Indoctrinating Children in Religion

[FatAndFaithless]

I don't recall ever seeing evidence that circumcision has any appreciable health benefits.

[robvalue]

Nor me. I'll have to check that out.

Thanks Sion

[Silver]

I don't recall ever seeing evidence that circumcision has any appreciable health benefits.

The benefit I see most often cited is the cleanliness angle. Young boys are the most prone to getting infections due to not being circumcised because it is not within their nature to properly clean themselves. As a result, the infections require a circumcision. How many times were you informed to clean behind your ears and you never did? It is the same concept. Therefore, it is better to circumcise so that the boys who already do not properly clean themselves do not have to worry about getting infected.

[GrandizerII]

There is nothing wrong with the parent deciding for the child what is best for him or her.

Maybe you don't think it's wrong, but many do. And it's a matter of respecting the right of the person to choose for themselves. How would you feel if earlobes were cut off as a child because that's what your parents wanted?

[RobertE]

Circumcision exists unfortunately in Judaism and Islam. Yet, they both insist that the body should be left untouched as the body is perfect. This is a bit silly considering circumcision is "cutting into the flesh."

[Silver]

And it's a matter of respecting the right of the person to choose for themselves.

The parent can decide whether or not to have the child circumcised. I am not infringing upon that. However, likening circumcision to cutting off of earlobes is ridiculous and illogical. The analogy does not work.

[FatAndFaithless]

I don't recall ever seeing evidence that circumcision has any appreciable health benefits.

The benefit I see most often cited is the cleanliness angle. Young boys are the most prone to getting infections due to not being circumcised because it is not within their nature to properly clean themselves. As a result, the infections require a circumcision. How many times were you informed to clean behind your ears and you never did? It is the same concept. Therefore, it is better to circumcise so that the boys who already do not properly clean themselves do not have to worry about getting infected.

Oh I'm familiar with the claims, but as far as I can recall any study I've seen just demonstrates no benefit, or a benefit rate that is roughly equal to the rate of a botched procedure (i.e. very, very tiny).

[Silver]

There is also the aesthetic angle for me, personally. As a gay man, I will not have sexual relations with an uncircumcised man because the appearance of the penis in that state is an absolute turn off. In fact, studies show that the majority of women also prefer the circumcised penis.

[GrandizerII]

And it's a matter of respecting the right of the person to choose for themselves.

The parent can decide whether or not to have the child circumcised. I am not infringing upon that.

Just because they can legally doesn't make it absolutely ok. It's not illegal to verbally abuse your child, but that doesn't make it right.

However, likening circumcision to cutting off of earlobes is ridiculous and illogical. The analogy does not work.

Then explain why it doesn't work. Just saying it doesn't work doesn't explain anything.

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There is also the aesthetic angle for me, personally. As a gay man, I will not have sexual relations with an uncircumcised man because the appearance of the penis in that state is an absolute turn off. In fact, studies show that the majority of women also prefer the circumcised penis.

Still doesn't justify removing a valuable body part as a child. I'm sure you'd look good without earlobes as well, but it's still not ok to have them cut off without your consent.

[Silver]

Then explain why it doesn't work. Just saying it doesn't work doesn't explain anything.

Circumcision has its benefits, backed by the medical community, whether you want to accept it or not. If you cannot look past the oh, they're just hurting and marring poor infants mentality, then that is your personal problem.

There are no benefits of cutting off an infants earlobes, unless you want to provide those benefits as the medical community has them listed?