The Old Testament identifies circumcision as a sign or symbol of dedication to God. Some Christian parents choose to have their son's circumcised as a symbol of dedication to God. It is not commanded. The New Testament actually teaches that it should not be enforced. No church I am aware of teaches that it guarantees anything. It is just a symbolic gesture. I do not know if this qualifies as a "doctrinal basis," but it is a Biblical basis.

Actually this was one of the many reasons why some of the apostles like Paul and Peter fell off with each other. Some didn't agree on the basis of marriage and some didn't agree with the basis of circumcision. Circumcision in Christianity is not required but it is often observed by the majority of the Christian world due to the fact that it was God's covenant to Abraham to have all their new born boys be circumsized on the 8th day after birth.

During the wars, men serving in egypt or other sandy areas, would have their foreskins removed so the sand wouldn't get trapped in and cause infections.

Short answer: no. Long answer: The Mosaic laws require that boys be circumcised (Genesis 17:10ff, Joshua 5:2ff). When Chrisitianity was new, a faction of Christians of Jewish descent ("Judaizers") demanded that all Christian converts of Gentile descent be inducted into the old Covenant and follow all the Levitical laws, including circumcision and dietary restrictions. This was the first dissent within the Church and was resolved by the first Council of Jerusalem. After some debate, Peter and the Council announced that the Gentile converts did not need to follow the Mosaic law except for certain necessities, propounded by James and set forth in an epistle to the Gentile Christian communities. This council is described in Acts 15. Circumcision for Christians is thus a matter of custom and preference.

Jews and Muslims continue the practice of circumcision because both religions emphasize their direct descent from Abraham. Abraham had both his sons Isaac (progenitor of the Jews) and Ishmael (progenitor of the Arabs and thus the first Muslims) circumcised as a symbol of their covenant with God. But leave the Muslims out of the equation because they didn't factor in until a long time after Christianity. The early Christians (i.e. Jews who chose to follow Christ) needed some way of distinguishing themselves from the other Jews, who did not follow Christ. Circumcision was the most obvious marker of Jewishness, so not being circumcised was an obvious way to show that you were not Jewish, but rather Christian. In fact, since Christ's earliest followers had been born Jewish and were all circumcized, there was some debate about whether a person could be "uncircumcized". As far as I can tell, that isn't possible. Two ways to justify non-circumcision that came about were: (1) there was such thing as "circumcision of the heart," (Paul talks about this in the Bible), meaning that if you made your personal covenant with God it was not necessary to go through the physical procedure as well and (2) much in the way that Jesus's crucifixion was for the benefit of all mankind, his own circumcision applied to all mankind and individual Christians did not need to get the procedure performed on their own. So Christians do not have to be circumcized, as Muslims and Jews do. Throughout history, most of them were not. Circumcision was the identifying feature of a Jew, and no medieval Christian wanted to be mistaken as a Jew. In fact, one interpretation of the "pound of flesh" extraction in Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice" was that Shylock wanted to circumcise Antonio, thus effectively making him into a Jew. Nowadays, some Christian families choose circumcision and others don't. Maybe some were motivated by a re-reading of the Old Testament. Modern Christians are not as preoccupied with the Jewish "other" as their medieval ancestors :). Others do it purely because they consider it more hygienic. But no Christian would consider it a religious obligation.

All the answers so far are right. There is no requirement for physical circumcision. Galatians 5:2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. (physically) There is though another kind of circumcision, that is required. The circumcision of the heart. Romans 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. Deuteronomy 10:16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked. Deuteronomy 30:6 And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live. This is both necessary and right for all Christians. There is no physical circumcision necessary, but the one of your heart is, and has been for a long long time.

Circumcision is mutilation and in some cultures this is done to women too. The only basis for doing this is arrogance and it should be treated as a crime against children. "Circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter." Romans 2:29 http://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/Rom/Rom002.html http://gbgm-umc.org/umhistory/wesley/sermons/serm-017.stm The word circumcision means literally "cutting around" and its practice is ancient, although it is not practiced in all cultures. It can, however, be found among the ancient Hebrews, Egyptians, Polynesians, and among various tribes in the Americas. Circumcision, normally part of a ritual, involves the removal of the foreskin either of a man or of a boy. Usually this occurs as part of some sort of initiation or rite of passage. http://www.calvarychapel.com/redbarn/terms.htm#C Genital integrity is a name for the principle that all human beings, whether male, female or intersexed, have the right to bodily integrity. It opposes involuntary and medically unnecessary genital modification and mutilation, including male or female circumcision, or sexual reassignment-surgery on intersexual children. Genital integrity respects the right of consenting adults to give informed consent to procedures involving their own bodies. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-circumcision

In the old testament it was a mark of convenant with God, being circumcised. In the new testament. Circumcision or uncircumcision is not important.

yes and no. The original purpose of circumcision was to serve as a mark for the Hebrews that they were set apart as God's chosen people. Paul makes it clear that salvation is solely based on faith, and that circumcision is not required, however it does serve as a mark for the Christians of being set apart as God's chosen people (through faith in Christ), so the practice is still continued.

No none.

Its not a salvation issue but it is a tradition.

There are different issues that are wrapped up in the question of whether males should be circumcised or not. One issue is that of religious teaching: what does the Bible, God’s Word, say? Another issue is: as a matter of health, should males be circumcised? The Christian view of circumcision is probably best described as a combination of the two. Concerning the first issue, since we are no longer under the Old Testament Law as Christians, circumcision is no longer required. This is brought out in a number of New Testament passages, among which are the following: Acts 15; Galatians 2:1-3; 5:1-11; 6:11-16; 1 Corinthians 7:17-20; Colossians 2:8-12; Philippians 3:1-3. In Acts 16:3, Paul had a missionary helper, Timothy, circumcised so that his being uncircumcised would not be a hindrance to them as they sought to reach out to the unsaved Jews on their missionary journeys. Thus, although the Bible gives Gentile (non-Jewish) believers the liberty of not being circumcised, it was a liberty that Timothy was willing to give up for the sake of reaching out to unsaved Jews. There is also the issue of health. Doctors debate back and forth in regard to whether there are any health benefits to circumcision. Any couple with such concerns should definitely speak with a doctor in regards to this issue. http://www.gotquestions.org

Traditionally, Christians are not circumcised. In fact, at some points in history, one way of proving that someone was not a Christian and was either Jewish or Moslem, was if they were circumcised.

According to the decision written about in Acts 15:6-29, no. Acts 15:6-29 "And the apostles and the older men gathered together to see about this affair. 7 Now when much disputing had taken place, Peter rose and said to them: “Men, brothers, YOU well know that from early days God made the choice among YOU that through my mouth people of the nations should hear the word of the good news and believe; 8 and God, who knows the heart, bore witness by giving them the holy spirit, just as he did to us also. 9 And he made no distinction at all between us and them, but purified their hearts by faith. 10 Now, therefore, why are YOU making a test of God by imposing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke that neither our forefathers nor we were capable of bearing? 11 On the contrary, we trust to get saved through the undeserved kindness of the Lord Jesus in the same way as those people also.” 12 At that the entire multitude became silent, and they began to listen to Bar´na·bas and Paul relate the many signs and portents that God did through them among the nations. 13 After they quit speaking, James answered, saying: “Men, brothers, hear me. 14 Sym´e·on has related thoroughly how God for the first time turned his attention to the nations to take out of them a people for his name. 15 And with this the words of the Prophets agree, just as it is written, 16 ‘After these things I shall return and rebuild the booth of David that is fallen down; and I shall rebuild its ruins and erect it again, 17 in order that those who remain of the men may earnestly seek Jehovah, together with people of all the nations, people who are called by my name, says Jehovah, who is doing these things, 18 known from of old.’ 19 Hence my decision is not to trouble those from the nations who are turning to God, 20 but to write them to abstain from things polluted by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood. 21 For from ancient times Moses has had in city after city those who preach him, because he is read aloud in the synagogues on every sabbath.” 22 Then the apostles and the older men together with the whole congregation favored sending chosen men from among them to Antioch along with Paul and Bar´na·bas, namely, Judas who was called Bar´sab·bas and Silas, leading men among the brothers; 23 and by their hand they wrote: “The apostles and the older men, brothers, to those brothers in Antioch and Syria and Ci·li´cia who are from the nations: Greetings! 24 Since we have heard that some from among us have caused YOU trouble with speeches, trying to subvert YOUR souls, although we did not give them any instructions, 25 we have come to a unanimous accord and have favored choosing men to send to YOU together with our loved ones, Bar´na·bas and Paul, 26 men that have delivered up their souls for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We are therefore dispatching Judas and Silas, that they also may report the same things by word. 28 For the holy spirit and we ourselves have favored adding no further burden to YOU, except these necessary things, 29 to keep abstaining from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication. If YOU carefully keep yourselves from these things, YOU will prosper. Good health to YOU!”"

Jesus said if he was uncircumcised when he became saved to remain uncircumcised. If circumcised remain circumcised.