What are the religious reasons behind male circumcision in christianity?

Question

puzzled mother trying to decide the right thing to do and why!

Answer 1

Genesis 17: 9-14

It was ordered by God to Abraham and his decendents and servants and slaves to do this after they were 8 days old.

Answer 2

There is no requirement for Christians of any denomination to be circumcised, in fact at one time it was forbidden for a Christian to be circumcised. Religious requirements for circumcision only apply to Jews and Muslims, and now some Jews are refusing to have their sons mutilated for some old custom. No other major religion requires circumcision.

The first known civilization to practice circumcision was the Egyptians; the Hebrews (Israelites or Jews) probably copied the custom from them. The cut foreskin became a mark of the tribe and was said to have originated with Abraham. Originally it was not a "tight" circumcision and the remains of the foreskin could be stretched to cover the glans. But when it was seen that Jews could so conceal themselves and pass as Greeks, some other old man thought he heard G*d again and commanded the present tight cut which is not so easily recovered.

This custom may have also spread to the Arabian tribes where it was said that Mohamed was born without a foreskin. So the followers of Mohamed believe they must be circumcised also. Some Muslim cultures also circumcise girls.

You will note that these people are from desert areas and one could imagine that hygiene was difficult, so perhaps it was done to be more easily kept clean, with no soap and water available.

Today, soap and water are more common and boys can be just as easily taught to keep them selves clean as girls can. In fact girls have more going on "down there" so hygiene is even more difficult for them. As soon as a boy finds out that his willy will have to be clean to get a girl; you better believe that thing will shine.

Other reasons have been used to justify circumcision such as preventing masturbation, cancer, insanity, tuberculosis and a score of other hideous diseases. All of these claims are now proven false. It has been found that males that have been circumcised are more likely to masturbate and even to engage in oral and anal sex. The American Cancer Society says that circumcision cannot be shown to provide protection from cancer of the penis or for cervical cancer in the female partner

Some claim that it is necessary to prevent urinary infections, but girls get more urinary infections than boys with foreskins do. Just give them antibiotics like they do the girls, no cutting need

It is said that girls won't go for an uncut guy, 80% of the men in the world (that’s 8 out of every 10 guys) is not circumcised. I have to believe the French and Italians are getting laid quite regular and neither of those (Catholic) countries practices circumcision.

Before you chose to circumcise your sons please Google 'circumcision complications' and 'circumcision botched' what you will find there will is not for the faint of heart, and no loving mother could submit her flesh and blood to such a fate. These boys are ruined for life, and it happens every year even in this country, and it is done just for some religious tradition or so Jr. will look like dad (if dad's penis looked like any of those, there would be no Jr.) Not all complications are that severe, but about 10% of boys circumcised do have some complications.

Even if circumcision was a sacrifice that G*d wanted, He would want the owner of the foreskin to knowingly give it. It would mean nothing if it is given by the parents, it is not theirs to give. It is like stealing something from your neighbor and giving it to the church.

His body. His choice.

Answer 3

There are no religious reasons for it in Christianity.. people in Europe dont. I once heard that the reason for circumcision was because some crazy preachers said it must be done to stop the sin of masturbation.

Answer 4

There is no reason for this. It's just another way of the 'church' stopping sex being fun. Without the foreskin you lose the sensitivity and have very restricted movement. It's such an awful practice, it should be banned. It's something that should be done for health reasons only. Can you imagine the pain your poor baby will be in? Ouch, the thought makes my eyes water.

Answer 5

It was part of the "Old Covenant" that God had with his people. But since then God now has a new covenant, and Jew and Gentile will become one. There is now , no Religeous belief behind, yet some faiths still practise it.

Answer 6

There is no reason in Christianity. None of the Christian European nations do it. Is it the right thing? Ask her if she wants to watch the procedure. The baby has to be strapped down because of the pain. Some babies even defocate from the pain. I will say this, if you do decide to circumsize, please do it before the baby can have a memory of it.

Answer 7

MOTHERS, the feelings of mothers who observed the circumcision of their babies, and heard the babies screaming. Go here if you have the courage:
http://www.circumcision.org/mothers.htm

Answer 8

I am an Anglican(Christian) I haven't heard of this as it is not something practiced by the Christian faith. Circumcision is not part of the Christianity faith. it is used for medical reasons phimosis or parents choice for cleanliness.

Answer 9

IT IS NOT a christian thing, but in filipines all christian men are circumcised, influence of the Americans to stop them masturbating (docent work)

Answer 10

Try not to be surprised by this but circumcision is mutilation!
Hygiene? If your going to mutilate your child, why not pull all his nails out as well, we wouldn't want him to get dirty fingernails would we.