CHURCH LEADERS BLAST ICELAND�S ANTI-CIRCUMCISION BILL by BENJAMIN GLATT
This would make Jews and Muslims "criminals," bishop says.
The chief official of Iceland�s National Church has blasted the country�s proposed ban on circumcision, saying that if the bill becomes law it will criminalize Judaism and Islam on the Nordic island.
�There is a danger that if the bill will become law, Judaism and Islam will be subject to criminal religious beliefs and that persons who adhere to them will be banned in this country or unwelcome,� Agnes M. Sigur�ard�ttir said in a report to parliament on the bill for the amendment of the criminal code concerning boys� circumcision. �All such extremes should be avoided.�
As the draft law stands now, anyone found to have removed �part or all of the [child�s] sexual organs� would be guilty of violating the child�s rights, and would face a six-year prison term.
Sigur�ard�ttir said she was proud that the country has successfully banned female genial mutilation in 2005, but that a ban on circumcision was different given that it is a wide-held practice around the world and the bill seems to have missed that point.
�It is important that parliament and society should be in a position to discuss this delicate matter in such a way that there is scope for listening to the views of different cultures,� she said. �It is doubtful that the bill will be successful in promoting enlightened discussion.�
In practice, the actual ban would make no practically difference in the Christian country. The Reykjavik Grapevine web site has reported that there has only been one male circumcision recorded at the Directorate of Health, in 2006, and independent medical professionals in Iceland have performed 13 circumcisions of boys under 18 from 2010 to 2016. Iceland, which has a population of around 334,000, has a small Muslim population of a few hundred, and its Jewish population consists of about 100 people.
Just last week, however, the Chabad-Lubavitch movement announced that it would be sending emissaries to the island in order to help build up the community.
Jewish and Muslim groups have been outspoken regarding the ban, but the Icelandic bishop hasn�t been the only one to condemn the proposal in the Christian world.
Cardinal Reinhard Marx, a German member of the Catholic Church, also sees this bill as a clear attempt to remove any non-Christian factors from Icelandic society.
�Protecting the health of children is a legitimate goal of every society, but in this case this concern is instrumentalized, without any scientific basis, to stigmatize certain religious communities. This is extremely worrying,� he said.
Jerusalem Post
So What Does God say about Circumcision of the flesh? And why is it important to Him, OR doe you think circumcision is important to GOD as a covenant?
Genesis 17:10-14 - This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised. Every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house or bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring, both he who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money, shall surely be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant. Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his fore-skin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.�
I say that removing freedom of choice is something we should all be concerned about. It starts here but where does it end I'll be watching this one with interest.
I agree with JZ...besides...Papa God's covenant is forever...everlasting...even though we as Christians are under the NT " New Covenant" I don't find in Scripture specificly that circumcision is null and void. There are Scriptures speaking of it in Paul's episals...but it doesn't say null and void...they pertain to one situation...We are taught that the New Covenant circumcision is of the Heart...and it is...
There is health reasons to be physically circumsised also...
But the article is more about freedom of choice being taken away...
I Corinthians 7:19 Circumcision is nothing and uncirumcision is nothing. **KEEPING GOD'S {NT} COMMANDS** is what counts!!
Galatians 5:6: For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts **FAITH expressing itself through **LOVE**!!
Galatians 6:15: Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the **NEW CREATION**!
Jayzeee, you said a mouth full! Government SHOULD stay out of people's personal choices. If parents decide to have their sons circumcised this should be THEIR choice and not that of a government law. OR if the parent decide to NOT have their son circumcised, this to should be the parent's choices... and late left up to the son as he grows up to make the choice to be circumcised as an older teen or an adult.
When freedom to choose, which only means, freedom to discern and make choices to know left from right, right from wrong, truth from a lie, etc.... when such freedoms are taken away and the government becomes the overseer of our spiritual and/or personal choices instead of GOD, this puts us on notice that the coming day of our LORD is nearer than we think. Even GOD doesn't take away our freedom to choose/choice we make.
WATCH ye therefore, and PRAY always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. Luke 21:36
Right on the mark Jude... its not about health the government is concerned about... it is about TAKING AWAY THE PEOPLE'S FREEDOM OF CHOICE! Government involved, controlling, taking authority in, and over the lives of THE PEOPLE.
Thank you Richard for your input: I Corinthians 7:19 Circumcision is nothing and uncirumcision is nothing. **KEEPING GOD'S {NT} COMMANDS** is what counts!!
Galatians 5:6: For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts **FAITH expressing itself through **LOVE**!!
Galatians 6:15: Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the **NEW CREATION**!
@ Richard, But many of those in government know nothing about GOD NOR DO THEY HAVE A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD... Therefore, they know nothing about "KEEPING GOD'S (NT) COMMANDMENTS".... They know nothing about "FAITH EXPRESSING ITSELF THROUGH LOVE"... many fo those in government know nothing about the meaning of "THE NEW CREATION"... so HOW would they know or understand that, "in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value"?... how would they know these things?
I Corinthians 7:19 Circumcision is nothing and uncirumcision is nothing. **KEEPING GOD'S {NT} COMMANDS** is what counts!!
Galatians 5:6: For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts **FAITH expressing itself through **LOVE**!!
Galatians 6:15: Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the **NEW CREATION**!
Christians should not fight the government and go to jail if it doesn't make any difference whether you are circumcised or uncircumcised. :
Richard states: Christians should not fight the government and go to jail if it doesn't make any difference whether you are circumcised or uncircumcised.
uhhhhhhhhh EXCUSE ME? RICHARD YOU... You're the one who quoted Scripture stating that "circumcised or uncircumcised has no value".. so which or what is it and what's your point and what are you TRYING TO say?
Corinthians 7:19 Circumcision is nothing and uncirumcision is nothing. **KEEPING GOD'S {NT} COMMANDS** is what counts!!
Galatians 5:6: For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts **FAITH expressing itself through **LOVE**!!
Galatians 6:15: Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the **NEW CREATION**!
Christians should not fight the government and go to jail if it doesn't make any difference whether you are circumcised or uncircumcised and has **NO SPIRITUAL VALUE**!!
uuhh, Yeah, ok Richard... we understand you can't effectively expound on what you quote in your posted Scriptures.... you're forever learning, but never able to come to the spiritual knowledge of truth in nothing you quote in the Scriptures you post.
