The biblical text with the most direct bearing on the question of circumcision is 1 Corinthians 9:18-23. This text deals in detail with the social and cultural issues surrounding circumcision. Hence, the question of circumcision’s meaning can be answered only in that passage. If you are a Christian, however, the significance and meaning of circumcision cannot be denied. This article will address several issues surrounding circumcision, including its impact on HIV risk and the method it is performed.
Christian acceptance of circumcision
The complex issue of Christian acceptance is circumcision. The Old Testament refers to circumcision as a ritual agreement between God, all Jewish males, but the New Testament says that it is an optional practice. Instead, Christians are told to be “circumcised of the heart” by putting their faith in Jesus. In fact, Jesus was circumcised, just like most other Jewish men. The practice of circumcision was controversial in the early Christian church, especially among adult Greek converts.
While Christians don’t practice religious circumcision today, many believe it has a biblical basis. The Book of Jubilees, part of the Ethiopian Orthodox Bible, argues that circumcision is a “law” of God and a sign of loyalty to the Jewish people. It also explains that circumcision is a rite that a Christian wouldn’t perform. In addition, the earliest Christian documents refer to circumcision as a symbol of Christ’s love.
Some Christians believe that circumcision was Jesus’ way of revealing the true God to men and allowing him to start the redemption. The act of circumcision showed that God can be human. This act is depicted in the 1421 Golden Legend. For Heaven, circumcision is not necessary. The only requirements for admission to Heaven are repentance of sins and acceptance of Jesus Christ as our spiritual father.
Method of circumcision
A surgical procedure to remove the penis from a baby is known as a circumcision. The procedure can be done on an outpatient basis and is often performed as a day-patient. A day-patient does not need to stay in hospital for more than one night. However, a day-patient must avoid eating for six hours before the procedure. Prior to the procedure, a medical team will examine the child and answer any questions.
Most circumcision techniques involve making a dorsal slit. This slit is used to prevent paraphimosis and phimosis. The prepuce is free from adhesions, and slit at ten o’clock with artery forceps. The slit is then made through the prepuce, which widens the outer preputial ring. The area cannot be washed for three days after the circumcision. The patient must also keep it dry.
The method of circumcision depends on the size and shape of the penis. The procedure is performed in the hospital’s nursery for newborns within a few days of birth. The infant must be able to lie down on his back, with his arms and legs restrained. The doctor will then use a clamp to remove the skin. The entire procedure should take less than ten minutes. For older children, the procedure is similar. The procedure may require general anesthesia, and a baby should not be left unsupervised for more than 48 hours.
Impact of circumcision on HIV risk
A new study has examined the impact of circumcision on HIV transmission. Researchers recruited couples in eastern and southern Africa and assessed the effects of circumcision on HIV transmission after full wound healing. The median CD4 cell count in men was 424 cells/mm3 while the viral load was 4.3 log10 copies/l. Researchers could not prove that circumcision can protect against HIV transmission. Although a short-term increase is expected in HIV transmission, this effect is not significant enough to make it insignificant.
Another study in Uganda examined couples with discordant HIV status. Of the 70 couples, 50 men who underwent circumcision did not contract HIV. Meanwhile, 40 men who were left uncircumcised contracted HIV during the same period. Both groups received HIV testing and instructions on how to prevent infection. They were also given condoms for free, but only 89% circumcised men used condoms. Despite the fact that circumcision reduced HIV transmission, it did little to reduce HIV infection rates in heterosexual and discordant relationships.
While circumcision has been shown to reduce the risk of HIV infection in some cases, more research is needed to confirm this. Researchers have demonstrated that circumcision reduces local inflammation in penile tissues and decreases HIV-target cell density in exposed skin. However, the effectiveness of circumcision cannot be established with paired skin biopsies. Longitudinal studies have shown that HIV-infected men are more likely to have high levels of IL-8 or MIG in their sub-preputial space. IL-8, a hormone that epithelial cells produce, is most well-known for its role in recruiting neutrophils and Th17 cell.