• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EST 10:24
CET 16:24
KST 00:24
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Calendar
  • Streams
  • Liquipedia
  • Features
  • Store
  • EPT
  • TL+
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Smash
  • Heroes
  • Counter-Strike
  • Overwatch
  • Liquibet
  • Fantasy StarCraft
  • TLPD
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Blogs
Forum Sidebar
Events/Features
News
Featured News
RSL Revival - 2025 Season Finals Preview5RSL Season 3 - Playoffs Preview0RSL Season 3 - RO16 Groups C & D Preview0RSL Season 3 - RO16 Groups A & B Preview2TL.net Map Contest #21: Winners12
Community News
Weekly Cups (Dec 1-7): Clem doubles, Solar gets over the hump1Weekly Cups (Nov 24-30): MaxPax, Clem, herO win2BGE Stara Zagora 2026 announced15[BSL21] Ro.16 Group Stage (C->B->A->D)4Weekly Cups (Nov 17-23): Solar, MaxPax, Clem win3
StarCraft 2
General
RSL Revival - 2025 Season Finals Preview Weekly Cups (Dec 1-7): Clem doubles, Solar gets over the hump Chinese SC2 server to reopen; live all-star event in Hangzhou Maestros of the Game: Live Finals Preview (RO4) BGE Stara Zagora 2026 announced
Tourneys
RSL Offline Finals Info - Dec 13 and 14! Tenacious Turtle Tussle 2025 RSL Offline Finals Dates + Ticket Sales! Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament StarCraft2.fi 15th Anniversary Cup
Strategy
Custom Maps
Map Editor closed ?
External Content
Mutation # 503 Fowl Play Mutation # 502 Negative Reinforcement Mutation # 501 Price of Progress Mutation # 500 Fright night
Brood War
General
BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ FlaSh on: Biggest Problem With SnOw's Playstyle [BSL21] RO8 Bracket & Prediction Contest BW General Discussion Let's talk about Metropolis
Tourneys
[ASL20] Grand Finals [BSL21] RO8 - Day 2 - Sunday 21:00 CET [BSL21] RO8 - Day 1 - Saturday 21:00 CET Small VOD Thread 2.0
Strategy
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Fighting Spirit mining rates Current Meta Game Theory for Starcraft
Other Games
General Games
Dawn of War IV Path of Exile Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread Awesome Games Done Quick 2026! Nintendo Switch Thread
Dota 2
Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion
League of Legends
Heroes of the Storm
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Deck construction bug Heroes of StarCraft mini-set
TL Mafia
Mafia Game Mode Feedback/Ideas Survivor II: The Amazon Sengoku Mafia TL Mafia Community Thread
Community
General
Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine US Politics Mega-thread Russo-Ukrainian War Thread YouTube Thread European Politico-economics QA Mega-thread
Fan Clubs
White-Ra Fan Club
Media & Entertainment
Anime Discussion Thread [Manga] One Piece Movie Discussion!
Sports
Formula 1 Discussion 2024 - 2026 Football Thread
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
Computer Build, Upgrade & Buying Resource Thread
TL Community
TL+ Announced Where to ask questions and add stream?
Blogs
How Sleep Deprivation Affect…
TrAiDoS
I decided to write a webnov…
DjKniteX
James Bond movies ranking - pa…
Topin
Thanks for the RSL
Hildegard
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 1079 users

Circumcision makes sense

Blogs > Mothra
Post a Reply
1 2 3 Next All
Mothra
Profile Blog Joined November 2009
United States1448 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-02-18 22:38:22
February 18 2013 22:30 GMT
#1
I've often wondered why circumcision of children started in the first place. Today a plausible reasoning of why its first adopters might have done it occurred to me. See what you guys think.

The circumciser takes on the role of God, and he gives a message to the child:

"This scar on your body will always remind you that I am all powerful and you are powerless. It will remind you that your body is not yours. It belongs to me, and what I give I can take away."

If this is what they meant, I must admit, it is a forceful, elegant way to exert power, and to command fear and obedience. Do you think something like this might have been running through their minds?


*
Iyerbeth
Profile Blog Joined October 2010
England2410 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-02-18 22:47:22
February 18 2013 22:46 GMT
#2
I don't think I've ever heard that interpretation before. If we don't take the common religious interpretation of it really being a covenant with God and a clever way of providing health benefits to male children (personally I reject both assertions, I'm just trying to be objective) then I'd expect it was simply a way of marking out one's own 'tribe' that sorta caught on for various reasons, like tattoos and neck stretching.

Obviously though, I don't think anyone these days views it like that though either way. I don't think you were suggesting anyone did, I just wanted to be clear in my post.
♥ Liquid`Sheth ♥ Liquid`TLO ♥
CosmicSpiral
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
United States15275 Posts
February 18 2013 22:46 GMT
#3
Plausible as an interpretation of the significance of the act, questionable as the origin of the act.
WriterWovon man nicht sprechen kann, darüber muß man schweigen.
ImAbstracT
Profile Blog Joined June 2010
519 Posts
February 18 2013 22:48 GMT
#4
Man, I unleashed a tidal wave of religious blogs.
"I want you to take a moment, and reflect, on how much of a failure you are" - IdrA
GERMasta
Profile Joined October 2010
Germany212 Posts
February 18 2013 23:29 GMT
#5
Your interpretation assumes that circumcision started out in a judeo-christian context, which it didn't. The ancient egyptians used circumcision, probably as a rite of passage. Herodotus says they did it for the sake of cleanliness, but we all know Herodotus' credibility... Or well, maybe you were wondering about the origin of circumcision in the judeo-christian context. In that case, the answer is simple: They do it because it's written thus in the bible, and the bible says it's done for the sake of establishing a covenant with god (you know, the whole jewish thing). Christians don't do that anymore, I guess.
fight_or_flight
Profile Blog Joined June 2007
United States3988 Posts
February 18 2013 23:43 GMT
#6
I think it's a way to propagate violence. Notice that the circumcised cultures in our world (American, Jewish, and Islamic) are the violent ones.

I believe it does several fundamental things. As described in the OP, it establishes a relationship of powerfulness/powerlessness. Try to think beyond God for a minute and just think about the impression itself. Infants are not aware of ideas such as God, but rather they simply have raw impressions. Entering the world and getting cut like that will give a certain impression of the world. I have a friend who has a memory of when he was 4 days old, so I definitely believe such impressions linger.

Furthermore, I also believes it changes the relationship between men and women. I believe it makes sexual relations rougher and less sensitive.

It may seem hard to believe why something like this would be considered good, but it's all depends on your point of view. From a sociopathic perspective, hurting one's loved ones can actually be a good thing. It teaches them the hard lessons that you yourself have learned, and prepares them for the world. In other words, it's just a different way of doing things. Cultures can have different ways of doing things too, which might seem wrong but which, in the context of the culture, are viewed as good and a way of life. There are many other types of psychological traits which are passed down through cultures and families.

So I agree that it makes sense as the propagation of a certain cultural perspective, but the question that we need to ask is if we agree with it or not.

I'm circumcised and view certain personal tendencies as potentially related to what I'm talking about. People don't normally question a lot of the things they do, and why they are the way they are, but it's an important thing to do.
Do you really want chat rooms?
tehemperorer
Profile Blog Joined June 2010
United States2183 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-02-19 00:08:24
February 19 2013 00:08 GMT
#7
Ritualistic mutilation that carries significance that varies from culture to culture. Jews didn't come up with it, nor is it the only form of ritualistic mutilation out there. Your suggestion is pretty much inapplicable in all cases though.
Knowing is half the battle... the other half is lasers.
Scarecrow
Profile Blog Joined July 2009
Korea (South)9172 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-02-19 00:18:35
February 19 2013 00:10 GMT
#8
In times when sanitation/hygiene were poor, boys with long foreskins got more/worse infections, so they learned to cut them off. Seems more plausible to me and just because Herodotus embellishes some things doesn't mean we should discard everything he wrote.
Yhamm is the god of predictions
deathly rat
Profile Blog Joined October 2010
United Kingdom911 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-02-19 00:18:16
February 19 2013 00:16 GMT
#9
On February 19 2013 09:10 Scarecrow wrote:
In times when sanitation/hygiene were poor, boys with long foreskins got more/worse infections, so they learned to cut them off. Seems more plausible to me.


You think nobody got an infection after having the snip back in the day? I mean, all operations carry risk of infection. Plus, this theory goes right in the face of evolution and survival of the fittest, not that this means much to most people in favour of the act.
No logo (logo)
AnachronisticAnarchy
Profile Blog Joined July 2011
United States2957 Posts
February 19 2013 00:17 GMT
#10
On February 19 2013 08:43 fight_or_flight wrote:
I think it's a way to propagate violence. Notice that the circumcised cultures in our world (American, Jewish, and Islamic) are the violent ones.

I believe it does several fundamental things. As described in the OP, it establishes a relationship of powerfulness/powerlessness. Try to think beyond God for a minute and just think about the impression itself. Infants are not aware of ideas such as God, but rather they simply have raw impressions. Entering the world and getting cut like that will give a certain impression of the world. I have a friend who has a memory of when he was 4 days old, so I definitely believe such impressions linger.

Furthermore, I also believes it changes the relationship between men and women. I believe it makes sexual relations rougher and less sensitive.

It may seem hard to believe why something like this would be considered good, but it's all depends on your point of view. From a sociopathic perspective, hurting one's loved ones can actually be a good thing. It teaches them the hard lessons that you yourself have learned, and prepares them for the world. In other words, it's just a different way of doing things. Cultures can have different ways of doing things too, which might seem wrong but which, in the context of the culture, are viewed as good and a way of life. There are many other types of psychological traits which are passed down through cultures and families.

So I agree that it makes sense as the propagation of a certain cultural perspective, but the question that we need to ask is if we agree with it or not.

I'm circumcised and view certain personal tendencies as potentially related to what I'm talking about. People don't normally question a lot of the things they do, and why they are the way they are, but it's an important thing to do.


If your post refers to the modern-day and not the invention of circumcision, then I think you may be in the wrong here.
Having been circumcised, I never gave a flying fuck about whether my dick has some kind of a skin hood thingamajigger or not. I mean, you usually get circumcised when you're too young to remember anything, so until I ran into these forums and associated with people who were not circumcised and disapproved of the practice, I cannot confidently say that circumcision meant anything significant to me.
Never thought about it, never cared about it, never asked about it, nothing. Not one single, tiny fuck given at any point.
Can't really say it's the significant event in my life you seem to think it is.
Also, I sincerely doubt that, for generation after generation after generation, parents have been indulging in some kind of child-hating sociopathic urge. I mean, just think about how fathers always hold their newborn children. You think there's some undercurrent of hate going on there? I'm just not seeing it.
I'd have to say that you seem to be overthinking the issue. It is entirely plausible that circumcision has existed throughout the ages simply because we thought it was a good thing to do for all this time. I mean, few people actually remember any trauma from the operation, and even today a lot of people think there are practical benefits to having it done. Add that to the fact that for much of our history "because Jesus said so" was enough of a reason, and I think you've got a simple, logical explanation for why circumcision has existed for so long and why it still continues today.
"How are you?" "I am fine, because it is not normal to scream in pain."
sam!zdat
Profile Blog Joined October 2010
United States5559 Posts
February 19 2013 00:18 GMT
#11
I wrote a paper about this in freshman humanities! the frickin covenant, man, what a drag
shikata ga nai
CecilSunkure
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
United States2829 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-02-19 00:21:03
February 19 2013 00:20 GMT
#12
I was actually told a long time ago, that circumcision allowed things to be kept clean easier. Not bathing regularly would make things more difficult to keep clean in order to prevent problems. This made sense to me, but I have no idea if it's true or not.

Edit: oops this guy said the same as me: http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/postmessage.php?quote=8&topic_id=399266
Scarecrow
Profile Blog Joined July 2009
Korea (South)9172 Posts
February 19 2013 00:22 GMT
#13
On February 19 2013 09:16 deathly rat wrote:
Show nested quote +
On February 19 2013 09:10 Scarecrow wrote:
In times when sanitation/hygiene were poor, boys with long foreskins got more/worse infections, so they learned to cut them off. Seems more plausible to me.


Plus, this theory goes right in the face of evolution and survival of the fittest, not that this means much to most people in favour of the act.

Yes, because any medical procedure is about survival of the fittest -.-
Yhamm is the god of predictions
Burrfoot
Profile Blog Joined July 2012
United States1176 Posts
February 19 2013 00:33 GMT
#14
I like to put my wife's finger/thumb on my flaccid penis and wrap my foreskin all the way up! She however, does not like this.

But to be denied this simple pleasure by god is a traveshamokery!
http://us.battle.net/d3/en/profile/Davlok-1847/career
sam!zdat
Profile Blog Joined October 2010
United States5559 Posts
February 19 2013 00:33 GMT
#15
LOL
shikata ga nai
deathly rat
Profile Blog Joined October 2010
United Kingdom911 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-02-19 00:35:22
February 19 2013 00:34 GMT
#16
On February 19 2013 09:22 Scarecrow wrote:
Show nested quote +
On February 19 2013 09:16 deathly rat wrote:
On February 19 2013 09:10 Scarecrow wrote:
In times when sanitation/hygiene were poor, boys with long foreskins got more/worse infections, so they learned to cut them off. Seems more plausible to me.


Plus, this theory goes right in the face of evolution and survival of the fittest, not that this means much to most people in favour of the act.

Yes, because any medical procedure is about survival of the fittest -.-


If people with foreskins got more / worse infections, they would be less likely to survive to pass their genes onto the next generation.
No logo (logo)
[UoN]Sentinel
Profile Blog Joined November 2009
United States11320 Posts
February 19 2013 00:35 GMT
#17
I was brought up pretty religiously (Russian Orthodox), the few memories I remember include my baptism and being told about who God is, and my grandma took all that stuff seriously and tried to get me and my brother in on it as well. Yet my foreskin seems to be attached to my penis proper.

I don't know if it's just the branch of Christianity or something to account for the difference. Any other Greeks, Russians, maybe Coptic Egyptians who can comment and add their input?

TL;DR I disagree.
Нас зовет дух отцов, память старых бойцов, дух Москвы и твердыня Полтавы
OmniEulogy
Profile Blog Joined July 2010
Canada6593 Posts
February 19 2013 00:36 GMT
#18
On February 19 2013 07:48 ImAbstracT wrote:
Man, I unleashed a tidal wave of religious blogs.


I was just thinking the same thing. lol

Very interesting take on the subject though, I never thought about it very much but I'd accept this if somebody gave it to me as a reason in a conversation as being plausible. Anybody going near my crotch with knives at any point in my life for any reason would put the "fear of God" in me hahaha
LiquidDota Staff
sam!zdat
Profile Blog Joined October 2010
United States5559 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-02-19 00:37:33
February 19 2013 00:36 GMT
#19
edit: nvm I think i misread
shikata ga nai
deathly rat
Profile Blog Joined October 2010
United Kingdom911 Posts
February 19 2013 00:37 GMT
#20
On February 19 2013 09:35 [UoN]Sentinel wrote:
I was brought up pretty religiously (Russian Orthodox), the few memories I remember include my baptism and being told about who God is, and my grandma took all that stuff seriously and tried to get me and my brother in on it as well. Yet my foreskin seems to be attached to my penis proper.

I don't know if it's just the branch of Christianity or something to account for the difference. Any other Greeks, Russians, maybe Coptic Egyptians who can comment and add their input?

TL;DR I disagree.


Circumcision isn't a Christian thing, it's among others a Jewish one, but it's been incorporated into the general US population
No logo (logo)
1 2 3 Next All
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
StarCraft2.fi
10:00
15V Cup / Offline Finals
starcraft2fi 273
LiquipediaDiscussion
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
LamboSC2 196
StarCraft: Brood War
Britney 33833
Bisu 1838
Horang2 1746
Light 1117
EffOrt 1009
Stork 783
firebathero 396
hero 337
BeSt 302
Rush 249
[ Show more ]
Killer 205
Mini 197
Hyun 179
Last 113
Larva 105
Leta 83
Mind 75
sorry 53
Terrorterran 30
Rock 24
Mong 23
Noble 23
yabsab 23
Aegong 19
soO 18
ajuk12(nOOB) 15
Bale 14
Sacsri 14
Shine 9
NaDa 8
Dota 2
Gorgc6686
singsing3595
qojqva2052
XcaliburYe179
Counter-Strike
edward144
Heroes of the Storm
Khaldor374
Other Games
Grubby3911
FrodaN3559
B2W.Neo1143
Lowko465
Beastyqt430
KnowMe114
XaKoH 80
Mew2King41
Trikslyr22
Organizations
Other Games
EGCTV798
StarCraft 2
ComeBackTV 784
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
sctven
[ Show 13 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• Migwel
• sooper7s
StarCraft: Brood War
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
Dota 2
• WagamamaTV415
League of Legends
• Jankos3408
Other Games
• Scarra1258
Upcoming Events
IPSL
1h 36m
Sziky vs JDConan
OSC
1h 36m
Solar vs Percival
Gerald vs Nicoract
Creator vs ByuN
BSL 21
4h 36m
Sziky vs StRyKeR
Hawk vs Dewalt
RSL Revival
13h 6m
Classic vs Reynor
herO vs Zoun
WardiTV 2025
21h 36m
herO vs ShoWTimE
SHIN vs herO
Clem vs herO
SHIN vs Clem
SHIN vs ShoWTimE
Clem vs ShoWTimE
IPSL
1d 1h
Tarson vs DragOn
BSL 21
1d 4h
Tech vs Cross
Bonyth vs eOnzErG
Replay Cast
1d 17h
Wardi Open
1d 20h
Monday Night Weeklies
2 days
[ Show More ]
Sparkling Tuna Cup
2 days
Replay Cast
4 days
The PondCast
4 days
CranKy Ducklings
6 days
SC Evo League
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Acropolis #4 - TS3
RSL Revival: Season 3
Kuram Kup

Ongoing

IPSL Winter 2025-26
KCM Race Survival 2025 Season 4
YSL S2
BSL Season 21
Slon Tour Season 2
WardiTV 2025
RSL Offline Finals
META Madness #9
SL Budapest Major 2025
ESL Impact League Season 8
BLAST Rivals Fall 2025
IEM Chengdu 2025
PGL Masters Bucharest 2025
Thunderpick World Champ.
CS Asia Championships 2025
ESL Pro League S22

Upcoming

BSL 21 Non-Korean Championship
Acropolis #4
IPSL Spring 2026
Bellum Gens Elite Stara Zagora 2026
HSC XXVIII
Big Gabe Cup #3
PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026
IEM Kraków 2026
BLAST Bounty Winter 2026
BLAST Bounty Winter Qual
eXTREMESLAND 2025
TLPD

1. ByuN
2. TY
3. Dark
4. Solar
5. Stats
6. Nerchio
7. sOs
8. soO
9. INnoVation
10. Elazer
1. Rain
2. Flash
3. EffOrt
4. Last
5. Bisu
6. Soulkey
7. Mini
8. Sharp
Sidebar Settings...

Advertising | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | Contact Us

Original banner artwork: Jim Warren
The contents of this webpage are copyright © 2025 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.