Should we circumcise?
My wife and I are trying to have a baby. One of the biggest concerns we have if it is a boy is circumcision. I am circumcised and my first reaction is to say "Well I wouldn't go back so it is the right choice". But unfortunately there is more to it than that. Circumcision started, in my mind, to remove sexual pleasure from the male because sex was the road to sin and only for reproduction and should not be enjoyed. Many nerves are removed from circumcision and I have heard sex is more pleasurable for males not circumcised, but unfortunately that is hard to know for sure.
Then there is the idea that it is a part of our culture now and completely acceptable. But what is it really other than male genital mutilation? They say that is is healthier, but I have also heard that the data for that claim is inconclusive.
Female circumcision disgust me and yet many cultures practice it. To them it is normal. I am sure that uncircumcised females in those cultures have "ugly" vaginas to them just as a lot of women have told me that an uncircumcised penis is "ugly".
I have seen a circumcision and it is horrifying. I dont know if I should do this to my future son. There is the part of me that thinks it is normal and I should. Then there is the part of me that sees it as another brutal religious act setup by an ancient brutal god to remove our sexuality that we, for some reason, still practice like idiots. Then we go through all this trouble to "prove" it is healthy to mutilate sex organs to justify the insane act.
What are some of your thoughts on this?
Tags: circumcision, mutilation
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Unseen on -
It appears that the common notion that circumcision reduces penile sensation or sensitivity is drifting into the "urban myth" category:
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Sex/story?id=3436936&page=1#.T8w2f...
http://news.softpedia.com/news/Does-Circumcision-Decreases-Sexual-S...
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Permalink Reply by Rob the Ridiculous on -
FYI, one of the links is not working, the other one links to an investigation where it is said:
"ultimately (she hoped) someone would be able to measure the full range of sexual sensation in circumcised and uncircumcised men during sex, but was unsure how that would be done."
The test that they did in that research in no way shape or form test the full functionality of the penis during sexual stimulation.
Being able to feel pressure does not fully relate to being able to feel pleasure.
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Permalink Reply by Heather Spoonheim on -
I have heard so many arguments for and against, almost all of them from a medical/well-being perspective and never from a religious perspective, that I have no idea. I think that if I were in your position I would just try to communicate sincerely with a doctor whom I felt was very objective and follow his/her advice. I think my generally leaning would be against circumcision unless the doctor's evaluation was clearly for it.
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Permalink Reply by archaeopteryx on -
And you might consider choosing a woman doctor, who's less likely to be biased --
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Permalink Reply by Rob the Ridiculous on
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Or a doctor who is neither religious nor a US citizen ;)
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Permalink Reply by Jason Ward on -
I can say with sincerity, less is certainly not more. I would prefer not to have my unmentionables sawed at for any reason especially since there is little to saw at to begin with.
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Permalink Reply by Dogly on -
Heather, I obviously was asking UNSEEN not to use the animal exploitation analogy. I knew you were here. You want an argument. I want us to answer John Jon's questions about sex.
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Permalink Reply by Heather Spoonheim on
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This is Jaret's discussion about his future son(s) and circumcision. Do you have anything to say on THAT topic that reflects a shred of human decency and concern for another member of your own species?
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Permalink Reply by Heather Spoonheim on
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I'll take that as a no.
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Permalink Reply by Kevin Anthony on
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If you have doubts, don't do it. But in some cases its medically indicated. A bad infection, for example, might force your hand so to speak. I'd take it up with your family doctor first and foremost.
You don't have to leave the Mohel a tip.
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Permalink Reply by Arcus on -
In my opinion it's genital mutilation - no more, no less - and should be banned.
Consider the fact that some babies (perhaps yours) will become permanently disabled from the practice, there even is a remote possibility of dying. Is it worth it if there is no medical justification?
A good pro-con summation:
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