Bob Martin, author of Live in the Philippines web magazine and an American national living in Mindanao posted his perspective on the practice of circumcision in the Philippines. Circumcision, Filipino-style is very different compared to Western societies. It is considered a rite of passage for boys and is commonly done in their pre-teen or teenage years. So when my wife brought up the question "is Jordan getting circumcised?" Instantly my mind went on flashback mode and with my memories, there's no question, my newborn son is getting circumcised! He can get the rite of passage ritual in some other way.
I don't think the tradition is not related to religion because majority of Filipino boys Muslim, Christian or whatever are expected to be circumcised at their pre-teen age - in Biblical times, boys are circumcised on the 8th day from birth. I don't know how this tradition came about but every Filipino boy has his own story or experience of this coming of age ritual. The rite of passage aspect is real and there's an element of masculine pride a young boy experience when he goes through with it. Traumatic or not, the procedure is part of every Filipino boys life and whether it make him a better man in adulthood is totally up to him.
God made several references on circumcision in the New Testament as a symbol of what a person's heart should be under the new covenant through Jesus Christ. True masculinity is not measured by an external scar but by how one live his life in submission to God and love for others. Thus, for Filipino boys, what matters most and the right rite of passage is not on the body but the "circumcision of the heart."
Hi! I just saw your recent tweet. My 12-year-old son just had his rite of passage two weeks ago. He was so brave! I was so proud of him. It is true, all Filipino young boys have this done and pass through it. It ushers them into adulthood, like a turning point from child to young man. Some Western cultures may not understand, but for Filipino boys it's a necessary part of growing up.
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
Circumcision is a ritual of the Old Testament that has no place in Christianity. Jesus was only circumcised because he was born into a Jewish community.
ReplyDeleteM.AP. - it is not true that all Filipino boys have it done, and the main reason it continues is for the same reasons it continues in America, because of social pressure. If you even consider not doing it, you feel shame from those around you. Is that a good enough reason? No. Is painfully cutting off part of a boy's sensitive genitalia really an acceptable thing to inflict on a 12 year old boy who is still learning about the world, and eager to please his parents and friends? I don't see how a person can justify that.
ReplyDeleteA person does not need to be mutilated to become an adult. Cutting off sensitive genital tissue from a female is mutilation, and I doubt you'd be willing to have part of yourself amputated to become considered an adult. So why justify it for boys?
I think partly you will continue to justify it because its part of your culture and you simply don't want to think about the consequences of realizing it isn't okay. Nevertheless, I urge you to try to realize that what is removed is an important functional body part.
It IS a human rights violation.
Circumcision is soundly denounced in the New Testament and this matter was settled over 2000 years ago. Circumcision does NO good and only harm to boys! St. Paul addressed and denouced circumcision 31 times (Bible.org) and this should have stopped long ago. Why are Filippinos still circumcising their sons? This is wrong! Read Titus 1:10-16 turn away from this vile practice which Christ himself cured men of when he made them "every whit whole."
ReplyDeleteAs someone whose to have himself circumcised as an adult just before my 50th birthday I feel I am very much in a position to speak on the subject of circumcision and I will tell anyone that all males should be circumcised, its great and my one regret is that I didn't get it done years ago
ReplyDeleteAnd you could have gotten it done for the past 32 years. Why didn't you, then?
ReplyDeleteI think some of the comments here are missing the point. Jason is not saying circumcision is one of God's requirements--clearly it isn't under the New Covenant. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't do it--we simply understand that it is no longer required to please God.
ReplyDeleteI have notice that kids do it much older here--strange to me, since we normally have this done as babies in the States.
To call circumcision a human rights violation is completely ridiculous. Is it medically necessary? No. But it clearly has some aesthetic and sanitary advantages.
My close friend is a nurse in the Phillipines and she helps with Operation Tuli every year. She has explained exactly what she and the others do at Tuli. For her and many of the nurses its a spiritual experience as well as a health issue. She and the other nurses actually do the procedure and think of it as a part of religion. According to her, the mothers usually bring in the boys, who are from 8 years old to 16 years old, and help with calming the boys and holding them. Most of the boys cry during the procedure but after they are very glad that it is done. I gather from her that she and the other women enjoy helping with Tuli because she has volunteered for several years. Very few boys in the Phillipines do not get circumcised.
ReplyDeleteOperation Tuli gives boys the chance to be circumcised in clean sterile conditions by experienced medical workers. Much better than the old way!
ReplyDeleteWomen working at Tuli are top notch in the procedure and should be praised for their skill! The boys are usually very pleased with their new look.
ReplyDelete