Firstly, as Castiel rightly points out, the reason for Jewish circumcision is because of the covenant between G-d and the Jews. It is because. That's it. It has sweet fa to do with hygiene The same reasons as the Old Testament gives for not murdering, lying, stealing cheating etc. So if you believe in the 10 Commandments, you believe in circumcision.The fact that circumcised penises do not suffer from smegma or **** cheese as it is so delightfully known, is an added bonus.
Secondly, despite the assertions that it is "ritualistic barbaric mutilation of a baby's knob", that is factually incorrect. It is a procedure carried out under sterile conditions and causes no permanent damage to the child. The intention is certainly not to cause any harm to the child.
Thirdly, merely to further my understanding of the meaning of irony, how many of you anti "knob cutters" have actually been circumcised (at birth for no medical reason in a ritual mutilation)? Just so I can gauge how your lives have been in a downward spiral cause you can't get an erection/have no feelings in your bell end/been laughed at by your sexual partners etc? I ask because no one that I know has any of these issues and seeing as this number is probably well over 500 individuals, I can probably speak from a position of strength. In fact, seeing as my penis has been so desensitised and I can still have some toe curling orgasms and my wife certainly does not complain about my performance, perhaps one could argue it improves performance and staying power. If my orgasms got more intense, perhaps on the same level as a uncut penis, I would possibly pass out. Unfortunately, I will never know owing to the barbarous nature of my parents!
Fourthly and anecdotally, the health reasons asked for include the reduction of HIV transmission by 51% to 60% ceteris paribus
http://www.unaids.org/en/resources/...tarchive/2011/november/20111121wad2011report/
and reduces the risk of acquiring HPV by 35% and Herpes Simplex 2 by 28% (again both ceteris paribus)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/2988236.../male-circumcision-may-reduce-some-std-risks/
There may be others but it is late and I am outside on my mobil e. Perhaps do some further research.
Finally, I happen to agree with the views on female genital mutilation for the mere fact that it is a barbaric act that attempts to prevent women from straying by reducing any pleasure they attain from sexual intercourse. It is however, completely different to Jewish male circumcision even if on the face of it, you believe them similar. But that is, I believe a Black African or a Muslim Black African thing so best to ask them for their cultural rational rather than tarring Jews with the same brush (if you'll excuse the pun).
I hope that answers some of the questions posed in general and to craterloads specifically.
NB