Spiritual Circumcision

The word "circumcision" comes from Latin circumcisio. "Circumcisio" comes from circum (meaning "around") and cædere (meaning "to cut").

Circumcision is controversial; Alanis and Lucidi (2004) even describe neonatal circumcision as "the world's oldest and most controversial operation."

In 2001, Sweden passed a law allowing only persons certified by the National Board of Health to circumcise infants, requiring a medical doctor or an anesthesia nurse to accompany the circumciser and for anaesthetic to be applied beforehand. Jews and Muslims in Sweden objected to the law, and in 2001, the World Jewish Congress stated that it was "the first legal restriction on Jewish religious practice in Europe since the Nazi era."

Should a Christian be circumcised, then? Absolutely - and in fact, if you are uncircumcised you are lost and will suffer eternally. But this circumcision is a spiritual act, performed by the "hands of the Messiah" and received through an act of faith in His love.

Early depictions of circumcision are found in cave paintings and Ancient Egyptian tombs, though some pictures are open to interpretation. Circumcision is often performed for religious reasons. In Judaism, it is considered a commandment from God; in Islam, it is widely practiced and often considered to be sunnah, even though it is not mentioned in the Qur'an. It is also customary among Copts.

Pietuose karšta, vandens nedaug.

The Deuterocanon/Biblical Apocrypha reveal the cultural clash between Jews and Greeks, and between Judaizers and Hellenizers. Greeks valued the foreskin, and when they took part in athletic sports, they did it in the nude. However, they insisted that the glans remained covered, and they did not approve of the Jewish custom of circumcision. The Books of the Maccabees reveal that some Jewish men chose to undergo epispasm, foreskin restoration by stretching the residual skin, so that they could conform to Greek culture and take part in these sports.

The most recent statement by the Roman Catholic Church was that of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI:

"The Church of Antioch sent Barnabas on a mission with Paul, which became known as the Apostle's first missionary journey . . . Together with Paul, he then went to the so-called Council of Jerusalem where after a profound examination of the question, the Apostles with the Elders decided to discontinue the practice of circumcision so that it was no longer a feature of the Christian identity (cf. Acts 15: 1-35). It was only in this way that, in the end, they officially made possible the Church of the Gentiles, a Church without circumcision; we are children of Abraham simply through faith in Christ."

Is the Pope circumcised?

According to an epistle of Cyprian of Carthage, Circumcision of the flesh was replaced by circumcision of the spirit.

And you are circumcised in him by circumcision that is without hands, in the putting off of the body of sins by the circumcision of The Messiah.

Spiritual Circumcision.

Spiritual Circumcision.

The Greek Orthodox Church celebrates the Circumcision of Christ on 1 January, while Orthodox churches following the Julian calendar celebrate it on 14 January.