What is the importance of Circumcision to the different religions?

Answer 1

To enter into the covenant of Abraham. Jewish boys are circumcised when they are 8 days old because that is the specification in the Torah.

Vayikra (Leviticus) 12:3

"And on the eighth day, the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised."

The significance of circumcision is outlined in the verses below. Essentially, a male Jew who isn't circumcised isn't allowed to participate in a large part of Jewish life and ritual.

Bereishit (Genesis) 17:9-14

"And HaShem said to Abraham, "And you shall keep My covenant, you and your seed after you throughout their generations. This is My covenant, which you shall observe between Me and between you and between your seed after you, that every male among you be circumcised. And you shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall be as the sign of a covenant between Me and between you. And at the age of eight days, every male shall be circumcised to you throughout your generations, one that is born in the house, or one that is purchased with money, from any foreigner, who is not of your seed. Those born in the house and those purchased for money shall be circumcised, and My covenant shall be in your flesh as an everlasting covenant. And an uncircumcised male, who will not circumcise the flesh of his foreskin-that soul will be cut off from its people; he has broken My covenant."

Answer 2

Circumcision is performed on a Jewish boy when he reaches 8 days old (or later, if health concerns require a delay), and it is seen as a sign of the covenant between G-d and Jewish men. All major branches of Judaism practice circumcision.

Answer 3

It is a blood ritual to force the child to be associated with the particular religion regardless of the child's wishes. In short a blood ritual of a sacrifice to force him to stay in the culture.

Answer 4

Any adult person should have the right to mutilate themselves to their hearts content. However there is no significance in the parents of a child being able to mutilate the sexual organ of a child because of religious or social conditioning and they are in fact the only reason that this procedure is carried out. Medical science now sees the practice as harmful to put it mildly.

Answer 5

Keeping in mind that there is generally no reason for circumcision, other then religious compunction and a few other reasons that cultural or psychological. and that circumcision is in fact damaging to the function of the penis and the body. the culture of a society will cause increased revulsion with this practice at it becomes better educated and wakes up to the cruelty involved in subjecting its children to this painful and traumatising practice. Cultures are wound around the conditions that a society has to live in. They often surround the foods conditions of harvest, maintenance of health, reasoning and methods of conquest, religions and their celebrations also come into it and often these demand blood sacrifices especially from their children as they have not jet become able to defend themselves against unreasoning aggression nor do they make a contribution to society that will be missed with their demise. Religious culture is more then likely based on fear and as people become more knowledgeable they become less fearful.

Answer 6

It is a part of our covenant with HaShem, the creator. Jewish men who aren't circumcised, even due to health reasons, are prohibited in fully participating from Jewish life and rituals.