Greetings

[Kynodesme]

Decided to join here to express my admiration for restorers and intactivism. Ron, you're the man!

I, fortunately and very luckily, was left uncut. I was born in the Chicago area, which I would assume has a higher circumcision rate than other areas since it's in the midwest, though the fact that I was born in 1987 probably helped me slide by from getting cut.

My father and oldest brother, possibly second oldest as well, were all cut, but it seems it didn't take my mom long to realize how barbaric the operation was after she decided to not have me and my two younger brothers cut. I've heard her speak out against circumcision a couple of times and I am eternally grateful that she left me intact -- kinda shows how messed up this country is, in that we feel the need to express thanks just because our bodies were left the way they were meant to be.

Oh and I also converted to Islam three years ago and it hasn't changed my views on circumcision whatsoever.

[admin]

Wonderful to have you, K. Will you be posting pics of yourself wearing a kynodesme?

Cheers,
-Ron

[Kynodesme]

Only if there are enough requests! :D

[z726]

As far as I know, Islamic scripture mentions nothing about circumcision. It's just a cultural thing that developed in the middle east, which religious folk have claimed as their tradition.

[ctrclckws]

"It's just a cultural thing ...."

Sounds familiar.

otherwise, why would it become the "norm" in some cultures?

[Kynodesme]

Welcome to the site.



Interesting, what did your Imam say about that, if anything?
Never brought it up with any imams. I have a different stance than most religious people in that I consider religion to be a much more personal thing than anything else. I just follow my own interpretations and respect everyone else on the planet.

As far as circumcision in Islam is concerned, z726 is half right when he says it's not mentioned in Islamic scriptures. The Quran, the most holy and essential Islamic text, the written word of God/Allah, makes no mention of circumcision at all. However the Hadiths and Sunnah (words and deeds of the prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him), do mention circumcision (male mostly) a few times. There doesn't seem to be any indiction that it's a requirement of faith and most scholars tend to agree that circumcision is not required, but recommended. I don't even see it as much of a recommendation anymore either and I never saw it as a practice that should be forced on another individual. I read a couple of extremely well detailed articles recently that go further into showing how circumcision is against Islam - http://www.circumstitions.com/Islam.html , http://www.quran.org/CIRCUMCISION.HTM#Against .

The ironic thing to me is how despite circumcision being much more strict and necessary in Judaism, there are a lot more Jews against circumcision than there are Muslims, and there are far more Muslims in the world than Jews. The only Islamic "organization" that's against circumcision is this single page on the internet (http://www.quran.org/khatne.htm) that's commonly linked to on anti-circ sites, yet it's not an actual organization and is ran by a uncommon Islamic sect of sorts known as "Quran Alone" Muslims. The only other Muslim group I know of that's against the practice is the [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luo_(Kenya_and_Tanzania)]Luo[/quote] ethnic group of Kenya and Tanzania, which comprises of Christians and Muslims -- Barack Obama's Muslim father was a member of the Luo.

I'd really like to start a real Muslims Against Circumcision organization because there should be just as many Muslims against it as there are Jews, if not many more. I know they exist and their support could make a great change for the entire world.