Glad this thread is getting a little attention. BTW, the information in my first post was from a couple of websites, sporadically copied & pasted.
I don't feel like c&p quotes, so yeah.
moo- "Thread should be locked btw. Considering the large number of males in the US circumcised against their will this sort of thing should not be discussed on an underage forum. "
I beg to differ. People should be educated, so they can make this very important decision in the future for the kids they may have. Why is being underaged an excuse not to be subjected to real life problems? A 10 year old should know this, and question their parents about it.
"debate started. (sort of)
Thats the Jewish belief. if youre not jewish, it doesnt really affect you."
According to Genesis, God told Abraham to circumcise himself, his household and his slaves as an everlasting covenant in their flesh. Those who were not circumcised were to be 'cut off' from their people (Genesis 17:10-14). Note the connection between circumcision and slavery. It is alluded to in the New Testament.
Abraham, his descendants and those who were bought with their money (Genesis 17:12-13). Also, all the males of a household were to be circumcised if one of them wanted to join in the Passover celebrations (Exodus 12:43-49).
However, there is a puzzle. Laws commanding circumcision are said to come through Moses (e.g. Leviticus 12), but the Children of Israel abandoned circumcision during Moses' leadership (Joshua 5: 4-7). Exodus 4: 24-26 tells us that Moses had not circumcised his own son.
This suggests several scribal traditions. In the first, Moses did not practice circumcision, and the custom was abandoned under his leadership (Joshua 5: 4-7). In the second his wife is made to conform to the practice (Exodus 4: 24-26). Finally, in the third tradition, he is given the command to circumcise from the LORD himself.
So yeah, got that last bit about God from some website.