Salaam, my Muslims and Muslimahs
My name is Hassan. I am 38. I am originally from Saudi Arabia. I have been a Muslim from birth. As a Muslim, I have been exposed to circumcision my entire life and I was circumcised myself. I am not condemning those who choose to circumcise themselves but I would like to point out some facts about circumcision in Islam.
Circumcision is not mentioned in the Qu'ran. It is mentioned in a Hadith. It is called a fitrah but there is no compulsion to circumcise males or females. Islam is a religion that puts a lot of importance on personal hygiene and in the time of the Prophet (PBUH), we Muslims were living in a desert climate with little water to waste on cleaning foreskin. Unlike circumcision in Judaism, circumcision is not about a pact with Allah. It's purely for cleanliness purposes. However, because we now have running water and soap, it is just as clean to keep a foreskin and thanks to science, we know that having a foreskin can improve our sex lives with our wives, preserve sensitivity and protect our organ from exposure to the elements.
I believe circumcision can impact the view of sex in an unholy way. The media promotes circumcision as a way to decrease the chances of getting an STDs, leading many young people including Muslims to believe if they are circumcised, they may have sex with whoever they'd like. It is like giving your teen son a box of condoms or putting your teen daughter on birth control pills. It's for the assumption that they are going to have sex and probably with multiple partners. It makes people believe that circumcision will elimate consquences for their actions. Just like condoms and birth control pills do not always work, circumcision does not always work but many people are unaware of that. Remember that if you are following Allah's laws and only having sex within your marriage, you will not have to worry about disease.
Peace be upon you,
Hassan
Friday, March 18, 2011
Circumcision and Religion
Bahá'í - Baha'i does not require circumcision.
Buddhism - Buddhism forbids circumcision. Buddha himself had an intact penis.
Catholicism - Three Popes (Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Eugene IV, and Pope Puis XII) have condemned or outlawed circumcision.
Christianity - Christianity does not require circumcision and some sects ban it. "Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law." - Galacians 5:2-3, King James Version
Hinduism - Hinduism does not require circumcision nor do the Vedas mention it. However, ahimsa promotes non-violence. Forcibly removing part of a child's genitals against his will for no reason qualifies as a violent act.
Islam - Circumcision, male or female, is not mentioned in the Holy Qu'ran. See Salaam, Muslims and Muslimahs.
Jainism - Jainism forbids circumcision because it is seen as an act of violence.
Judaism - Circumcision violates many Jewish values such as V'ahavta l'rayaha kamohkha, Tzedakah, Anava, Tikkun olam, Shalom bayit, Hakhnasat orhim, Talmud torah, and Gemilut hasadim. The validity that Genesis originally contained the requirement of circumcision is widely disputed and many scholars believe Jews took the practice from Ancient Egyptians. See Dear Fellow Jews.
Neo-Paganism - Neo-Paganism does not require circumcision.
Rastafarianism - Amputation is a sin in Rastafarism. As circumcision is an amputation of the foreskin, it is forbidden.
Satanism - Satanism does not require circumcision.
Scientology - Scientology does not require circumcision.
Shintoism - Shintoism does not require circumcision.
Sikhism - Sikhism forbids circumcision. "Because of the love of woman, circumcision is done; I don't believe in it, O Siblings of Destiny." - Sri Guru Granth Sahib
Wicca - Wicca does not require circumcision.
Buddhism - Buddhism forbids circumcision. Buddha himself had an intact penis.
Catholicism - Three Popes (Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Eugene IV, and Pope Puis XII) have condemned or outlawed circumcision.
Christianity - Christianity does not require circumcision and some sects ban it. "Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law." - Galacians 5:2-3, King James Version
Hinduism - Hinduism does not require circumcision nor do the Vedas mention it. However, ahimsa promotes non-violence. Forcibly removing part of a child's genitals against his will for no reason qualifies as a violent act.
Islam - Circumcision, male or female, is not mentioned in the Holy Qu'ran. See Salaam, Muslims and Muslimahs.
Jainism - Jainism forbids circumcision because it is seen as an act of violence.
Judaism - Circumcision violates many Jewish values such as V'ahavta l'rayaha kamohkha, Tzedakah, Anava, Tikkun olam, Shalom bayit, Hakhnasat orhim, Talmud torah, and Gemilut hasadim. The validity that Genesis originally contained the requirement of circumcision is widely disputed and many scholars believe Jews took the practice from Ancient Egyptians. See Dear Fellow Jews.
Neo-Paganism - Neo-Paganism does not require circumcision.
Rastafarianism - Amputation is a sin in Rastafarism. As circumcision is an amputation of the foreskin, it is forbidden.
Satanism - Satanism does not require circumcision.
Scientology - Scientology does not require circumcision.
Shintoism - Shintoism does not require circumcision.
Sikhism - Sikhism forbids circumcision. "Because of the love of woman, circumcision is done; I don't believe in it, O Siblings of Destiny." - Sri Guru Granth Sahib
Wicca - Wicca does not require circumcision.
Karyn's Story
Karyn's Story
In 2001, I had been an OBGYN for 8 years. I regularly performed circumcision on male infants. As a medical professional, I know there's really no reason to circumcise (unless you have a case of severe phimosis or something similar) but circumcision was a large portion of my income and unfortunately, in a case of bad karma, my greed caught up to me in June 2001.
I had circumcised four other male children before him. Everything had gone okay. The babies cried, like all of them do, but I bandaged them up and sent them back on their way. The fifth child, whose name I won't disclose, the nurses held him down and he cried loudly when I cut his foreskin away. I sent the foreskin to the labs downstairs to be used for medical procedures and I sent the child back to NICU. 45 minutes later, his heart stopped.
As a doctor, I'd heard and read many stories about circumcision killing children but I never thought it would hit so close to me. I thought "those doctors were just being irresponsible and they did something wrong." But what I did was standard procedure. Though I didn't lose my license, I feel that I deserved to. Any doctor who performs a surgery that risks a child's life to line their pockets is not thinking about their patient's health. I quit my job as an OBGYN, unable to cope with the guilt and the stress of seeing parents demand their child be circumcised even after I told them the risks. Though the law says I'm not responsible and his parents aren't responsible, we very much are. If his parents had taken the time to research about their son's health and I had not seen dollar signs, he would be alive now.
After his death, I sunk into a deep depression and about 9 months into it, I decided that the best thing I could do for him is help prevent his story from repeating. It's the least I owe him. After searching the internet, I discovered the word "intactivism" (activism for outlawing male circumcision). I've since done some work for NOHARMM and tried to spread the word to my friends. I found work at a maternity that is "baby and mother friendly," where circumcision is not performed, breastfeeding is automatic, and the baby is not kept from the mother. It's been difficult to educate others because many men are sensitive about the fact that their parents put their life at risk and parents are sensitive about the fact that they know what they've done is wrong after they know the truth so people would rather ignore it and keep it going. They think "I had it done and I turned out fine so my son will be fine." Until 2001, I had never known the sheer truth there is to the phrase "Knowledge is power." In the case of circumcision, knowledge is the biggest power and defense their is.
Submitted by Karyn from Maryland, USA. If you wish to comment on this story or contact Karyn, please post in the comments section below.
In 2001, I had been an OBGYN for 8 years. I regularly performed circumcision on male infants. As a medical professional, I know there's really no reason to circumcise (unless you have a case of severe phimosis or something similar) but circumcision was a large portion of my income and unfortunately, in a case of bad karma, my greed caught up to me in June 2001.
I had circumcised four other male children before him. Everything had gone okay. The babies cried, like all of them do, but I bandaged them up and sent them back on their way. The fifth child, whose name I won't disclose, the nurses held him down and he cried loudly when I cut his foreskin away. I sent the foreskin to the labs downstairs to be used for medical procedures and I sent the child back to NICU. 45 minutes later, his heart stopped.
As a doctor, I'd heard and read many stories about circumcision killing children but I never thought it would hit so close to me. I thought "those doctors were just being irresponsible and they did something wrong." But what I did was standard procedure. Though I didn't lose my license, I feel that I deserved to. Any doctor who performs a surgery that risks a child's life to line their pockets is not thinking about their patient's health. I quit my job as an OBGYN, unable to cope with the guilt and the stress of seeing parents demand their child be circumcised even after I told them the risks. Though the law says I'm not responsible and his parents aren't responsible, we very much are. If his parents had taken the time to research about their son's health and I had not seen dollar signs, he would be alive now.
After his death, I sunk into a deep depression and about 9 months into it, I decided that the best thing I could do for him is help prevent his story from repeating. It's the least I owe him. After searching the internet, I discovered the word "intactivism" (activism for outlawing male circumcision). I've since done some work for NOHARMM and tried to spread the word to my friends. I found work at a maternity that is "baby and mother friendly," where circumcision is not performed, breastfeeding is automatic, and the baby is not kept from the mother. It's been difficult to educate others because many men are sensitive about the fact that their parents put their life at risk and parents are sensitive about the fact that they know what they've done is wrong after they know the truth so people would rather ignore it and keep it going. They think "I had it done and I turned out fine so my son will be fine." Until 2001, I had never known the sheer truth there is to the phrase "Knowledge is power." In the case of circumcision, knowledge is the biggest power and defense their is.
Submitted by Karyn from Maryland, USA. If you wish to comment on this story or contact Karyn, please post in the comments section below.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Dear Fellow Jews
Dear Fellow Jews,
My name is Naomi. I'm a Jewish mother of 3 and currently living in Boston. As a Jew, I understand the religious and social pressure to circumcise your sons. It's apart of the Law. However, I believe, after many years of never questioning circumcision, that it goes against Jewish values. And I'm going to explain why I think so if you'll please read.
Circumcision risks life.
Circumcision is commanded by the Torah. However, the Law also places a high value on the preservation on life. The preservation of life is so important that if needed, we may break the Law. Circumcision poses a very real death threat to anyone, adult or child, who undergoes it. Forcing your child (and yes, you are forcing because he cannot consent) to be circumcised risks his life. Even in modern day with sanitary tools and techniques and trained professionals, death is always a lurking possibility. One thing I believe the Tanakh teaches us is to not go out of our way to risk human life and one thing I believe the history of Jews teaches us is to not take life for granted. To deny your child a chance of life is certainly not apart of my Jewish values.
G-d made us perfect.
If man is made in the image of G-d as our Torah tells us, then man is perfect as he is. I believe altering G-d's creation is a form of blasphemy. It's saying that G-d, who chose to put a healthy body part on all men, made a mistake that had to be corrected.
Circumcision will affect sex.
Judaism is a religion that no doubts places much emphasis on the importance of a healthy sex life with one's spouse. Studies show that removing the foreskin can affect both spouse's sexual pleasure negatively. Circumcised penises are unable to keep a woman lubricated properly during sex and can cause inflammation of vaginal walls (which can lead to UTIs and discomfort to the point that a woman may have to abstain from sex for several days to recover). The Tanakh gives us many laws on how to have healthy sex lives and circumcision can interfere with that.
It's no longer the mark of a Jew.
Circumcision was once considered the mark of a Jew; a sign of our convenant with G-d. However, circumcision is no longer the mark of a Jew. Christians, Muslims, Americans, and African tribes regularly circumcise their males. There are more circumcised non-Jews than all Jews combined. This makes circumcision obsolete in Jewish identity. Jewish identity is so much more colorful and historical than circumcision. It was also a practice of the Ancient Egyptians, who enslaved us. Should we really carry on the practices and beliefs of those who brought such hardship to our people?
Anyone born to a Jewish mother/father/parent is Jewish.
Depending on your sect of Judaism, anyone born to a Jewish mother/father/parent is a Jew and always will be. This alone is enough to establish that a man is a member of the Jewish community from birth. Circumcision will not make a man more of a Jew or a better Jew. There are no degrees of Jewish-ness. You either are or you aren't. Circumcision won't give you Jewish-ness or make you a Jew.
We no longer practice all Jewish laws.
We don't kill men for sleeping with other men because we know that sexuality isn't a choice. We no longer practice slavery and are (usually) against it because we believe all people have rights. Most of us no longer abide by a ger to divorce and remarry because we think that is unfair to a woman ("agunah"). More than half of us probably don't even keep Kosher. Many of us don't even marry Jews. Judaism has evolved and changed with the times as Jews have become more away of the effects certain laws and practices have on mankind and the world. If we regularly do away with the practicing of these laws, some of which (like not keeping Kosher and marrying non-Jews) are damaging to the survival of Judaism, why is circumcision still carried on when it causes many social and medical problems for Jewish men everywhere everyday?
What I am trying to explain is that a man's Jewish-ness is not based upon his circumcision. There are many Jews in the past, present, and future who were unable to be circumcised (either due to the law forbidding it, lack of access to a mohel, or for health problems like hemophilia) but they were most definitely Jews nonetheless. Though the Jewish community is international and divided by oceans and borders, we are all united under G-d and we feel the spirits of our culture and fellow Jews within us at all times. To outcast men from our community or deny them the right to take part in our beautiful traditions because they are uncircumcised is rather unhospitable and not what I believe G-d would want us to do. Does not the Torah give us numerous stories about the joys and rewards of being welcoming to others and the dangers of turning others away? It was because Angels were welcomed that Sarah was able to conceive and it was because of Sodom's inhospitality that the city was destroyed.
So I am humbly asking all fellow Jews who read this letter to please take some time to reflect upon the issues I've covered here. Thank you for your time and I gladly appreciate it.
Sincerely,
Naomi
My name is Naomi. I'm a Jewish mother of 3 and currently living in Boston. As a Jew, I understand the religious and social pressure to circumcise your sons. It's apart of the Law. However, I believe, after many years of never questioning circumcision, that it goes against Jewish values. And I'm going to explain why I think so if you'll please read.
Circumcision risks life.
Circumcision is commanded by the Torah. However, the Law also places a high value on the preservation on life. The preservation of life is so important that if needed, we may break the Law. Circumcision poses a very real death threat to anyone, adult or child, who undergoes it. Forcing your child (and yes, you are forcing because he cannot consent) to be circumcised risks his life. Even in modern day with sanitary tools and techniques and trained professionals, death is always a lurking possibility. One thing I believe the Tanakh teaches us is to not go out of our way to risk human life and one thing I believe the history of Jews teaches us is to not take life for granted. To deny your child a chance of life is certainly not apart of my Jewish values.
G-d made us perfect.
If man is made in the image of G-d as our Torah tells us, then man is perfect as he is. I believe altering G-d's creation is a form of blasphemy. It's saying that G-d, who chose to put a healthy body part on all men, made a mistake that had to be corrected.
Circumcision will affect sex.
Judaism is a religion that no doubts places much emphasis on the importance of a healthy sex life with one's spouse. Studies show that removing the foreskin can affect both spouse's sexual pleasure negatively. Circumcised penises are unable to keep a woman lubricated properly during sex and can cause inflammation of vaginal walls (which can lead to UTIs and discomfort to the point that a woman may have to abstain from sex for several days to recover). The Tanakh gives us many laws on how to have healthy sex lives and circumcision can interfere with that.
It's no longer the mark of a Jew.
Circumcision was once considered the mark of a Jew; a sign of our convenant with G-d. However, circumcision is no longer the mark of a Jew. Christians, Muslims, Americans, and African tribes regularly circumcise their males. There are more circumcised non-Jews than all Jews combined. This makes circumcision obsolete in Jewish identity. Jewish identity is so much more colorful and historical than circumcision. It was also a practice of the Ancient Egyptians, who enslaved us. Should we really carry on the practices and beliefs of those who brought such hardship to our people?
Anyone born to a Jewish mother/father/parent is Jewish.
Depending on your sect of Judaism, anyone born to a Jewish mother/father/parent is a Jew and always will be. This alone is enough to establish that a man is a member of the Jewish community from birth. Circumcision will not make a man more of a Jew or a better Jew. There are no degrees of Jewish-ness. You either are or you aren't. Circumcision won't give you Jewish-ness or make you a Jew.
We no longer practice all Jewish laws.
We don't kill men for sleeping with other men because we know that sexuality isn't a choice. We no longer practice slavery and are (usually) against it because we believe all people have rights. Most of us no longer abide by a ger to divorce and remarry because we think that is unfair to a woman ("agunah"). More than half of us probably don't even keep Kosher. Many of us don't even marry Jews. Judaism has evolved and changed with the times as Jews have become more away of the effects certain laws and practices have on mankind and the world. If we regularly do away with the practicing of these laws, some of which (like not keeping Kosher and marrying non-Jews) are damaging to the survival of Judaism, why is circumcision still carried on when it causes many social and medical problems for Jewish men everywhere everyday?
What I am trying to explain is that a man's Jewish-ness is not based upon his circumcision. There are many Jews in the past, present, and future who were unable to be circumcised (either due to the law forbidding it, lack of access to a mohel, or for health problems like hemophilia) but they were most definitely Jews nonetheless. Though the Jewish community is international and divided by oceans and borders, we are all united under G-d and we feel the spirits of our culture and fellow Jews within us at all times. To outcast men from our community or deny them the right to take part in our beautiful traditions because they are uncircumcised is rather unhospitable and not what I believe G-d would want us to do. Does not the Torah give us numerous stories about the joys and rewards of being welcoming to others and the dangers of turning others away? It was because Angels were welcomed that Sarah was able to conceive and it was because of Sodom's inhospitality that the city was destroyed.
So I am humbly asking all fellow Jews who read this letter to please take some time to reflect upon the issues I've covered here. Thank you for your time and I gladly appreciate it.
Sincerely,
Naomi
Ask Yourself
1. Are you willing to risk your son's life? - Circumcison kills more than 100 children in the USA every year.
2. Are you willing to risk your son's penis and/or testicles being partially or fully amputated? - Necrosis and gangrene are possible and can lead to the amputation of not only the penis and testicles but surrounding skin as well.
3. Are you willing to risk your son being socially outcasted? - Only 1/3 of American children from 2009 are circumcised.
4. Are you willing to leave your son with a smaller penis? - Removing part of the penis will leave it smaller and thinner.
5. Are you willing to take away a large portion of your son's sexual pleasure? - Circumcison will remove at least 10,000 of his nerve endings.
6. Are you willing to pay for a surgery that is medically unnecessary? - Routine circumcision is never necessary. There are much better things you can do with $400. You can start a college fund, start a life insurance policy or buy a savings bond for your son.
7. Are you willing to let yourself and your son be exploited by the medical industry? - Foreskin is a big business. Hospitals and doctors want you to circumcise your son because they profit from it. OBGYNs regularly supplement their income by performing circumcision and hospitals sell your son's foreskin to make skin grafts, to research companies, and to make beauty care products. Circumcision surgery alone generated more than $400 million in 2005.
8. Are you willing to disregard your son's rights to his own body? - Circumcision violates your son's right to his body. As circumcision will not save his life, can kill him, and alters his body forever and he cannot consent to it, it is most definitely a violation of his personal choice.
2. Are you willing to risk your son's penis and/or testicles being partially or fully amputated? - Necrosis and gangrene are possible and can lead to the amputation of not only the penis and testicles but surrounding skin as well.
3. Are you willing to risk your son being socially outcasted? - Only 1/3 of American children from 2009 are circumcised.
4. Are you willing to leave your son with a smaller penis? - Removing part of the penis will leave it smaller and thinner.
5. Are you willing to take away a large portion of your son's sexual pleasure? - Circumcison will remove at least 10,000 of his nerve endings.
6. Are you willing to pay for a surgery that is medically unnecessary? - Routine circumcision is never necessary. There are much better things you can do with $400. You can start a college fund, start a life insurance policy or buy a savings bond for your son.
7. Are you willing to let yourself and your son be exploited by the medical industry? - Foreskin is a big business. Hospitals and doctors want you to circumcise your son because they profit from it. OBGYNs regularly supplement their income by performing circumcision and hospitals sell your son's foreskin to make skin grafts, to research companies, and to make beauty care products. Circumcision surgery alone generated more than $400 million in 2005.
8. Are you willing to disregard your son's rights to his own body? - Circumcision violates your son's right to his body. As circumcision will not save his life, can kill him, and alters his body forever and he cannot consent to it, it is most definitely a violation of his personal choice.
Risks of Circumcision
Circumcision kills more infants than Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. - 18 in 100,000 circumcised male infants die from complications in the USA every year. Life threatening complications include infection, ruptured bladder, heart attack, and shock.
Circumcision will not prevent penile cancer. - Penile cancer is very rare (1 in 50,000 men). Circumcised men can and do get penile cancer. Studies showed that uncircumcised men had a 0.2% increased risk (which is not statistically relevant).
Circumcision will not reduce the risk of AIDS, STDs or HIV. - Both Brazil and the USA have the same 0.6% of the population living with AIDS/HIV. But more than 80% of American men are circumcised where less than 8% of Brazil's men are circumcised. Safe sex practices are the only ways to help prevent the spread of disease.
It's not harder to clean an uncircumcised penis. - The foreskin does not retract as an infant so it's not harder to clean. But cleaning an open wound that sits in a diaper with feces and urine and changing bandages and possibly repeating the cycle with revision surgery is hard.
Circumcision can traumatize the child mentally. - Studies show that circumcised males experience side effects of trauma, even into adulthood.
Circumcison can alter infant behavior negatively. - Infants who are circumcised regularly experience difficulty establishing a maternal bond to the mother and have problems breastfeeding.
Circumcision has many complications which every circumcised man will experience. - Circumcision complications include but are not limited to heart attack, infection, gangrene, amputation of the penis, amputation of the testicles, necrosis, tissue death, uneven skin tone, skin discoloration, scarring, loss of sensitivity, loss of natural function, tight erections, curvature of the penis, partial penis removal, loss of natural shape, revision surgery, MRSA, STDs/HIV/AIDS (particularly with Orthodox Jewish circumcision), PSTD, breastfeeding issues, callous on the penis, erectile dysfunction, religious shunning (many religions forbid circumcision), and other social issues. Men will experience at least two of these aforementioned complications in their lifetime.
Circumcision is not common. - More 3/4 of the world's male population is uncircumcised. Only 33% of males were circumcised in 2009 in the USA.
Children with hypospadias should not be circumcised. - The foreskin is needed for reconstructive surgery.
Children with hemophilia should not be circumcised. - 30% of male infants with hemophilia bleed excessively according to the University of Toronto.
Children born prematurely should not be circumcised. - They have compromised health systems. Their bodies are not strong enough to handle the trauma of an unnecessary surgery and long recovery time.
The reasons behind male circumcision are the same as female circumcision. - In parts of the world where circumcision of women is common, it is performed to prevent cancer, prevent masturbation, for aesthetics, for hygeine purposes, to lessen sensitivity (but still leave them able to have children), religious reasons, and tradition. These are the same reasons that made male circumcision popular in the USA.
Circumcision will give a man a smaller penis. - Circumcision will remove about 8 mm (a third of an inch) from a man's penis length. It will also make the girth smaller.
Circumcision will leave a man with less feeling in his penis. - Circumcision will remove more than 10,000 nerve endings from the penis.
Circumcision will remove 50% or more of his penis. - The adult male foreskin is about 15 square inches. That constitutes a minimum of 50% of his penis.
A man may not like being circumcised. - Men have been undergoing foreskin restoration since Jews in Ancient Greece tried to restore their foreskin. Not everyone wants to be circumcised.
Circumcision may prevent a man from joining a religion. - Many religions forbid circumcision. Religions such as Rastafarianism forbid amputation, thus a circumcised man is not a whole person and will not go to Heaven.
Circumcision will not prevent penile cancer. - Penile cancer is very rare (1 in 50,000 men). Circumcised men can and do get penile cancer. Studies showed that uncircumcised men had a 0.2% increased risk (which is not statistically relevant).
Circumcision will not reduce the risk of AIDS, STDs or HIV. - Both Brazil and the USA have the same 0.6% of the population living with AIDS/HIV. But more than 80% of American men are circumcised where less than 8% of Brazil's men are circumcised. Safe sex practices are the only ways to help prevent the spread of disease.
It's not harder to clean an uncircumcised penis. - The foreskin does not retract as an infant so it's not harder to clean. But cleaning an open wound that sits in a diaper with feces and urine and changing bandages and possibly repeating the cycle with revision surgery is hard.
Circumcision can traumatize the child mentally. - Studies show that circumcised males experience side effects of trauma, even into adulthood.
Circumcison can alter infant behavior negatively. - Infants who are circumcised regularly experience difficulty establishing a maternal bond to the mother and have problems breastfeeding.
Circumcision has many complications which every circumcised man will experience. - Circumcision complications include but are not limited to heart attack, infection, gangrene, amputation of the penis, amputation of the testicles, necrosis, tissue death, uneven skin tone, skin discoloration, scarring, loss of sensitivity, loss of natural function, tight erections, curvature of the penis, partial penis removal, loss of natural shape, revision surgery, MRSA, STDs/HIV/AIDS (particularly with Orthodox Jewish circumcision), PSTD, breastfeeding issues, callous on the penis, erectile dysfunction, religious shunning (many religions forbid circumcision), and other social issues. Men will experience at least two of these aforementioned complications in their lifetime.
Circumcision is not common. - More 3/4 of the world's male population is uncircumcised. Only 33% of males were circumcised in 2009 in the USA.
Children with hypospadias should not be circumcised. - The foreskin is needed for reconstructive surgery.
Children with hemophilia should not be circumcised. - 30% of male infants with hemophilia bleed excessively according to the University of Toronto.
Children born prematurely should not be circumcised. - They have compromised health systems. Their bodies are not strong enough to handle the trauma of an unnecessary surgery and long recovery time.
The reasons behind male circumcision are the same as female circumcision. - In parts of the world where circumcision of women is common, it is performed to prevent cancer, prevent masturbation, for aesthetics, for hygeine purposes, to lessen sensitivity (but still leave them able to have children), religious reasons, and tradition. These are the same reasons that made male circumcision popular in the USA.
Circumcision will give a man a smaller penis. - Circumcision will remove about 8 mm (a third of an inch) from a man's penis length. It will also make the girth smaller.
Circumcision will leave a man with less feeling in his penis. - Circumcision will remove more than 10,000 nerve endings from the penis.
Circumcision will remove 50% or more of his penis. - The adult male foreskin is about 15 square inches. That constitutes a minimum of 50% of his penis.
A man may not like being circumcised. - Men have been undergoing foreskin restoration since Jews in Ancient Greece tried to restore their foreskin. Not everyone wants to be circumcised.
Circumcision may prevent a man from joining a religion. - Many religions forbid circumcision. Religions such as Rastafarianism forbid amputation, thus a circumcised man is not a whole person and will not go to Heaven.
Karim's Story
Karim's Story
I come from a Muslim family. Muslims circumcise at age 13. Not at infancy. I was circumcised at 13 with no pain killers. But I was proud to do it as Allah's commandment. However, if I had known the whole story about circumcision, I probably would not have had it done.
By the time I was 13, like most boys, I had already started masturbating years ago. I knew what I liked and a large portion of that was playing with my foreskin. Though I knew masturbation was wrong religiously, I regularly got erections at random and I had to take care of them. I admit that I did it for enjoyment at times as well. Anyway, after my circumcision, I definitely didn't masturbate as much. I no longer had the gliding motion of my foreskin and it definitely didn't feel as good anyway. So I very much lost interest in it. The idea about circumcision, male and female, preventing masturbation is very true in my experience.
Now, I'm 19. I've found the Quran doesn't mention circumcision. I feel very betrayed by people who told me to undergo circumcision to please God. The whole experience has made me question my faith. My son Malik was born last year and I am not raising him religiously or having him undergo circumcision.
Submitted by Karim from Tel Aviv, Israel. If you wish to comment on this story or contact Karim, please post in the comments section below.
I come from a Muslim family. Muslims circumcise at age 13. Not at infancy. I was circumcised at 13 with no pain killers. But I was proud to do it as Allah's commandment. However, if I had known the whole story about circumcision, I probably would not have had it done.
By the time I was 13, like most boys, I had already started masturbating years ago. I knew what I liked and a large portion of that was playing with my foreskin. Though I knew masturbation was wrong religiously, I regularly got erections at random and I had to take care of them. I admit that I did it for enjoyment at times as well. Anyway, after my circumcision, I definitely didn't masturbate as much. I no longer had the gliding motion of my foreskin and it definitely didn't feel as good anyway. So I very much lost interest in it. The idea about circumcision, male and female, preventing masturbation is very true in my experience.
Now, I'm 19. I've found the Quran doesn't mention circumcision. I feel very betrayed by people who told me to undergo circumcision to please God. The whole experience has made me question my faith. My son Malik was born last year and I am not raising him religiously or having him undergo circumcision.
Submitted by Karim from Tel Aviv, Israel. If you wish to comment on this story or contact Karim, please post in the comments section below.
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