Is circumcision from a pagan practice? If so why is it ok in Judaism if they are against all things Pagan?

Question

I thought sacrificing humans or body parts was pagan

Answer 1

The origins probably have nothing to do with religion. But imagine being a nomadic people where the opportunity to wash/bathe only comes around every so often. Hygene is important so being circumcised helps in that respect.

Why do muslims bury their dead within 24 hours? Nothing to do with religion either, just common sense if you're living in the desert. A corps can spread diseases.

Answer 2

Nope. It comes from Judaism, not paganism. No culture before Judaism had it, not babylonian, not sumerian, not assyrian, not akkadian, none of them. It is a sign of the covenant between the Jews and God, not a sacrifice.

And by the way, Jews aren't against all things pagan. They are against it for themselves, but not for others. Judaism believes that ANYONE, no matter their religion or culture, can be Righteous, not that we are all born sinful like Christianity believes.

Judaism believes everyone is born clean and pure with clean souls, and that it is what we do AFTER we are born that determines whether we blemish our souls or not. If we do, we cleanse them after death and gain understanding and compassion, and then REINCARNATE again if needed. We don't have such a thing as an eternal burning hell, that's Christian.

So, Judaism believes that everyone can have a place in the World To Come, no matter their beliefs or religion because everyone has the capacity to be Righteous. And the path to Righteousness, according to Judaism, is following the lifestyle of a Noahide, that is, following the 7 Noahide Laws, which most people already do, no matter what their religion is or isn't.
http://www.noahide.org

If you would like to know more about what Jews believe please see: http://www.jewfaq.org/toc.htm

Answer 3

Circumcision is absolutely, positively not a pagan practice. It was ordained by God and is mentioned in the Bible in the book of Genesis in chapter 17, verses 10-14. Being the bright individual that I'm sure you are, I'm sure you have the sense and wherewithal to ignore those posts which refer to circumcision as a pagan ritual. Those posts are the products of total ignorance and naiveté.

Answer 4

Circumcision was a way to separate the Jews from all others (at that point, all others were pagan). So no, it wasn't a pagan practice.

Answer 5

Yes
a widely praced pagan custom
Just about all Jewish, Christian and Islamic practices are borrowings from earlier religions("pagans"). Just about all the Bible rituals and practices have pagan (mostly Canaanite,Mesopotamian or Egyptian) antecedents and parallels . I LOL when Fundamentalist Protestants accuse us Catholics of 'baptizing pagan "practices when the Old Testament and Book of Revelation which they claim to uphold as the Word of God is filled with pagan rituals,ceremonies,mindsets, and furniture.

Answer 6

Circumcision is a sign of the covenant between G-d and Israel. So if pagans eat chicken,then monotheists can't eat it?

Answer 7

Circumcision, as are many parts of Mosaid Law, are empirically derived rules with valid scientific bases. Circumcision is a health-related practice, as are many other things such as no shellfish or meat from other than cloven-hoofed ungulates.

Answer 8

circumcision is one of the "helpful tips"the bible contains. like not eating pork. (circumcised men have only half the chance of catching aids according to recent studies and pork was dangerous to eat in those times [citation needed]).

but in general: just because its pagan dosent mean its bad. there are suggestions of circumcision in many ancient cultures.

but

worshipers of bhaal walk the earth. does that mean the earth is unclean? that you cant touch it? do only bhaal worshipers walk the earth?

"just because my enemy is an idiot dosent mean hes not right"
- iforgetwho

for the record im an agnostic

Answer 9

Everything in the old-testament was done before by other religions. The Egyptians practiced circumcision and astrology. Moses was for one and against the other. As for why? We can always say, “God told me so.”

Answer 10

NO...

circumcision was ordained of God
not pagan

In fact the pagans didnt do it....at all