Are people here arguing that circumcision is a Christian practice? Because as far as I know, the US are the only place in the world where Christians actually do it. No idea why, but if someone is circumcised here everybody assumes he's Jewish or Muslim.
As to the main point of the discussion, I actually have to agree with Joe on the main point, though I'd like if he'd put it in less condescending terms. Even a benign mutilation is still a pretty serious personal violation, and should require a compelling motivation. Religion should be left some leeway of course, but not at the expense of basic individual rights.
Memphis and Einzige say a lot of crap as usual.
Sorry to blunder in here with my... point, shall we say, is that essentially banning the circumcision of babies (I'm not sure if that's what you're getting at, please correct me if it isn't) would, potentially, undermine the character of Judaism as an ethnoreligion (unless I'm entirely misreading what circumcision is for, in which case, discount that point). I mean, its not quite like Christianity, or most other religions, in the sense that whilst their are converts
to Judaism, it is primarily a religion of the Jewish people (defined as an ethnic group). Leaving the decision of circumcision up to the personal choice of the individual (as with baptism and the Baptist Church), would somewhat take away from this character. More to the point, whilst I'd agree that a forced circumcision would be a serious personal violation against someone a little older, I'm not quite sure if it is, so much, in the case of a baby that's only a few days old and can barely think. Just my low-grade contribution.
