How could circumcision have a thing to do with religion?

Answer 1

God is love - but love that is completely selfless and non-egoistic. The love of God, or "agape" is a love that pours itself out towards others and does not seek to find pleasure for itself.

Since our true aim in life in a spiritual sense is to become God-like -- to attain to the likeness of God -- then we also must become selfless, non-egoistic, and not seek to please ourselves, but to love others.

Alas, we are in a fallen condition in which passions rule over our hearts and minds, and cloud our thinking and perceptions and ability to achieve this godlike condition. So in order to help train us - to give us certain exercises in order that we can learn step by step how to see and perceive properly, and so that our thinking may become clearer, God has given us certain tools as help. For example, prayer, fasting, and other things that teach us to deny ourselves and our own will and our own pleasures.

One of these things, in the ancient times, was circumcision, which God gave to Abraham as part of his covenant with God. By circumcising himself, and all the males of his household, Abraham learned to cut off certain desires and passions - not to focus on the life of the flesh, which was prevalent in his (and our) times. The act of cutting off the foreskin, which was the most sensitive part of the male member, was akin to denying oneself the extremes of pleasure and following a more moderate way of life. It was symbolic, but a powerful symbol, which became a cultural and spiritual practice that would teach the Israelites to honor God before honoring themselves and their own desires.

Of course, in later times, God's people were given to understand that what really counts is circumcision "of the heart" - in other words, living a circumcised way of life inside oneself (see book of Acts).

This is what circumcision has to do with religion. I hope it helps.

Answer 2

Circumcision is a sign of the covenant made between Abraham and God.

brit milah : the formal name for the circumcision ceremony that takes place eight days after birth for boys. It marks the initiation of the newborn into the Covenant between G-d and His people, the Jews. It is not a medical procedure but a religious one, and is carried out by a mohel at the family's home. If the child is sickly when born, or premature, then this ceremony may be delayed until a doctor gives the all-clear.

bris (brĭs)
n. Judaism., pl. bris·es.
The rite or ceremony of male circumcision, usually performed on the eighth day of life.

[Ashkenazi Hebrew brīs, from Hebrew bərît (mīlâ), covenant (of circumcision).]

Though my sons are not Hebrew, circumcision wasn't an option. It was a GUARANTEE, cuz this Mama said so!

Interesting note: There was a reason why God commanded the Hebrew people to circumcise the baby boys on the EIGHTH day. Not only is the number 8 a number of new beginnings, but medical science has discovered that on the eighth day after birth, there is a burst of vitamin K rushing to the penile area to speed healing. This occurs naturally, and is not induced by medical science. God does provide!

Answer 3

Just as religion deals with outward actions (rather than inward change), so circumcision is an outward action. It was apparently instituted to show that the Hebrews were a special group, set apart from everyone else by God.

What better reminder of your religion than looking at your mutilated penis several times a day?

Answer 4

It has something to do with health.
In the beginning religion was responsible for the body as well as the soul.
You'll have to think back, to a time without anything. Religious people handled all the writing, education, health care, city planning, sewage, food preparation, storage, planning for the future, etc.
The rules for lepers and decease control, child care, it was all interwoven for the religious to take care of the nations people.
Today religion concentrates on the soul, and as you know all the fields of study have been broken into professional, trained skilled people, that cover these same problems.

Answer 5

Circumcision is in Islam too. Our religion is also based on a complete code of human life.

Answer 6

It was a law in the Old Testament, because back then, it was a health issue. The Bible told the Jews to circumcise their babies. Now, it isn't such a big deal healthwise, but my kids are, just the same.

Answer 7

Ahh the Jews. God used it originally with Abraham as a symbol of their covenant. After that it became tradition, to show they were a people set apart for God's purposes.

Answer 8

as with any "covanant" or promise, blood must be shed...circumcision is a covanant between (originally) the jews and GOD. just as a marriage (traditionally) covanant is a promise between a man and a woman made before GOD, and the blood is shed on the wedding gnight

Answer 9

Ouch! And OUCH Dammit
Do you think they had to go around with it hanging out, like an ID card? How else would anyone know?
OK, whip out some ID son!

Answer 10

It wouldn't surprise me if, like many of the Mosaic laws, it had to do with hygiene in a time when they didn't know any better.