It is a Hebrew tradition and has to do with Abraham. It makes no sense to me in the 21st century. I'm not cut and I wouldn't cut my son if I had one
136994
Routine circumcision as a preventative or cure for mastu rbation was proposed in Victorian times in America. Mastu rbation was thought to be the cause of a number of diseases. The procedure of routine circumcision became commonplace between 1870 and 1920, and it consequently spread to all the English-speaking countries (England, Canada, Australia and New Zealand). None of these countries now circumcise the majority of their male children, a distinction reserved today for the United States (in the UK, in fact, nonreligious circumcision has virtually ceased). Yet, there are still those who promote this social surgery, long after the mastur bation hysteria of the past century has subsided.
143962
The official answer is, "Because that implies that we're literally eating flesh and drinking blood, both of which were expressly forbidden by God, and God doesn't contradict himself. Therefore, there must be another explanation."\n\nFrom there, you use the Occham's Razor theory. (Whatever option is left, no matter how bizarre, is necessarily correct.) If it isn't literally flesh and blood, it must figuratively be flesh and blood. \n\nThat's a condensed version, of course. I'm sure people have devoted books to this. Anyway, hope that helps.
113413
In Judaism, circumcision represents the covenant between YHVH and Abraham.  Moses, in not circumcising his son, was reneging on the covenant.
109596
It may stem from a misrepresentation of Genesis 38. Sorry dude, it doesn't really exist.
571918
You are very right.  When people cut things out of the Bible, they start with Rev  22:18.  ; )  But almost everyone actually just chooses which things to follow, there are VERY few groups that obey everything in the Bible (keeping kosher, not eating shellfish, not allowing men to have long hair, treating their slaves well, etc.).  Really it's all just a buffet.
509598
It is a twist on scripture. My wife grew up in the same kind of church, a preachers daughter. If these bunch of legalisms would read the bible they would find out that that scripture ends with, "But we have no such customs in our churches." The original intent of this was concerning the Jewish law where women were supposed to cover their heads as a sign of subservience to God and their husbands. It's pure legalism. I have argued on the hair being a coverings also and how ridiculous this is. If hair is considered a covering, then men can go to church without pants on since we have hair covering our legs. It is legalism plain and simple.
95181
A friend of mine is a Jehovah Witness, and according to him, it's a sin to honor anything that has to do with mortal man. If it's a birthday, it's a sin to honor it. because it has to do with some one. Same as Christmas. But it doesn't seem to be a sin when they knock on your door and can't take no for a answer
568829
YOur right.  What the he**.  I dont get it.  It sounds cool to be a jew.  I know a few and they are no different than I.
225218
Hey Jim, finally a good theological question from you, I knew you had it in you! Your starting to come over to the other side, I can just feel it. In all seriousness, there is no record the children of Israel coming out of Egypt washed their clothes, used deodorant, or brushed their teeth! After forty years, this would be a pretty ripe bunch, maybe that's why the walls of Jericho fell flat!,. what do you think?
602572
There was a church in Italy that had the relic and held the feast of the circumcision until 1983 when the relic was stolen, Probably for the valuable jewels on the reliquary that contained it. The thieves probably dumped the foreskin. This is a pity as if it was around today we could get DNA out of it and clone JC then sell him on E-Bay.
587539
Interesting question and link to a good article. After reading the following from my source, it appears that there's a sufficient FREE supply to meet the demand:\n\n'Circumcision is the surgical removal of the foreskin of the penis. It is OFTEN performed in healthy boys for cultural or religious reasons. In the U.S., circumcision of a newborn boy is usually done before he leaves the hospital. Among the Jewish population, circumcision is done on the eighth day.'
4414
It is also not god's will for you to eat shrimp, wear clothes made of 2 kinds of thread or for men to shave their beards.  In the same chapter where it describes "man laying with men as with women" it also outlines how a daughter may be sold into slavery.\n\nIf you are going to hold these beliefs please be consistent and don't pawn off your bigotry as the "will of god"
542828
Im totally with you. As an adult you have the right to this. I know a fella who had a vasectomy at 24. Whats the difference. If you were from a jewish family and demanded that your son be circumsized, there would be No problem. Its probably a case of saving money. I hope you get what you want soon
625493
It doesnt make sense because you have decided there are moral people. There is a way that seems right to a man and this way ends in death...God knows that we are all immoral...those that consider themselves moral have no use for God they are the one that are in trouble the rest of us understand that we need God seek him and he reveals himself to those who see value in him...It really makes sense when you know God nad its not suposed to make sense to those who have no value in him....Just the way it works.
342080
It's God's will to be clipped. Whee! :-) It's a good Christian thing to do! I don't know anyone who is uncircumcised and would prefer not to know. People SHOULD be circumcised because it's healthier. It's cleaner. Let's say your girlfriend gave you oral. How disgusting is it that you---\n\nI'm going to leave it at that. I hope a few people laughed, and I hope the ones who didn't shower and scrub with a nice clean loofah.
120829
OMGSS! This is why I'm a witch! Because of these wacko's using the bible as an excuse for child abuse! A rod in biblical times was a unit of measure for distance!That verse was talking about discipline.So the whole spare the rod,spoil the child translates to "if you don't use a measure of discipline, and teach your child the difference between right and wrong, you will have an unmanageable spoiled brat".It does not mean hit your child with a rod!These people just want the easy way out because it take less effort to swing a belt or pipe than to set limits and enforce them without resorting to physical means.I'm not opposed to an occasional swat on the behind if the child does something that REALLY bad, but there's no call to that, and yes, I think that those who gave that women the advice should be held responsible too.
74693
The Bar/Bat Mitzvah ritual its self dose nothing. It is only a commemoration of when a boy at 13 or a girl 12 begin to take on the responsibility of being a Jewish adult and are now obligated to the Torah and commandments of the Jewish people. \nThe way this is normally done is the boy reads a section of the Torah from a scroll in Hebrew during one of the days that Jews are obligated to hear it being read. This signifies that the boy is now capable of preforming the mitzvah (commandment) of studying and learning Torah and teaching it to others.