Circumcision is not depending on any religion. It is a medical and scientific procedure. Circumcision has lots of medical and scientific benefits. Circumcision is not the private property of any religion.
In India many Hindu boys are circumcised. Across the India many Hindu boys are circumcised like me with different reasons.
Statistics say everyday thousand of boys under go circumcision.
The foreskin has no value it has been proven. Foreskin is the extra inactive parts of human body.
Many Hindu men are circumcised In our country it is real fact. No one can judge the religion based on circumcision.
WHO recommended for circumcision to prevent many diseases. If circumcision is bad procedure WHO does not recommend it.
There is no relation in between circumcision and a particular religion.
The persons who decides to undergo circumcision can under go for circumcision.
I am belongs from Hindu religion and I'm circumcised due to medical reasons. Because I'm circumcised doesn't mean I am converted to other religion.
By birth I am Hindu, by faith I am Hindu, By live I am Hindu.
Once again I want to say that I am Hindu and I am circumcised.
Gary - 9 years ago
I find it interesting that the comments are decidedly anti-circumcision. But we make all sorts of decisions for our children -- beginning with whether we will birth/adopt them into our family! Identity is an important legacy and gift we give them, and this gift has implications and limitations; there's no such thing as a free lunch. Circumcision is the first commandment, the mark that defines our intentions for ourselves and our families. To cavalierly dismiss this basic element of Jewish identity and loyalty to personal, individual autonomy will weaken the bonds between Jew and Jew and between Jew and Torah/tradition. The end point of this line of reasoning is that we are all our own little islands of identification, communities of one, devoted only to self-actualization.
What a loss!
(BTW, I write this as a heterodox -- that is, a non-Orthodox -- Jew.)
eliiezer moshech bagezer - 9 years ago
Good commentary by all. May I suggest to circumscribe the boy and name him : Hari Krishna. Thereby eliminating any and all obstacles. Nu, so what would Jesus do ?
Lindsey - 9 years ago
Don't cut him. Please, do not cut him. This is far more than just a "cultural decision" that you are making- cutting into your son's genitals and removing his healthy, functional, erogenous tissue will impact him and his daily life experience EVERY SINGLE DAY. He could grow up incredibly bitter, knowing how close he came to being allowed to keep his entire body intact as "experts" here dispassionately discuss his unnecessary body modification. I know many men who are in pain every single day, physically and emotionally, because of a "casual choice" that a parent made for them, without considering the massive repercussions- I know I certainly would be! Given the year that I was born, if I had been born male, I would likely have been circumcised at birth. Thank god I was lucky enough to be born female, protected by tradition rather than left alone and exposed to the nightmare of genital mutilation at the dubious mercy of my parents' whims. There are many of us working to protect children's human rights... I personally have been fighting for more than ten years to end all child genital cutting- male, female, and intersex. Please research the functions of the foreskin, and watch a full video of infant circumcision being performed, from start to finish, with the volume up. Please protect your little boy. Thank you, Students For Genital Integrity.org
janine - 9 years ago
Brit Shalom is a non-cutting naming ceremony for newborn Jewish boys. It may be performed by a Rabbi or an experienced lay leader. If desired, Celebrants can aid parents in devising their own ceremony. This ceremony replaces Brit Milah (ritual circumcision).
Erika - 9 years ago
hello momma, i understand you wanting to include both religions in the experiences of your child. I WOULD not circumcise him. It is my understanding that a whole body is integral to the Hindu faith. If you son connects more with his Hindu roots spiritually he will have his entire body. If he wants to identify more with the Jewish faith he can choose to have a circumcision done later. but once taken it can never be given back. Also there is a Jewish naming ceremony called a Brit Shalom. Not all Jews support circumcision. During a Brit Shalom a baby is welcomed to the Jewish faith and given a name WITHOUT cutting. I would think this would be a wonderful way to welcome your baby to a mixed faith parenthood. here is some information about Brit Shalom http://www.jewsagainstcircumcision.org/brisshalom.htm
Circumcision is not without risk. Many boy have complications, many need repeat surgeries, and most importantly foreskin is normal. It has 16 functions! Respect his body and the man he will one day become and leave the decision up to him.
Robbert - 9 years ago
Regardless of tradition circumcision is something that will seriously harm your child. I suggest you look carefully into all of the many arguments against this barbarous and horribly painfully rite. As other may well effect your relationship with your son in a deeply dramatic way.you should protect your child from harm first that in this case means protecting him FROM religion. A Jew is a Jew other he is circumcised or not. Let him are up his own mind when he is old enough have been a man. You owe him protection not mutilation.
Hassidim - 9 years ago
Why isn't there any NO response?
There is bias in this survey.
If the owner of the penis wants to get himself circumcised, he can do so when he turns 21. Anytime before that and the "choice" is NOT his.
As Jews, we no longer have to cut in order to BE Jews, and we certainly don't have to cut others who MIGHT BECOME Jews one day.
Keith - 9 years ago
Why isn't there a "NO" option? How about the human rights of the child? He has a right to decide for himself what religion he will affiliate with as well as what parts of his body he does or does not remove. The religious beliefs of his parents are irrelevant. It's his penis and his body, it's his choice.
faith - 9 years ago
As a jewish mother i have some quotations for you: what if you mark your son as a Jew and then he identifies as Hindu? Did you know that biblical circumcision was/is a small cut to the tip of the foreskin and not removal of the whole thing? Did you know there are NO medical benefits and that circumcision actually harms him and steals sexual pleasure? Why not let him choose as a man whether or not he wants to follow that mitzvah? Not one Jewish sect requires circumcision and in fact he will jot be seen as a Jew since you, his mother, are not Jewish.
Please respect your son's religious freedom and don't cut you/your husband's religion into him.
faith - 9 years ago
As a jewish mother i have some quotations for you: what if you mark your son as a Jew and then he identifies as Hindu? Did you know that biblical circumcision was/is a small cut to the tip of the foreskin and not removal of the whole thing? Did you know there are NO medical benefits and that circumcision actually harms him and steals sexual pleasure? Why not let him choose as a man whether or not he wants to follow that mitzvah? Not one Jewish sect requires circumcision and in fact he will jot be seen as a Jew since you, his mother, are not Jewish.
Please respect your son's religious freedom and don't cut you/your husband's religion into him.
Amanda - 9 years ago
"No. Religion shouldn't be forced upon a child when it inflicts physical harm." Should be an option. I would vote no. Absolutely not.
Theresa - 9 years ago
Why isn't "no" a choice. Let the child decide if he wants a part of his body removed.
How can the poll not include HIS BODY, HIS DECISION.
Not circumcising among Hindus is about a lot more than not being like Muslims. Hinduism centrally reveres the natural form.
Serafina Stokke - 9 years ago
Let the child decide. It is his body. When he is old enough to choose (say 18), he will do what he thinks is best. Remember that he will look Indian, that perhaps he will identify more with his Indian/Hindu heritage than with the Jewish side. As a teenager and when leaving your home for college or whatever, he will question his identity and then it is best that he decides what he wants for himself. The solution to the circumcision issue will come on its own. Better to wait than to be accused of depriving your son of what he feels he needs to be 100% Hindu.
gene - 9 years ago
This is a very nice column, a worthy addition to a very interesting journal. A world of diversity needs such sources exploring how it works in everyday life.
Circumcision is not depending on any religion. It is a medical and scientific procedure. Circumcision has lots of medical and scientific benefits. Circumcision is not the private property of any religion.
In India many Hindu boys are circumcised. Across the India many Hindu boys are circumcised like me with different reasons.
Statistics say everyday thousand of boys under go circumcision.
The foreskin has no value it has been proven. Foreskin is the extra inactive parts of human body.
Many Hindu men are circumcised In our country it is real fact. No one can judge the religion based on circumcision.
WHO recommended for circumcision to prevent many diseases. If circumcision is bad procedure WHO does not recommend it.
There is no relation in between circumcision and a particular religion.
The persons who decides to undergo circumcision can under go for circumcision.
I am belongs from Hindu religion and I'm circumcised due to medical reasons. Because I'm circumcised doesn't mean I am converted to other religion.
By birth I am Hindu, by faith I am Hindu, By live I am Hindu.
Once again I want to say that I am Hindu and I am circumcised.
I find it interesting that the comments are decidedly anti-circumcision. But we make all sorts of decisions for our children -- beginning with whether we will birth/adopt them into our family! Identity is an important legacy and gift we give them, and this gift has implications and limitations; there's no such thing as a free lunch. Circumcision is the first commandment, the mark that defines our intentions for ourselves and our families. To cavalierly dismiss this basic element of Jewish identity and loyalty to personal, individual autonomy will weaken the bonds between Jew and Jew and between Jew and Torah/tradition. The end point of this line of reasoning is that we are all our own little islands of identification, communities of one, devoted only to self-actualization.
What a loss!
(BTW, I write this as a heterodox -- that is, a non-Orthodox -- Jew.)
Good commentary by all. May I suggest to circumscribe the boy and name him : Hari Krishna. Thereby eliminating any and all obstacles. Nu, so what would Jesus do ?
Don't cut him. Please, do not cut him. This is far more than just a "cultural decision" that you are making- cutting into your son's genitals and removing his healthy, functional, erogenous tissue will impact him and his daily life experience EVERY SINGLE DAY. He could grow up incredibly bitter, knowing how close he came to being allowed to keep his entire body intact as "experts" here dispassionately discuss his unnecessary body modification. I know many men who are in pain every single day, physically and emotionally, because of a "casual choice" that a parent made for them, without considering the massive repercussions- I know I certainly would be! Given the year that I was born, if I had been born male, I would likely have been circumcised at birth. Thank god I was lucky enough to be born female, protected by tradition rather than left alone and exposed to the nightmare of genital mutilation at the dubious mercy of my parents' whims. There are many of us working to protect children's human rights... I personally have been fighting for more than ten years to end all child genital cutting- male, female, and intersex. Please research the functions of the foreskin, and watch a full video of infant circumcision being performed, from start to finish, with the volume up. Please protect your little boy. Thank you, Students For Genital Integrity.org
Brit Shalom is a non-cutting naming ceremony for newborn Jewish boys. It may be performed by a Rabbi or an experienced lay leader. If desired, Celebrants can aid parents in devising their own ceremony. This ceremony replaces Brit Milah (ritual circumcision).
hello momma, i understand you wanting to include both religions in the experiences of your child. I WOULD not circumcise him. It is my understanding that a whole body is integral to the Hindu faith. If you son connects more with his Hindu roots spiritually he will have his entire body. If he wants to identify more with the Jewish faith he can choose to have a circumcision done later. but once taken it can never be given back. Also there is a Jewish naming ceremony called a Brit Shalom. Not all Jews support circumcision. During a Brit Shalom a baby is welcomed to the Jewish faith and given a name WITHOUT cutting. I would think this would be a wonderful way to welcome your baby to a mixed faith parenthood. here is some information about Brit Shalom http://www.jewsagainstcircumcision.org/brisshalom.htm
Circumcision is not without risk. Many boy have complications, many need repeat surgeries, and most importantly foreskin is normal. It has 16 functions! Respect his body and the man he will one day become and leave the decision up to him.
Regardless of tradition circumcision is something that will seriously harm your child. I suggest you look carefully into all of the many arguments against this barbarous and horribly painfully rite. As other may well effect your relationship with your son in a deeply dramatic way.you should protect your child from harm first that in this case means protecting him FROM religion. A Jew is a Jew other he is circumcised or not. Let him are up his own mind when he is old enough have been a man. You owe him protection not mutilation.
Why isn't there any NO response?
There is bias in this survey.
If the owner of the penis wants to get himself circumcised, he can do so when he turns 21. Anytime before that and the "choice" is NOT his.
As Jews, we no longer have to cut in order to BE Jews, and we certainly don't have to cut others who MIGHT BECOME Jews one day.
Why isn't there a "NO" option? How about the human rights of the child? He has a right to decide for himself what religion he will affiliate with as well as what parts of his body he does or does not remove. The religious beliefs of his parents are irrelevant. It's his penis and his body, it's his choice.
As a jewish mother i have some quotations for you: what if you mark your son as a Jew and then he identifies as Hindu? Did you know that biblical circumcision was/is a small cut to the tip of the foreskin and not removal of the whole thing? Did you know there are NO medical benefits and that circumcision actually harms him and steals sexual pleasure? Why not let him choose as a man whether or not he wants to follow that mitzvah? Not one Jewish sect requires circumcision and in fact he will jot be seen as a Jew since you, his mother, are not Jewish.
Please respect your son's religious freedom and don't cut you/your husband's religion into him.
As a jewish mother i have some quotations for you: what if you mark your son as a Jew and then he identifies as Hindu? Did you know that biblical circumcision was/is a small cut to the tip of the foreskin and not removal of the whole thing? Did you know there are NO medical benefits and that circumcision actually harms him and steals sexual pleasure? Why not let him choose as a man whether or not he wants to follow that mitzvah? Not one Jewish sect requires circumcision and in fact he will jot be seen as a Jew since you, his mother, are not Jewish.
Please respect your son's religious freedom and don't cut you/your husband's religion into him.
"No. Religion shouldn't be forced upon a child when it inflicts physical harm." Should be an option. I would vote no. Absolutely not.
Why isn't "no" a choice. Let the child decide if he wants a part of his body removed.
How can the poll not include HIS BODY, HIS DECISION.
Not circumcising among Hindus is about a lot more than not being like Muslims. Hinduism centrally reveres the natural form.
Let the child decide. It is his body. When he is old enough to choose (say 18), he will do what he thinks is best. Remember that he will look Indian, that perhaps he will identify more with his Indian/Hindu heritage than with the Jewish side. As a teenager and when leaving your home for college or whatever, he will question his identity and then it is best that he decides what he wants for himself. The solution to the circumcision issue will come on its own. Better to wait than to be accused of depriving your son of what he feels he needs to be 100% Hindu.
This is a very nice column, a worthy addition to a very interesting journal. A world of diversity needs such sources exploring how it works in everyday life.