Male circumcision question...?

Question

Where did it originate, and how did it become so widespread? My family is Catholic and we are all circumcised. Were the catholics into it too? Or is it something beyond religion that caused it to become popular? I have to very young sons, and opted not to have them circumcised. Was just wondering.

Answer 1

Catholics are not required to circumcised, just as with the rest of Christians who follow the New Testament (some sections are actually harsh against the procedure). So in reality, most Catholics are uncircumcised, since most Catholics are in Europe, Latin America, and Canada, which don't circumcise newborns. Oddly I was skipping around a few radio station when I was eating lunch in my car a few weeks ago and happened to land upon a Catholic radio talking about circumcision. They said it was discussed in Galatians (pretty critical) and the Church ultimately condemned circumcision in the Council of Florence. That's the only reason I know this; religion isn't my specialty. =P
http://www.cirp.org/library/cultural/councilflorence/

Jews and Muslims have been doing it for ages, though. Although there are now some that are not doing it, but those numbers are small.

So as you can imagine, it started with Jews and Muslims.

If you're talking about the USA, it became popular in the 1800s due to fanatics like Dr. Kellogg (yes, that same cereal guy) who advocated it as a way of stopping masturbation. (everyone laugh now)
http://english.pravda.ru/science/health/27-03-2006/77873-circumcision-0

Eventually they claimed more benefits here and there, only later to be proven false. Some think that a foreskin is automatically dirty, but I'm uncircumcised and haven't had a problem with that; you just slide it back and rub the head when you shower and it stays clean. It's the same mucous tissue that makes eyelids, the vagina, and so on.
http://forums.govteen.com/showpost.php?p=3069995&postcount=2

Eventually it because almost universal in the USA, but it is now falling out of favor. In some states the circumcision rates are now as low as 14%. Here are the government statistics:
http://www.cirp.org/library/statistics/USA/staterates2004/

And while I'm at it, here are the worldwide places where it's done and where not (we're the only advanced nation that does it to a significant number of newborns, but as I said, the rates are falling, just as it did with the rest of the English speaking nations).
http://www.circumstitions.com/Maps.html

I hope that helps a bit.

Answer 2

I agree with you completely! Either make them both legal, or both illegal. It would be very interesting in seeing how something like that were to go through the court system. I don't have an issue with adult males being circumcised at their own will; we pierce, tattoo, pickle our bodies all the time- why should this be different? As long as my premiums for universal healthcare don't pay for it, I couldn't care less. It's with infants i have a problem with. It's his damn body! The "looks better", "matches the father", "easier to clean" "safer from STDs" is all crap: Looks better: Like you said, that's subject to opinion. Matches the father: OH GREAT! The father was beaten with a belt as a child too! Wanna have your son re-live THAT pain too? Easier to clean: Bugger off. Get off you lazy a$$ and clean your kid! And teach him good hygiene when he's old enough. It wasn't hard for me to grasp. Safer: If there is apparently no undisputed scientific fact out there that proves I didn't choose to be gay, I refuse to believe that there's undisputed scientific proof that says that cut men are more resilient to STDs. Now on to religion: My best friend is jewish and is quite proud of his cut penis. In fact it's sometimes part of his opening line when he meet's someone new. My friend has always been sensitive about his religion (even though he's reform and basically non-practicing) to the point where if you don't agree with any certain part of his religion, he gets defensive. I used to say that it was fine to do it for religious reasons, but then I thought... wait. There are other religions and cultures that require female circumcisions- those cultures exist here in Canada and the US, yet FGM is illegal. So what's with the double standard? Don't compare the severity; they're both barbaric unnecessary operations- WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE? The same friend's girlfriend plans on having her kids cut. Why? "It's cleaner. Oh he won't remember it." This girl is a HUGE hypocrite. Why? She's pro-life to the highest degree- to almost the level of Palin's pro-life stance. Ok.. Child's rights, bla bla bla... Now what about when the child is born? Where are his rights then? With all due respect to everyone who practices a faith of some kind, I say to hell with religious, traditional, or cultural reasons. Outlaw infant circumcision for BOTH genders or make both legal.

Answer 3

different religions believe differently about circumcising but health wise it is better to be circumcised because many men dont know the proper ways to clean their penis and it can lead to infections. Cleaning is a longer process than a man that has been circumcised.

Answer 4

Originated in Egypt, where the desert climate sometimes made it difficult to wash under the foreskin.
Popularized by Abraham in the Bible, when God commanded him to circumsize all the men and boys, as a sign of his covenant with God.
Nowadays, the US is the only 'civilized' country where the circumsized outnumber the uncircumcized [ men].

Answer 5

Some of the first records of circumcision are of Abraham, the father of the Jewish nation. It became part of the Jewish custom.

The Jews were not the first to do this however. There are records of this in eastern Africa before that time.

Answer 6

in the Bible it is called mutilation and new studies say it harms men and women. have you heard of foreskin restoration?here are the links to the studies.

Answer 7

It started as God's covenant with Abraham, and it has added benefits with hygiene.
It is "popular" because it makes good sense and doesn't allow a cheesy build-up around your peepee hole, which is dirty and can smell bad, (sorry for being graphic).
Usually the stuff God asks us to do is good for us and has a sound health reason, like trying to stay away from pork and not eating fat.

Answer 8

It says it in the bible. That's why religious people do that.