unessential when Christianity was first breaking away from Judaism and its traditions.

Though large part of the medical establishment deems circumcision unnecessary it is used to treat some medical conditions. However many people do claim that it is a negative, outdated and an unjustified form of mutilation when practiced on baby boys.

I don't think male circumcision can be compared to female genital mutilation since FGM is used to control and/or eradicate a woman's sexuality while male circumcision is based on religious and cultural customs and on the belief that circumcision leads to better sexual health and hygiene. These beliefs in favor of male circumcision might be unwisely founded but the intentions are mostly benign and the practice rarely leads to disfigurement and long-term pain. In contrast, female genital mutilation is a distorted and brutal cultural (and sometimes distorted religious) custom that doesn't take into account a woman's sexual health, on the contrary it tampers with a woman's sexual health and damages it for life.

Answer 2

Any religious nutcase can claim that some god or other told him to do such-and-such. Abraham heard voices and saw visions---to me these are obvious symptoms of schizophrenia. In antiquity, crazy people and even epileptics were thought to be "touched by the gods." Jim Jones claimed that some deity or other told him things, also, and look what happened there...... It should be illegal to force genital mutilation, called circumcision, on minor males, as it is illegal to circumcise female minors. Some primitive tribes practice female circumcision as a religious rite, but it's still illegal............ Males should have the same protection under the law, and for precisely the same reasons. And when they hack off infants' foreskins in hospitals, they are sold for use in cosmetic creams and some research. (google foreskin cosmetics, if you don't believe me..." The unscrupulous doctors charge people for mutilating their sons' penises, and then turn around and sell the hacked-off foreskins for about $300 each, claiming that it's "medical waste," to get around the law prohibiting the sale of body parts-----that's expensive "medical waste," isn't it? So much for ethics in medicine. Circumcision is a fraud and a hoax. A foreskin is not a birth defect; it is a birthright. ERIC

Answer 3

FINALLY. Something I can disagree with Jim_Darwin about! Christians are not generally mandated to circumcise their children. (E.g., Catholics outside the U.S. rarely do.)

While it isn't as barbaric as the (misnamed) female equivalent, it is certainly just one more form of ritual mutilation. It was (and is) a fairly common vestigial tribal practice. Some do ears, or lips, or noses, etc. There is no end to the silliness humans can foist on themselves.

UPDATE: All the folks who think it originated as some sort of concession to cleanliness will have to take some courses on anthropology. In any case, the way those folks lived this was the least of their problems with hygiene.

Answer 4

It was an old testament requirement by God, but it is no longer required under God laws or covenents.

It makes absolutly no difference to do it or not do it according to faith. It was a ritual required by God like the other answers indicate, similar to slaying a lamb, as an offering of obedience to God in the old testament.

Since Jesus died on the cross and shed his blood for the payment of our sins, God discontinued the need for the practice of the old covenents/requirements.

Therefore, being circumcised is basically a personal preference. I prefer - non-circumcision, since God said men don't have to do it any more. Why put a baby through the pain unnecessarily.

The Jewish faith (God Chosen people) still believe in it. Thats because, as it states in the Bible, God had put a veil over their hearts (about believing in Christ) because they would not turn from their sins. So they still believe in alot of the old testament beliefs. God will one day "uncover" their eyes and they will believe in the Holiness of Christ. READ ROMANS 11 for the full story.

Answer 5

Wow, I read some of the other answers first, and I am amazed! People, let's remember what the world was like back then--pretty dirty. People didn't shower or bathe every day, and I'm sure that being uncircumsized caused plenty of trouble for the men! So, a man (who was probably a religious person) decided that cutting off the foreskin would improve cleanliness and there would be less infections.

Answer 6

When my boys were born, I couldn't bear the thought of causing them even a moment of pain, and I couldn't kid myself into thinking that a circumcision is painless. My older son's doctor was an older guy, and told me stories about how Christian males getting circumcised now is a result of WW2, something about creating confusion. But, that same doctor told me that it's not necessary for medical or cleanliness reasons, and I didn't have to let my boys hurt. Win-win.

Answer 7

It's a matter of cleanliness that started in pre-Jesus times. The idea was that the foreskin only produced uncleanliness in men and to remove the skin was an act of purity not only for yourself, but to your faith because it showed that the person or family strives for cleanliness in all aspects. However, post-Jesus, we aren't as concerned with cleanliness purely because grace is passed on to all regardless of their previous cleanliness beliefs. Gentiles would often eat the meat of "unclean" animals and wouldn't be circumcised. However, Jesus opened the door for all to gain salvation regardless of the faith a person was raised in. Some still do it to be normal. Others do it for religious reasons. Some don't. Anymore, it's a matter of preference.

Answer 8

In Judaism a Bris Milah (circumcision) is a sign of the covenant between G-d and the Jewish people.

Answer 9

no Christians don;t circumcise their kids in a way jewish circumise,i don;t know about the muslims. For christian it should be a circumcision of ones heart(not litteraly) meaning that one who's christian should make his heart pure full of love for the Lord,to love God with all your soul,all your being,all your mind. God Bless.

Answer 10

yes all muslim must do circumcision in order to keep a high degree of cleaningliness.for each five times compulsory prayer to GOD .Every muslim must be free from all dirt including traces of urine left after each piss if it is not ceaned . the best way to clean traces of urine and to avoid infection is to have a circumcision and use water to clean after every piss. the rate of infection is much less in those who carry out circumsion and female circumcision is only a tradition mostly by egyptions and it is not prescribed by religion.