17,092
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
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 [[Abrahamic covenant| Covenant]] being “sealed” with circumcision. So do not be afraid of divine punishment. God did not mandate circumcision.<ref name="Britshalom"/> 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 considered to be Jewish if his mother is Jewish from the moment he is born. In fact:
→Islam: Wikify.
=== America ===
Circumcision, particularly male infant non-therapeutic [[circumcision]] had become entrenched in [[United States of America| American culture]], because of promotion by the [[Circumcision industry]], but now is in a declining pattern. Beginning in the Victorian period, men and children were [[circumcised]] to make [[masturbation]] difficult, because [[masturbation]] was seen as the root of many diseases. Circumcising newborn infants grew into a trend which peaked during the 60's and 70's. Movements to end circumcision began in the late 70's, so the incidence of genital [[intactness ]] has increased significantly. Medicaid unlawfully provides [[third-party payment]] for medically-unnecessary, non-therapeutic circumcision in many states<ref name="adler2011">{{REFjournal
|last=Adler
|first=Peter W.
:''"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. <ref name="Britshalom">{{REFweb |url=http://www.jewsagainstcircumcision.org/ |title=Jews Against Circumcision, Brit Shalom}}</ref>
* A boy may be excused from [[circumcision]] permanently if his health would be endangered by it (for example, hemophilia).
* Some Jewish parents are electing to have a non-cutting, harmless naming ceremony, frequently called "[[Brit Shalom]]" instead of a ritual circumcision.
* 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 name="Britshalom"/> 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 [[Abrahamic covenant| Covenant]] being “sealed” with circumcision. So do not be afraid of divine punishment. God did not mandate circumcision. [[Brit Shalom]] offers an alternative free of cutting, [[pain]], and [[trauma]].
[[Bruchim]] was founded in 2021 by [[Lisa Braver Moss]] and [[Rebecca Wald]] with a goal of making non-circumcision acceptable in American synagogues.
=== 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>{{GollaherDL 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">{{REFweb
|publisher=Shangri-La
|year=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>{{REFbook
|last=Morgenstern
|first=Julian
[[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"/>