Charles

Cheryl, I learned things about circumcision I never knew, by reading your investigation, and the topic is not a new one to me. I’d like to state that when people see the word “circumcision,” it’s tragic that it could ever appear in any context other than applying to males. It was a refresher to me about the Council of Jerusalem deciding that male converts need not have their foreskins cut off. I am thinking the decision was questionable at least on the basis of sanitation—the Middle East is a hot and arid region, and the foreskin makes cleanliness difficult. A tributary issue is how much skin was removed, and I have read that when Jews in Greece and Rome wanted to conceal their status, they could “lengthen” the remaining skin. That caused their leaders to circumcise more skin, so that no disguising of circumcised status could be accomplished. Main thing I learned is about the foreskin of the penis representing disobedience and sin, so it’s quite logical that God would command it has to be circumcised. I re-read everything and I feel your scholarly views are correct. I feel the church has not had nearly enough to say about circumcision and how important it was in God’s eyes for every male to be submitted to it. The references to women not needing, or having any comparable requirement, are deeply interesting. Who ever heard of the Virgin Mary being circumcised? The fact that Christ had to be circumcised on the 8th day should settle arguments. As to circumcision not being spiritually mandatory today, I feel more comfortable at some distance from that view. I am happy that my mother’s doctor addressed my foreskin by circumcising it. I believe God wants us to be clean physically as well as spiritually; campaigns against circumcision as routine for baby boys are misguided. Pat Robertson said years ago he “could not support a campaign against circumcision,” and medical authorities have well established that cutting off a male’s foreskin, while painful temporarily, confers health benefits for himself and his partner. Bernadine Healy M.D., (a cardiologist) had a nice article in US News & World Report, “Don’t Be Afraid To Circumcise Your Baby Boy.” Jill Stanek, who has a Christian website, says she is an advocate of male circumcision. If males lose sight of the value of circumcision, females should consider it appropriate to remind us. But may I suggest if you re-do the artwork in the “Restriction By Circumcision” illustration, replace the folding utility knife with a scalpel or a Gomco circumcision clamp. Still a very thoughtful—and correct—illustration. Very respectfully yours.