Are you aware my name is Stephen? I forget who knows. That being the case, you've pointed out a nice little irony.
I thought that was just how Aussies sound until my girlfriend told me that he has a speech impediment.
The phrasing is magnificent. Nothing sounds more appealing than to give myself over to another man so he can perform something called a reversal on my unmentionable. And, you think circumcision sounds severe...
On the topic of Judaism and circumcision, I think that this reflects at least one of the lessons intended by circumcision, at least, insofar as I was taught as an evangelical: Not that evangelicals are anti-semitic when they assert that circumcision is God's very forceful and personal way of marking his ownership on you - they definitely think that to be a good thing.
LeeKenobi what is with your constant rage about Paul? Is it so impossible to you that someone could change their views over time?
Seeing even as those saints who had not yet been crowned with martyrdom or purged after their death were called yet "holy", I think that it's perfectly okay to call St. Stephen "Holy Stephen". "Saints" of course, being the exact same word as "holy" in Greek.
This deserves a response. The type of circumcision that St. Paul and the other Jews of his time were subjected to was called "Milah" circumcision and involved only the excision of the skin which extended beyond the tip of the penis and was easily mobile without severing the adhesions to the glans. "Periah" circumcision, which I am a victim of, wasn't instituted until the 2nd Century AD - and it was done so intentionally to prevent "covering up" (the literal Greek of what St. Paul said) in order to allow Jews to participate in Hellenic society and remove evidence of their Judaism. The damage that I am seeking to partially reverse is far more severe than the ritual genital mutilation that Paul is talking about reversing. He and other Jews of his time retained their frenula, frenar bands, and most of the mucosal covering of their penises to allow the membrane to stay intact. This roughly corresponds to a foreskin coverage index of six. I am currently between a 3 and a 4. Once I reach CI-6, will I continue to restore? I don't know. At that point the damage to my genitals will physically resemble the same damage which God himself bears. However, St. Paul was clearly preaching against foreskin restoration as a religious sign to undo Judaism - not as a medical practice.
god's been alive for like millions of years. i bet at some point he got bored and did some crazy stuff to his penis. maybe a prince albert with a ring of power or a really cool dragon tattoo.
Because God descended from heaven and took flesh from a Jewish mother, and as a Jewish child he accepted the rite of circumcision to fulfill all things. We also know the severity of his circumcision due to first century Jewish cultural practice.
The JC has come really far. I mentioned foreskin restoration in a post many years ago and it was edited out.
God yeah, he started a whole new religion so his followers could avoid it. Didn't really work out that well though.
St. Paul said, speaking on His behalf, "I wish the people who are bothering you to get circumcised would cut the whole thing off on themselves!" That's a paraphrase. One common English translation: "I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!" You have a great ability to making disparaging remarks but little desire to actually discuss issues.
