Genital cutting in Christianity: Difference between revisions

Circumcision and Catholicism: Complete author links.
 
(2 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 55: Line 55:
Here too, Paul calls circumcision a yoke of bondage. It is stressed that circumcision is of no Christian merit, and that it is a mistake for Christians to believe that [[circumcision]] is a Christian virtue that will profit them anything. Indeed, here, Paul says Christ is worthless to those who believe they are justified by the law, and describes them as having fallen from grace. Above law and rituals, Paul stresses righteousness by faith.
Here too, Paul calls circumcision a yoke of bondage. It is stressed that circumcision is of no Christian merit, and that it is a mistake for Christians to believe that [[circumcision]] is a Christian virtue that will profit them anything. Indeed, here, Paul says Christ is worthless to those who believe they are justified by the law, and describes them as having fallen from grace. Above law and rituals, Paul stresses righteousness by faith.


Paul calls out advocates of circumcision as people who don't even actually care about keeping the whole law themselves, but in boasting in the fact that they were able to convince others to do as they wished. In other words, more so than keeping the law to honor god, they were more interested in forcing the law on others in order to feel good about themselves; the whole point of keeping the law had lost its meaning, which was to honor god.
Paul calls out advocates of circumcision as people who don't even actually care about keeping the whole law themselves, but in boasting in the fact that they were able to convince others to do as they wished. In other words, more so than keeping the law to honor God, they were more interested in forcing the law on others in order to feel good about themselves; the whole point of keeping the law had lost its meaning, which was to honor God.


{{Citation
{{Citation
Line 67: Line 67:


Here too, Paul stresses that [[circumcision]] has become meaningless to those who believe in salvation by Christ.
Here too, Paul stresses that [[circumcision]] has become meaningless to those who believe in salvation by Christ.
Paul wanted to make peace between those who are [[circumcised]], and new believers for whom circumcision was no longer a requirement. While it is a mistake to believe that [[circumcision]] is a Christian virtue or requirement, having been circumcised as required by earlier laws was not an impediment to becoming a good Christian.
Paul wanted to make peace between those who are [[circumcised]], and new believers for whom circumcision was no longer a requirement. While it is a mistake to believe that [[circumcision]] is a Christian virtue or requirement, having been [[circumcised]] as required by earlier laws was not an impediment to becoming a good Christian.


{{Citation
{{Citation
Line 79: Line 79:
}}
}}


The New Testament warns Christians against those ([[Judaizers]]) who insist that they and their children must be circumcised in order to achieve salvation; he condemns them as evil charlatans who wish to do nothing more than deceive others turn a profit and boast while doing it.
The New Testament warns Christians against those ([[Judaizers]]) who insist that they and their children must be [[circumcised]]  to achieve salvation; he condemns them as evil charlatans who wish to do nothing more than deceive others turn a profit and boast while doing it.


{{Citation
{{Citation
Line 99: Line 99:
== Circumcision and Catholicism ==
== Circumcision and Catholicism ==


The Roman Catholic church condemned the practice formally and ordered against its practice in the Ecumenical Council of Basel-Florence in 1442.<ref>{{REFweb
The Roman Catholic Church condemned the practice formally and ordered against its practice in the Ecumenical Council of Basel-Florence in 1442.<ref>{{REFweb
  |url=http://www.cirp.org/library/cultural/councilflorence/
  |url=http://www.cirp.org/library/cultural/councilflorence/
  |archived=
  |archived=
Line 143: Line 143:
  |last=Glass
  |last=Glass
  |first=Michael
  |first=Michael
  |author-link=
  |author-link=Michael Glass
  |publisher=Circumcision Reference Library
  |publisher=Circumcision Reference Library
  |website=
  |website=
Line 159: Line 159:
  |last=Glass
  |last=Glass
  |first=Michael
  |first=Michael
  |author-link=
  |author-link=Michael Glass
  |publisher=Circumcision Reference Library
  |publisher=Circumcision Reference Library
  |website=
  |website=
Line 176: Line 176:
  |last=Hill
  |last=Hill
  |first=George
  |first=George
  |author-link=
  |author-link=George Hill
  |publisher=Circumcision Reference Library
  |publisher=Circumcision Reference Library
  |website=
  |website=