Let’s Talk about Circumcision–Theologically

Last updated on: September 1, 2021 at 8:45 am by Roger E. Olson

Let’s Talk about Circumcision–Theologically 2021-09-01T08:45:20-05:00 Roger E. Olson

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Let’s Talk about Circumcision—Theologically

*I realize this is an extremely sensitive subject and some people may not want to read this essay for that reason. Please stop now if you might be offended by this essay or the ensuing discussion (which I will monitor and moderate very carefully). I promise to avoid all vulgarity, but what is vulgar for some is not vulgar for others, so if you suspect this whole subject is vulgar to you, please don’t read on.*

Two practices cause me to write about circumcision. First, some cultures still routinely practice what is known as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) on extremely young females and it is widely condemned outside of those cultures—as inhumane and cruel. I agree with that assessment. The whole world needs to condemn this practice and it needs to be made illegal. It is, of course, already illegal in many countries. But it is still being practiced in some places in the world and I fully support the efforts to stop it through education, persuasion and, when those fail, legal means.

Second, my home country, the United States of America, is one of the last countries in the world where male circumcision is routinely practiced for non-religious and non-medical reasons. That is, at least until recently, most male babies born in the U.S. were routinely circumcised even if their parents were not Jewish. Even if they are Jewish it can sometimes get highly controversial—as in the case a few years ago where a Jewish parent wanted his pre-adolescent son circumcised. (He was not, for some reason, when he was an infant.) The case went through the courts and I don’t remember the outcome. My memory, faulty as it may be, is that the boy did not want to be circumcised and the mother did not support it, either. But the father had joint custody. Beyond that I don’t recall the details. But that is a rare case about which I would say–let the son wait until he is at least sixteen to decide.

*Sidebar: The opinions expressed here are my own (or those of the guest writer); I do not speak for any other person, group or organization; nor do I imply that the opinions expressed here reflect those of any other person, group or organization unless I say so specifically. Before commenting read the entire post and the “Note to commenters” at its end.*

After much consideration, I have come to the conclusion that, although male circumcision is not comparable with FGM as to lifelong negative consequences, it is still involuntary mutilation and therefore ought to be banned—except perhaps for babies born into religions that require it for membership. In other words, a religious exemption should be made.

The vast majority of male infants born in the United States were routinely circumcised shortly after birth—until recently. In recent years the practice has been to give parents the choice—either to have their infant son circumcised or not. Reliable statistics are hard to come by, but my impression is that it is about a sixty percent/forty percent split. About sixty percent of parents have their infant sons circumcised, often only “so that he will look like his father,” and about forty percent are not.

Some people believe that circumcision should be universal because medical studies suggest that circumcision can lower the chance of the male later passing on venereal diseases and even HIV to sex partners. However, parents can be educated to teach their sons to clean their genitals properly with the same positive result. The issue is not the foreskin itself but cleanliness.

The principle here is consent to bodily mutilation. It is my opinion that any permanent body mutilation should be consented to—after a certain age is reached. For example sixteen. There is an “age of consent” for many things including sex, alcohol consumption, use of tobacco, etc. Even tattooing requires consent. Parents cannot have a child under a certain age (determined by states) tattooed. Receiving a tattoo requires informed consent. The same principle should apply to circumcision.

Another example is one about which most people remain unaware. During the mid-20th century, some doctors and parents in certain eastern European countries routinely removed childrens’ appendixes in order to prevent the rupture of the appendix. Apparently it was believed that this was a fairly common cause of death. It probably wasn’t. In any case, many children were subjected to unnecessary appendectomies that were painful and left them with scars. This procedure is called “prophylactic appendectomy” and has been almost completely abandoned now. I oppose it and anything like it—until the age of mature consent when it may be done voluntarily.

Now, of course, I anticipate objections based on the Old Testament commandment by God to the Hebrew people to circumcise their infant sons. However, that carries no weight except for Hebrew people, followers of the Jewish faith. (Some Muslims also.) For Christians, clearly the New Testament lifts that commandment. There is no Christian reason to circumcise infant boys.

Also, there have been cases, in the United States but even more elsewhere, where circumcision has been poorly inflicted with devastating results. In one well-known and often talked about case a boy’s penis was so mutilated at circumcision that it had to be removed. He was raised as a girl and eventually committed suicide. I have seen one or two documentaries about this tragic case.

During the 1980s and 1990s I taught cohorts of nurses in a college “degree completion program.” They were almost all LPNs who needed a bachelor’s degree to pursue RN status. Several times I raised the question of male circumcision and many of them reported having witnessed cases where no anesthesia was used and the infant suffered great pain. Even when anesthesia is used, infection can result from the surgery. And the procedure is absolutely unnecessary.

Theologically, I believe in the integrity of the human body and do not believe it should be unnecessarily altered. I also believe any unnecessary permanent alteration should be done only with mature consent.

Here I simply add my voice to the growing chorus of voices calling for an end to routine male circumcision. Even parents who want their infant son circumcised should be denied—unless there is some compelling medical reason for it. I support the previously mentioned religious exception.. I would support no legal penalty for Jewish and Muslim parents who have their sons circumcised. My opposition is to medical professionals who perform the surgery ONLY because the parents want it done. They should say no and educate the parents about the benefits of teaching their son(s) how to clean themselves as they grow older.

*Note to commenters: This blog is not a discussion board; please respond with a question or comment only to me. If you do not share my evangelical Christian perspective (very broadly defined), feel free to ask a question for clarification, but know that this is not a space for debating incommensurate perspectives/worldviews. In any case, know that there is no guarantee that your question or comment will be posted by the moderator or answered by the writer. If you hope for your question or comment to appear here and be answered or responded to, make sure it is civil, respectful, and “on topic.” Do not comment if you have not read the entire post and do not misrepresent what it says. Keep any comment (including questions) to minimal length; do not post essays, sermons or testimonies here. Do not post links to internet sites here. This is a space for expressions of the blogger’s (or guest writers’) opinions and constructive dialogue among evangelical Christians (very broadly defined).

Uncategorized

Previous Post

August 29, 2021

Let's Talk about Cremation--Theologically

Next Post

September 2, 2021 Let's Talk about Correctness (Political)--Theologically

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Against Liberal Theology Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Four beasts rose from the sea—one like a lion with eagle's wings, one like a bear, one like a leopard, and a fourth terrifying beast. What did these represent?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Four kingdoms Four kings Four judgments Four ages