Letter: Circumcision rights
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: As one of your "intact" male readers I have read the letters concerning circumcision with my legs firmly crossed. I realise that it is a treasured part of the Jewish and Islamic faiths, and but where on earth did this practise come from?
The Bible says it was demanded by God as a sign of his pact with Abraham. God may move in a mysterious way but this really is extraordinary. Why give it to us then tell us to cut it off? In fact the tradition went back long before Abraham and was widely practised in the ancient world, except in Babylonia and Assyria.
Herodotus said it began with the Egyptians, though he did not know why, and archaeology proves that it was practised there five thousand years ago. In many places it seems to have been done at puberty for both boys and girls. In an age without painkillers or antibiotics this must have resulted in terrible infections and many fatalities, as it still does in parts of Africa.
Greeks and Romans never seem to have done it and thought it was crude and uncivilised. Under their influence the practice gradually disappeared. Some Jews even tried to reverse the effect, though how is not said! Satirists like Juvenal and Martial were particularly caustic, saying it was an example of Jewish barbarity and superstition. When Hadrian tried to ban it, however, he prompted the Jewish revolt led by Bar Kochba. Clearly new Christians, most of whom would have been adult gentiles, were having none of it and it had ended within their community even in biblical times.
None of this however explains where it came from, or why.
The Rev NEIL DAWSON
London SW9
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments