Is the foreskin an example of intelligent design?

Question

How so?

If you're after more information on this part of the anatomy:

http://tlctugger.com/Media/Circumcision_WM7NTSC_256k_D.wmv

-presented in an objective fashion by a medical doctor

Answer 1

I have always found circumcision the most bizarre expectation of the biblical god.

Am I to believe that god was offended by skin at the end of the penis he created? Am I to believe that god really needed to have the skin of penises removed to know who was and who wasn't his follower?

I just don't buy it. I don't believe a supreme being would require something as stupid as that. Say you think people should be circumcised... say you think it's easier to keep clean that way... say what ever you want, but don't try to convince me that GOD wanted it that way. If he had, he would have made them without foreskins.

Answer 2

when one believes in a creator nothing is beyond reason because you simply say (for example) there is a foreskin because god wanted you to have one or we can't see the farthest reaches of space because god did not want us to be able to. but if you want to exercise a little more reason and actually sound like a rational being then you should delve a little deeper, past the lunacy of god and into the sanity of fact. if you want a Darwinist perspective on why we are the way we are you should read Climbing Mount Improbable by Richard Dawkins. i realize that i have not answered you question but i find the i premise so ludicrous that i don't know where to start. however Dawkins will make all clear.

Answer 3

The removal of the foreskin both literally and figuretively when speaking of circumcision of the heart was a symbol of purification. As people living in the desert and not having enough water to take a bath everyday God in his wisdom told his people to practice circumcision. That is why at present the Bible after that didn't use circumcision as a sign of God's people because we became more modern and we don't live in the desert in that sense anymore. Baptism became the new order as you see started by John the Baptist. It is now a symbol of death to sin and resurrecting to the new life in Jesus Christ.

Answer 4

Well, because it serves a very specific purpose, so it was created by God. That's why he demands us to cut it off... Wait a minute, that doesn't make sense. OK, I guess you're right the foreskin was the only mistake that God made.

Answer 5

Allegorically it's an example of spiritual law law, potential dis-ease thereof either of two Mt 22: 36-40 "laws". That is why law is to be spiritually cut off, put away as the put off, taken away, done away, abolished from the flesh, because law is enmity.

The "grace" of our Lord Jesus Christ with you all. Amen.

Answer 6

Intelligent design should be functional... but it serves no real function except make it look like an elephant trunk - maybe that's why billions cut it off

Answer 7

Yes.

Now let me ask you... is it a sign of natural selection? Why do we have something that causes an increased risk for the sexual partners of uncircumcised men for cervical cancer (caused by HPV), HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, and genital warts?

The chances of infection are 60% lower with circumcised men. Yes, this is back up by scholarly research.

Answer 8

God designed it so you can just cut it off. It makes about as much sense as how he planted a bunch of bones to trick humans into believing evolution. That wacky god. Always the prankster. (Just don't ask about his pranks in Java and Indonesia.)

Answer 9

I thought Jews were born without foreskin so they could be distinguished from gentiles.


Is that not how it was designed?

Answer 10

The human foreskin
Description
Penis, the foreskin covering (L) and uncovering (R) the glans. (larger version).In humans, the outside of the foreskin is like the skin on the shaft of the penis but the inner foreskin is a mucous membrane like the inside of the eyelid or the mouth. Like the eyelid, the foreskin is free to move. Smooth muscle fibres keep it close to the glans but make it highly elastic.[2] At the end of foreskin there is a band of tissue called the ridged band which, according to one study, is rich in nerve endings called Meissner's corpuscles [3]. The foreskin is attached to the glans with a frenulum which helps retract the foreskin over the glans.

In children, the foreskin covers the glans completely but in adults this need not be so. In a German study, Schoeberlein found that about 50% of young men had full coverage of the glans, 42% had partial coverage, and in the remaining 8%, the glans was uncovered. After adjusting for circumcision, he stated that in 4% of the young men the foreskin had spontaneously atrophied (shrunk).

Development
Eight weeks after fertilization, the foreskin begins to grow over the head of the penis, covering it completely by 16 weeks. At this stage the foreskin and glans share an epithilium (mucous layer) that fuses the two together. It remains this way until the foreskin separates from the glans [4].

At birth, the foreskin is usually still fused with the glans [5]. As childhood progresses the foreskin and the glans gradually separate, a process that may not be complete until the age of 17 [6]. A Danish survey reported that average age of first foreskin retraction in Denmark is 10.4 years.[7] Wright argues that forcible retraction of the foreskin should be avoided and that the child himself should be the first one to retract his own foreskin [8]. Premature retraction may be painful, and may result in infection.

Functions
In koalas the foreskin contains naturally occurring bacteria that play an important role in fertilization [9]. Some also believe that the foreskin has protective and erogenous functions in humans [10], though this is disputed. Cold and Tayor stated "The prepuce is primary, erogenous tissue necessary for normal sexual function."[11] Gairdner states that the foreskin protects the glans [12] but some studies show that inflammation of the glans is more common when the foreskin is present.[13].

Morgan wrote that the foreskin's gliding action facilitates sexual intercourse [14]. Shen (China) found a statistically significant *(p = 0.001) increase in erectile dysfunction following circumcision. [15]. Pang and Kim (South Korea) reported "Of those who were circumcised long after they had been sexually active, > 80% reported no noticeable difference in sexuality, but a man was twice as likely to have experienced diminished sexuality than improved sexuality." [16] Fink's study of American men also found significantly worsened erectile function *(p = 0.01)[17]. Other studies came to different conclusions. Collins (USA), Senkul (Turkey), and Masood (Britain) found no significant difference in erectile function [18] [19] [20]. Senkul found that the circumcised men took significantly longer to ejaculate after circumcision *(P = 0.02) [21]. Laumann's study of American-born men found "little difference between circumcision status and sexual dysfunction for the two younger cohorts" (18-29 and 30-44). However, older men (45-59) with foreskins in his sample were significantly more likely to suffer from erectile dysfunction overall *(p < 0.05) and trouble achieving and maintaining an erection *(p. < 0.05). Premature ejaculation and performance anxiety were also noted *(both p. < 0.10). Circumcision rates were also significantly different in different ethnic groups (less common in Blacks and Hispanics) and they varied with the education level of the mother (less common in those with less education). [22] and [23].

Denniston states that the foreskin's innervation provides input to the central and autonomic nervous system to provide erectile function, stimulate ejaculation, and provide pleasure.[24] Fink's study reported less sensitivity after circumcision, though this only bordered on statistical significance *(p = 0.08). [25] In contrast, Masood et al. reported improved sensation in 38% of men following circumcision and less sensation in 18%. 61% expressed greater satisfaction following removal of the foreskin, less satisfaction in 17%, and no change in 22%. [26]

Interpretation of these findings vary. For example, Masood said, "Penile sensitivity had variable outcomes after circumcision. The poor outcome of circumcision considered by overall satisfaction rates suggests that when we circumcise men, these outcome data should be discussed during the informed consent process." [27] Hill and Denniston listed Senkul's finding of an increased ejaculatory time as a "demonstrated adverse effect" of circumcision [28] However, Senkul stated: "Adult circumcision does not adversely affect sexual function. The increase in the ejaculatory latency time can be considered an advantage rather than a complication. ... However, concerning the cause of that increase, in a Muslim community, the psychological influence of circumcision may be more pronounced than the organic effect."

Please see sexual effects of circumcision for more information.

The fold of the prepuce maintains sub-preputial wetness, which mixes with exfoliated skin to form smegma. Some authors believe that smegma contains antibacterial enzymes,[29] though their theory has been challenged.[30] Inferior hygiene has been associated with balanitis,[31] though excessive washing can cause non-specific dermatatis.[32]