Ritual Circumcision Process includes Blood Sucking

[Cleon]

Just mitpicking about the terminology: there is no such thing as the "orthodox sect" any more than there is the "protestant sect".

A sect implies that there is a leader, an organization of the believers, a heirarchy that all members should belong to and obey.

There is no such thing in orthodox judaism; it is merely a adjective used to describe all jews that are observant.

The reason I am being nitpicky about this is that the hassidic community IS divided into various sects, and some people confuse those sects with orthodox jews in general--which is a bit like confusing the Amish with protestants in general.

While your point about the Orthodox not being a "sect" is generally correct, it's also incorrect to say that it's just a term for observant Jews. Conservative Jews are also observant--not to the level of the Orthodox, but they still keep kosher and try to follow the other parts of Halachah.

I generally see the Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist, etc. as "trends," since as you say they're not sects. The Chassidim I see as a trend within Orthodoxy, divided into a number of various sects.

 

[hgc]

I refer to the Hassids as "black-hat orthodox." That way everyone knows who I'm talking about.

 

[Mycroft]

Then it would be a good question, to ask why christians don't have this ritual. Considering that all three religions share so much.

Skeptic’s answer is more historically complete than mine could be, but from a religious point of view, Christians believe that the coming of Christ created a new covenant between man and God and that the old laws no longer applied.

 

[asthmatic camel]

Ouch, ouch, ouch. I suppose I must be something of a masochist to have read this entire thread, but at least it was my decision to do so.

Adults frequently choose to have their genitals pierced and surgically altered for cosmetic and/or what I find to be very dubious reasons. That's fine. If people wish to have their penises or clitorises mutilated then they should have every right to go ahead (after due psychiatric evaluation.)

However, it's quite beyond my comprehension how any sane parent could go through nine months of worry to produce a cute little piece of new humanity, and then cut bits off it; specifically very delicate and sensitive bits.

It's a mad mad mad mad mad mad world alright.

 

[Batman Jr.]

Just mitpicking about the terminology: there is no such thing as the "orthodox sect" any more than there is the "protestant sect".

A sect implies that there is a leader, an organization of the believers, a heirarchy that all members should belong to and obey.

There is no such thing in orthodox judaism; it is merely a adjective used to describe all jews that are observant.

The reason I am being nitpicky about this is that the hassidic community IS divided into various sects, and some people confuse those sects with orthodox jews in general--which is a bit like confusing the Amish with protestants in general.

A sect's qualification as a sect is just at least one distinctive doctrinal difference that separates it from the larger group to which it belongs. Differences in religious interpretation constitute doctrinal differences. Hence, the word "sect." And also, as Cleon pointed out, the modifier "Orthodox" puts much narrower limits on the religious field of view than those closest together that would admit all those observant.

 

[Bentspoon]

Disgusting

I haven't read all the posts - some are quite humorous

I have only one thing to say

DISGUSTING - the whole thing - the whole idea - the sucking just makes it that much more disgusting

That's DISGUSTING if you didn't get it (say disgusting like Basil Faulty)

When my son was born our pediatrician practically insisted on it. I had to corner him logically and got him to admit that it had no merit. I am sure he pushed on those before and after me

As to the poster who mentioned smegma

I hope you keep your ears clean - perhaps they should be removed for hygenic reasons

Bentspoon

 

[Anathema]

Not all female circumcision involves clitorectomy. Sometimes, it's just a bit of trim on the old labia.

Personally, I think it looks better; not all that floppy stuff dangling about; perhaps less chance of nasty stuff growing down there...the benefits just multiply.

I advocate for labia trimming for female infants, to pretty the goods up a bit, and who knows --- it just might possibly some day have some nearly-negligible health benefit. Give them a little anaesthetic, and get it over with before they can have any memory of the trauma. After all, it's my sense of aesthetics that counts...and a streamlined cooter looks tighter and better.

 

[The Fool]

Not all female circumcision involves clitorectomy. Sometimes, it's just a bit of trim on the old labia.

Personally, I think it looks better; not all that floppy stuff dangling about; perhaps less chance of nasty stuff growing down there...the benefits just multiply.

I advocate for labia trimming for female infants, to pretty the goods up a bit, and who knows --- it just might possibly some day have some nearly-negligible health benefit. Give them a little anaesthetic, and get it over with before they can have any memory of the trauma. After all, it's my sense of aesthetics that counts...and a streamlined cooter looks tighter and better.

The only thing I would suggest is that you try to include some support from a god or two.....remember, god likes bits chopped off our naughty bits too.

 

[Meadmaker]

Not all Orthodox Jews believe in the literal truth of the Bible. I think what they believe is the literal interpretation of the Law. In other words, evolution might have happened, but when God said don't eat pigs, he meant it.

Reform Jews, on the other hand, tend to believe that the Law was given to goat-herders in the desert 3000 years ago, and does not need to be followed literally today. The principles are what is important. Then, it was unsafe to eat pigs. Today, pigs are safe. Have a ham sandwich, with cheese. A lot of Reform Jews would keep kosher, or at least nothing so blatanly unkosher as a ham and cheese sandwich, out of respect for tradition, as opposed to believing that God really thinks it is important.

My kid is an uncircumcised Jewish kid. I figured God put it there, who was I to have it chopped off?

But it's weird what is considered "acceptable". When getting ready for my son's naming ceremony, we were discussing what to do with the Rabbi, at a reform temple. The subject of the kosher laws had already come up, and the fact that we didn't keep kosher didn't phase him in the least. But when we said our son was uncircumcised, you could tell he was really disturbed. It was obvious that, to him, that one mattered.

One more thought, to play Devil's advocate. We were discussing circumcision with some friends of ours (not Jewish if it matters) and they said that absolutely they had circumcised their son. She was a nurse, and she said that she knew that if there was ever a time when you couldn't keep it clean yourself, no one was going to do it for you. Meanwhile, he had had a friend who was circumcised when he was in college, after developing an infection. The friend was debillitated for several days, and in intense pain that lasted weeks. So, I suppose there are two sides to the story.

 

[kimiko]

She was a nurse, and she said that she knew that if there was ever a time when you couldn't keep it clean yourself, no one was going to do it for you.

Nursing: the caring profession. Because we'll wipe your ass, but won't sponge off smegma.