What was the reason for male circumcision when it started in ancient times?

Question

I know that now people do it because of hygiene reasons, but why did the practice start at all? Does it affect a man's sexual life at all? What is the difference between circumcised and not?

Answer 1

http://www.cirp.org/library/history/ try this website it seems this has been im practice for quite awhile

Answer 2

The jews say that because Abraham told God that this would be the sign of his sons. But if we think about this, Jews actually lived in the desert and the sand could get inside there and this would mean trouble... In Japan, the Samurais used to be circumcised or they could also just show the head of the penis, this meant power or something. Then, in Egypt, the pharaohs used to be circumcised for the same reason: It was a sign of power... But then again, it was probably because of the sand too...
Then, your second question. It doesn't affect a man's sexual life. Although those who aren't circumcised have more nerves (the nerves in the foreskin) than those who have been circumcised, it doesn't make them reach climax faster or anything, I mean, if you never felt the nerves of the foreskin because it was removed at birth, then your body won't know the difference and you'll reach climax the same time as if you had never had been circumcised, it all depends on the person.

Answer 3

According to the story about Abraham, God initiated circumcision.Imagine being circumcised using a stone as the knife. God used it as a sign or covenant between Him and His people. The seed of Abraham would be scattered among other people.God knew about this and the effect. A covenant is a contract and God wants the heart to be circumcised.All the fleshy or worldly things that separate man and God have to be removed.Paul the Apostle characterizes some sins as carnal; and no doubt they were around a long time. people respond in different ways. Someone who was circumcised as a baby may know the flesh is missing but life goes on.People with a missing finger, foot,eye, appendix,kidney still function.How well depends on the evaluator amd the degree of comparison.

Answer 4

It was because of cleanliness. It was invented by the Hebrews/Jews and was because the sand would get trapped in the foreskin (they lived by/on sand back then) and it would be very not hygenic. Circucised do not have foreskin, so no skin covers the head of the penis, and uncircumcised have some skin covering the head.
It does not affect a mans sexual life, though sometimes problems occur and circumcision is a must for basic sexual functions.

Answer 5

Some religions didn't believe it was good for a man/boy to be handling himself, so taking the extra time to clean was considered wrong. That led to the misconception that the foreskin caused the infections. The problem wasn't the foreskin but the lack of hygiene. Rather than change the religious tenet that one shouldn't handle yourself, they proscribed circumcision.

Answer 6

in ancient times hygeine was a very important matter. It was thought that different kinds of infestation would hide in the foreskin. Later, medical science discovered that this was a true belief and the practice continued.

Nowdays, almost all males are circumcised at birth.

Answer 7

It was to be a sign that Abraham and his family had been separated by God for Himself. Now it is done in the heart and the physical circumcision is not needed.

Answer 8

In the old testament of the bible, it tells us that a covenant between God and Abraham existed. As a physical sign of this covenant, all men who were Jewish and followed this covenant were circumcised.

Answer 9

it started out as a covenant between God and Abraham that as long you are circumcised, you will have the blessings of God. its a Jewish tradition.

Answer 10

The Jews were the first to be circumcized, and they did it to set themselves apart as a culture from the rest of the world.

Answer 11

It began with the Jews as a covenant with God. A physical reminder that they are Jews.