Desert Snake
Veteran Member
Where did the original idea of circumcision in Judaism and Islam come from? Did it come from the Egyptians, who anciently practiced circumcision?
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There are various ideas but none conclusive. Circumcision was practiced by the ancient Egyptians and by various North Western Semitic cultures/Canaanites, as far as I know without a definite origin. In short it was an ancient Near Eastern regional practice, and both Judaism and later Islam emerged in the region and carried the cultural practice.Where did the original idea of circumcision in Judaism and Islam come from? Did it come from the Egyptians, who anciently practiced circumcision?
God commanded Abraham to do it,
So god says to abraham, sharpen your knife! ive got a job for you! your going to be a little upset when you hear this so hold on to your chair! ???????
Did he chase his neighbors down with a knife?
we know paul had issues with this, dont you see this as a gradual process, as Caladan pointed out, Instead of a instant shock to a culture?
That really got a laugh out of me. For some reason thinking of an ancient Jew chasing his neighbors with a knife while screaming, "It is only a snip." just tickled my perverse funny bone.
Heh. We were talking about a "snip and a dip" just this weekend. A guy who's been attending service is wanting to convert, and that requires a circumcision and a trip to the mikvah.
I will have to admit that is the biggest thing off putting to Judaism the snipping. Though like your oddball Christian my parents had me circumcised but I can honestly say even the idea of just drawing a little blood makes me woozy. Hell anyone that can go all the way with it at an older age deserves the highest rewards of the Lord as that is beyond dedication.
Maybe it's a bit obvious, but I'm going to go for the reason I believe.
God commanded Abraham to do it, and have every male in his household have a circumcision. Abraham was commanded to circumcise Isaac (and every male in his tradition thereafter) on the eighth day. And so, Jewish males get circumcised at the age of 8 days old, unless other circumstances intervene, and if that happens... As soon as it can be healthfully done that doesn't compete with a Jewish holiday.
Ishmael was 13 years old at the time Abraham was given the decree to circumcise all males in his household. Since Muslims have the tradition that they are descended from him, that is the source of Muslim circumcision.
Other religious groups practice it now, and even many non-religious people practice it, in the usa. So, I don't think that that ''purpose'', means that much anymore.It wasn't so much for cleanliness as much as it was to make an obvious and intimate difference and distinction between the males of Abraham's household and other males.
You really don't know much about the concept of how much God commands Jews to do things to differentiate us from other people.Other religious groups practice it now, and even many non-religious people practice it, in the usa. So, I don't think that that ''purpose'', means that much anymore.
Personally, I don't think that Deity would command an act like circumcision, for simply differentiating a tribe. I mean, I can't imagine a rational deity requesting people to do that, for that reason.
No, but all the men in his household? Quite probably.So god says to abraham, sharpen your knife! ive got a job for you! your going to be a little upset when you hear this so hold on to your chair! ???????
Did he chase his neighbors down with a knife?
You really don't know much about the concept of how much God commands Jews to do things to differentiate us from other people.
Circumcision is only one of many such commandments. It also is one of the most personal.
Not precisely. You can tell that someone was under Jewish influence, even if indirectly, if they circumcised their boys. Christians and Muslims, and other non-Jews who do are more or less indirectly influenced by Jews.Many non-Jewish people practice circumcision. If the goal is/was to differentiate between people, that goal has failed.
Cool. It's good to reach an understanding.That being said, I do understand your reasoning in the context of your religious beliefs.
Many non-Jewish people practice circumcision.
Where did the original idea of circumcision in Judaism and Islam come from? Did it come from the Egyptians, who anciently practiced circumcision?