22,190
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
m
no edit summary
=== Judaism ===
Of all of the commandments in Judaism, the brit milah (literally, Covenant of Circumcision) is probably the one most universally observed. It is commonly referred to as a bris (covenant, using the Ashkenazic pronunciation). Even the most secular of Jews, who observe no other part of Judaism, almost always observes this tradition. <ref>Jew FAQ "Birth" [http://www.jewfaq.org/birth.htm Jew FAQ "Birth"]</ref>
However, in In the 613 mitzvot, Jews are commanded:
:''"Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh(Lev. 19:28)''
Halacha provides for the ceremony of hatifat dam berit (shedding of a token drop of blood) for babies who can not be circumcised due to health reasons. This is deemed to be completely valid in marking the Covenant. <refname="Britshalom">Jews Against Circumcision, Brit Shalom [http://www.jewsagainstcircumcision.org/ Jews Against Circumcision, Brit Shalom]</ref>
Modern Jewish scholars have found that circumcision is not even mentioned in the earliest, “J”, version of Genesis nor the next three rewrites by other authors. Most importantly, the story of Abraham is there in its entirety, except the part about the Covenant being “sealed” with circumcision. So do not be afraid of divine punishment. God did not mandate circumcision. <ref>Jews Against Circumcision, Brit Shalom http:name="Britshalom"//www.jewsagainstcircumcision.org/</ref>
Further, being circumcised is not a condition of being Jewish. Girls do not need to be circumcised to receive the gifts of covenant, i.e., receiving bat-mitzva. A boy is Jewish if his mother is Jewish from the moment he is born. In fact:
* Many Soviet Jews, left intact for fear of communist persecution, have chosen to remain so, even though communism no longer exists.
* Contrary to popular opinions, an intact boy may have a Bar Mitzvah. As one rabbi simply put it, “We don’t check.”
* Since many American Christians practice circumcision, it does not distinguish the Jewish boys from the non-Jewish.<ref>Jews Against Circumcision, Brit Shalom http:name="Britshalom"//www.jewsagainstcircumcision.org/ </ref>
=== Islam ===
Although circumcision is never mentioned in the Qur'an, male circumcision is deeply rooted in the Muslim tradition. Muhammad is reported to have prescribed cutting the foreskin as a fitrah, a measure of personal cleanliness. Modern Muslims see circumcision as essential to their faith, although they have also come to lean on arguments of "medical benefits." A conference of Islamic scholars in 1987 stated that modern circumcision studies “[reflect] the wisdom of the Islamic statements”.<ref>Gollaher, David L. Circumcision: A History of the World's Most Controversial Surgery. New York: Basic Books, 2000.</ref>
The prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) is not circumcised in the Qur'an, or if he is, no mention is ever made in the 67 times that his name is written. A covenant sealed with circumcision is also never mentioned.<ref>name="QuaranicPath "Circumcision - Does the Qur'an Approve it?" >[http://www.quranicpath.com/misconceptions/circumcision.htmlQuaranicPath "Circumcision - Does the Qur'an Approve it?"]</ref> Despite never being mentioned in the Qur'an, it is still widely practiced among followers of Islam in the Middle East, North Africa, and Southeast Asia, who interpret it as an Islamic ceremony.<ref>Aldeeb Abu-Sahlieh, Sami A. "Chapter 3: Circumcision among Muslims." ''Male and Female Circumcision: Among Jews, Christians, and Muslims''. Warren Center, Pa.: Shangri-La, 2001.</ref> The Muslim code of religious law (AKA Shariah) recommends performance of circumcision at the age of seven days. In practice, however, Muslim boys are circumcised at varying ages before puberty.<ref>Morgenstern, Julian. ''Rites of Birth, Marriage, Death and Kindred Occasions among the Semites.'' Chicago: Quadrangle Books, 1966. pp. 48-66 "...in modern Moslem practice the rite is performed generally between the ages of two and seven years... as late as the thirteenth year.’’</ref><ref>Mehta, Depak. "Circumcision, Body, Masculinity." ''In Violence and Subjectivity'', ed. Veena Das, Arthur Kleinman, et al. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2000. pp. 82 "...two to six years."</ref><ref>Peletz, Michael G. Reason and Passion: Representations of Gender in a Malay Society. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1996. pp. 240 "[Among Muslims in Negeri Sembilan, West Malaysia, boys] are usually circumcised when they are about twelve years old."</ref><ref>Crapanzano, Vincent. ‘‘Rite of Return: Circumcision in Morocco.’’ In Hermes’ Dilemma and Hamlet’s Desire: On the Epistemology of Interpretation. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1992.</ref> According to Genesis 17, Abraham circumcised Ishmael, who is supposed to be the the ancestor of Arab peoples, at the age thirteen, which is why this age is generally taken as the latest acceptable date.
Intact existence is actually favored by the Qur'an: "We have indeed created man in the 'best of moulds'." (Qur'an 95:4) The idea that Allah has created everything in perfection is repeated in 27:88, 32:7, and 40:64. "Allah is the One who made the Earth a habitat for you, and the sky as a structure, and He designed you, and has perfected your design." "You will not see any flaw in what the Lord of Mercy creates." (Qur'an 67:3)
:''"Let there be no change in Allah's creation."'' (Qur'an 30:30) This verse specifically prohibits practices such as circumcision.
Finally, according to the Qur'an, circumcision may be seen as an act of evil: "(Satan said), 'I will lead them (mankind) astray and fill them with false hopes. I will command them and they will cut off cattle's ears. I will command them and they will change Allah's creation.' Anyone who takes Satan as his protector in place of Allah has clearly lost everything. He makes promises to them and fills them with false hopes. But what Satan promises them is nothing but delusion." (Qur'an 4:119-120) <ref>name="QuaranicPath "Circumcision - Does the Qur'an Approve it?" http://www.quranicpath.com/misconceptions/circumcision.html</ref>
=== Paganism ===