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Circumcision, is it a good thing? Is it really mandated by God?

firedragon

Veteran Member
Well, as you see there are two questions in this topic.

1. Is circumcision a good thing? I have heard many people say that circumcision is very important to people, and even in a country like the United States, people perform circumcision on babies without their permission. I have also seen some documentary that shows it is not such a good thing.

2. If you take the so called abrahamic theologies, the Bible clearly mandates circumcision. In the New Testament of course there is a dispute, and it is disputed. The Quran has no verse speaking of circumcision. Zilch, but for Muslims though they call it Sunnath, it is almost mandatory. So considering each theology, is it mandated by God? And why??

What thoughts do you have on this?
 

Rival

Si m'ait Dieus
Staff member
Premium Member
1. Is circumcision a good thing? I have heard many people say that circumcision is very important to people, and even in a country like the United States, people perform circumcision on babies without their permission. I have also seen some documentary that shows it is not such a good thing.
I don't know. Europeans are baffled at the US affinity for infant circumcision. It's not really done here unless one is in a religious group that mandates it. I can't see the biological benefit to cutting off something that serves a purpose. For ex, one needs to be extra careful with nappy changing on a cut boy. It seems odd to do without Divine reason.
 
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RabbiO

הרב יונה בן זכריה
I wonder if there is some way to know just how many times this topic has been brought up.

Despite that, it always seems to draw a crowd. You’ve opened the floodgates, flung wide the barn doors, unlocked the corral.

For my personal safety, and because I’ve seen this movie too many times already, I’m going to stand aside and avoid being engulfed or trampled upon.

Have fun!
 

firedragon

Veteran Member
I don't know. Europeans are baffled at the US affinity for infant circumcision. It's not really done here unless one is in a religious group that mandates it. I can't see the biological benefit to cutting off something that serves a purpose. For ex, one needs to be extra careful with nappy changing on a cut boy. It seems odd to do without Divine reason.


Now the Tanakh seems to clearly mandate circumcision. I dont know if you agree or not. Nevertheless, why would God require circumcision as like a membership requirement? Unless you have another view. I am interested in noting.
 

firedragon

Veteran Member
I wonder if there is some way to know just how many times this topic has been brought up.

Despite that, it always seems to draw a crowd. You’ve opened the floodgates, flung wide the barn doors, unlocked the corral.

For my personal safety, and because I’ve seen this movie too many times already, I’m going to stand aside and avoid being engulfed or trampled upon.

Have fun!

Well, I honestly have not seen too many threads on this particular matter in this forum. Maybe I was just oblivious to all. :) Cmon Rabbio. Who cares about safety. After all, all you would get is a hacker. ;)
 

Rival

Si m'ait Dieus
Staff member
Premium Member
Now the Tanakh seems to clearly mandate circumcision. I dont know if you agree or not. Nevertheless, why would God require circumcision as like a membership requirement? Unless you have another view. I am interested in noting.
I don't know; as I'm not a boy it wasn't really something I cared too much about. I would not take away the rights of religious groups to practice it. It can be done safely and rarely has any bad long term effects. So overall it seems fine. I'm neutral about it.
 
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9-10ths_Penguin

1/10 Subway Stalinist
Premium Member
Well, as you see there are two questions in this topic.

1. Is circumcision a good thing? I have heard many people say that circumcision is very important to people, and even in a country like the United States, people perform circumcision on babies without their permission. I have also seen some documentary that shows it is not such a good thing.

2. If you take the so called abrahamic theologies, the Bible clearly mandates circumcision. In the New Testament of course there is a dispute, and it is disputed. The Quran has no verse speaking of circumcision. Zilch, but for Muslims though they call it Sunnath, it is almost mandatory. So considering each theology, is it mandated by God? And why??

What thoughts do you have on this?
If people think that body modification for themselves is an important aspect of their religion, they should go for it. I have no issue with that.

If people think that their religious obligation should mean they get to do body modification on someone else, especially someone too young to consent, they can **** right off as far as I'm concerned.

Also, trying to subvert someone's freedom of religion and conscience by trying to indoctrinate them into one lifelong religion as a child is abhorrent, even when it doesn't involve body modification.
 

firedragon

Veteran Member
I don't know, as I'm not a boy it wasn't really something I cared too much about. I would not take away the rights of religious groups to practice it. It can be done safely and rarely has any bad long term effects. So it seems overall fine. I'm neutral about it.

Actually, circumcision is taking place for females as well.

I respect your position.
 

firedragon

Veteran Member
If people think that body modification for themselves is an important aspect of their religion, they should go for it. I have no issue with that.

If people think that their religious obligation should mean they get to do body modification on someone else, especially someone too young to consent, they can **** right off as far as I'm concerned.

Also, trying to subvert someone's freedom of religion and conscience by trying to indoctrinate them into one lifelong religion as a child is abhorrent, even when it doesn't involve body modification.

Well, I think that's well said really.
 

9-10ths_Penguin

1/10 Subway Stalinist
Premium Member
I don't know, as I'm not a boy it wasn't really something I cared too much about. I would not take away the rights of religious groups to practice it. It can be done safely and rarely has any bad long term effects. So it seems overall fine. I'm neutral about it.
I think many people's positions on issues like this come down to how they view rights.

Personally, I don't think that "rights of groups" exist as their own thing at all. The rights of a group are nothing more than the rights of all the individuals in that group.
 

Mock Turtle

Oh my, did I say that!
Premium Member
Actually, circumcision is taking place for females as well.

I respect your position.
And where it is banned in most parts of the world, unlike male circumcision. Perhaps just a matter of time. Male circumcision is just an irrelevance from the past - like so many other things - and where rationality will overcome the enthusiasm of those who might think their religious beliefs will collapse if such goes. :oops:
 

dybmh

דניאל יוסף בן מאיר הירש
The rights of peolple who want to be circumcized as infants needs to be protected!!!

That's all I have to say about it.

:D
 

Revoltingest

Pragmatic Libertarian
Premium Member
I don't know; as I'm not a boy it wasn't really something I cared too much about. I would not take away the rights of religious groups to practice it. It can be done safely and rarely has any bad long term effects. So overall it seems fine. I'm neutral about it.
What about female circumcision?
It can be done safely with modern medicine.
And the FGM-lite versions are comparable to male circumcision.
If boys can have genitalia cosmetically altered without consent, then why deny girls this benefit?
 
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Rival

Si m'ait Dieus
Staff member
Premium Member
What about female circumcision?
It can be done safely with modern medicine.
And the FGM-lite versions are comparable to make circumcision.
If boys can have genitalia cosmetically altered without consent, then why deny girls this benefit?
If that's their culture, that's their culture. The issue here is religious mandate tho, which isn't the case with female variants.
 
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