01 December 2007

Ow! Ow! Ow!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22043754

How 'bout chopping off part of your penis? It's supposed to reduce the incidence of AIDS, doncha know. And it's such a great idea that maybe we'd better fund this.

I know that God instituted the practice of circumcision with Abraham, and its religious significance to the Jews. My sons, however, are GENTILES and I can't imagine lopping off pieces of their most intimate organs without some medical reason like cancer or infection. All of them, 'round about the age of five or six, when they heard what "circumcision" is and how it's routinely performed on infants without general anesthesia, were horrified. They were also horrified at the concept of an "abortion." How could a mommy do that to her baby?

I've heard that there are medical benefits to circumcision, but I'm not sure that they would outweigh the RISKS of the procedure if you're not Jewish or otherwise religiously instructed to do this. I mean, one slip of the knife... owie. I've seen now that they have little ring things for newborns that is supposed to hurt less and be a bit safer.

I don't think God instituted the practice of circumcision in order to fund the medical establishment. I mean, I don't read that part in the Bible. My understanding of the text leads me to believe that it is a symbolic act of having your heart open to God and being "marked" as His chosen people in a special way.

It's not supposed to be a risk-reducing procedure so that immoral acts are now safer!!

Why do I even feel the need to blog this? It *should* be obvious.

2 comments:

  1. I have to say here that it's not that obvious. I have several male relatives that were not circumcised and wish they had been. There were several complications with infection and sexual function. So...before you think ill of those who would "lop off their children penis" please consider the other side of the issue.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I *don't* think ill of anyone who has chosen to do this procedure on their sons for religious or medical benefits. I'm sorry if I gave that impression! (For us as parents, as we mentioned, the risks outweighed the benefits.)

    I *do* have a problem with the mentality that we should cut off healthy pieces of the male anatomy to make immoral acts "safer." And I do think that the medical establishment wants to make money with procedures that are not necessary. Obviously if God instituted the practice of circumcision, we can't say it is a WRONG thing. I think a lot of circumcisions are done for the WRONG reasons, however.

    Hope that cleared things up for you.

    ReplyDelete

Non-troll comments always welcome! :)

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