( I'm looking for an answer more scientific than "God said so" )
2007-06-04 04:35:34 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The most likely origination of male genital mutilation (circumcision) was to resemble the penis of the baboon which some tribes of Africa held sacred. Now several, actually many, wars later we still have people that mutilate their male children to resemble ground dwelling monkeys.
Some tribes substitued genital mutilation of their male children in the place of child sacrifice which was becoming unpopular.
2007-06-04 18:05:18 · answer #1 · answered by cut50yearsago 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I'm not really a scholar, but I believe there are a handful of theories: (1) to prevent masturbation (oh, THAT WORKED); (2) it prevents the secretion of fluids (similar to vaginal fluids) that some in the ancient world considered unsanitary; (3) there are innumerable body modification things done through history, so who really knows?
On #3's point, I offer you the words, "lip plate." Google it.
2007-06-04 11:40:25 · answer #2 · answered by WWTSD? 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
it wasnt scientific ... in classic covenants made between any two parties "blood was let" as a sign and seal of the pact ... even some jewelry came from this idea ..rings and earings used to be signs someone was in a pact with someone else and they had cut a blood covenant that cannot be broken ...
2007-06-04 11:38:18 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I always thought it was for health reasons, even as the first circumcision. It makes it "cleaner" so it is less susceptible to bacteria or infection. I am not sure what the religious concept of it was...
2007-06-04 11:38:58 · answer #4 · answered by Harlequin 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Abram, as part of his covenant with God, was commanded to circumcise his foreskin. "This is My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male child among you shall be circumcised; and you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you. He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised, every male child in your generations, he who is born in your house or bought with money from any foreigner who is not your descendant. He who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money must be circumcised, and My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. And the uncircumcised male child, who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant" (Genesis 17:10-14).
Centuries later, God revealed what circumcision represented. "But if they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers, with their unfaithfulness in which they were unfaithful to Me, and that they also have walked contrary to Me, and that I also have walked contrary to them and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if their uncircumcised hearts are humbled, and they accept their guilt- then I will remember My covenant with Jacob, and My covenant with Isaac and My covenant with Abraham I will remember; I will remember the land" (Leviticus 26:40-42). Hence, uncircumcision represented stubborn sinfulness. Circumcision was done on the outward flesh, but it represented the acceptance of the covenant in the mind, including the willingness to obey the laws within the covenant. When God told Israel, "Therefore circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and be stiff-necked no longer" (Deuteronomy 10:16), it meant that they were remove their stubborn sinful thoughts from their minds. In other words, they were to purge sin from their lives and become obedient to the laws of God. "And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live" (Deuteronomy 30:6).
2007-06-04 11:49:10 · answer #5 · answered by tebone0315 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Primarily hygienic reasons
2007-06-04 11:39:12 · answer #6 · answered by John C 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Shouldnt "God said so" be enough? it is a religious practice and a secular practice. if you want a secular answer go to the medical and scientific categories with the question . if you ask in the R&S, then you get an R&S answer.
2007-06-04 11:43:27 · answer #7 · answered by little bobby 2 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Yeah, covenant. And it is believed for health reason, although that is not found in scripture.
2007-06-04 11:40:44 · answer #8 · answered by Janet H 24 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
It was hygienic, to prevent infections.
2007-06-04 11:41:15 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋