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Line 36: − === Jewish men, Israel, circumcision and penile cancer === − + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
→Jewish men, Israel, circumcision and penile cancer
In weighing the risks and benefits of circumcision, doctors consider the fact that penile cancer is very uncommon in the United States, even in uncircumcised men. Although the American Academy of Pediatrics has stated that the health benefits of circumcision in newborn males outweigh the risks, it also states these benefits are not great enough to recommend that all newborns be routinely circumcised. In the end, decisions about circumcision are highly personal and often depend more on social and religious factors than on medical evidence.<ref>[https://www.cancer.org/cancer/penile-cancer/causes-risks-prevention/risk-factors.html Risk Factors for Penile Cancer]</ref>}}
In weighing the risks and benefits of circumcision, doctors consider the fact that penile cancer is very uncommon in the United States, even in uncircumcised men. Although the American Academy of Pediatrics has stated that the health benefits of circumcision in newborn males outweigh the risks, it also states these benefits are not great enough to recommend that all newborns be routinely circumcised. In the end, decisions about circumcision are highly personal and often depend more on social and religious factors than on medical evidence.<ref>[https://www.cancer.org/cancer/penile-cancer/causes-risks-prevention/risk-factors.html Risk Factors for Penile Cancer]</ref>}}
The 2017 medical journal article entitled ''Incidence of penile cancer worldwide: systematic review and meta-analysis'' published in the ''Revista Panamericana de Salud Pública/Pan American Journal of Public Health'' declared: "In contrast, rates among Jewish men born in Israel are reportedly very close to zero."<ref>[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6645409/ ''Incidence of penile cancer worldwide: systematic review and meta-analysis''], Rev Panam Salud Publica. 2017; 41: e117. Published online 2017 Nov 30. doi: 10.26633/RPSP.2017.117</ref>
== Circumcision and the rarity of penile cancer in the United States and South Korea ==
The [[United States]] is a religious country (see: [[United States, irreligion vs. religion and demographics]] and [[Sociology of "atheism is un-American" view]] and [[American atheism]]).
[[Wikipedia]], an online encyclopedia founded by an [[Atheism|atheist]] and [[agnosticism|agnostic]], indicated in 2020:
{{Cquote|The United States is an outlier with regards to other predominately Christian Western nations. As of 2007, fifty-five percent of newborn males were circumcised, a significant decline from years past. Countries like Australia and [[Canada]] have much lower rates of circumcision, and the United Kingdom is considering an outright ban.<ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Religious_male_circumcision&oldid=964210795 Religious male circumcision], Wikipedia</ref>}}
The 2019 medical journal article ''Single-Center Analysis of Human Papillomavirus Infection and P16INK4A Expression among Korean Patients with Penile Cancer'' published in ''Biomed Research International'' states: "The overall incidence in the US is approximately 0.69 cases/100,000 people, although this rate increases with an increasing age at diagnosis. In Korea, primary penile cancer is both rare and rarely reported, accounting for only 74 cases in 2015, which corresponded to only 0.03% of all malignant tumors during that year."<ref>[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6457309/ ''Single-Center Analysis of Human Papillomavirus Infection and P16INK4A Expression among Korean Patients with Penile Cancer''], Biomed Res Int. 2019; 2019: 6940582. Published online 2019 Mar 26. doi: 10.1155/2019/6940582</ref>
The 2002 journal article entitled ''Extraordinarily high rates of male circumcision in [[South Korea]]: history and underlying causes'' states:
{{Cquote|Currently the circumcision rate for high-school boys is >90% and for those >70 years old is <10%. The circumcision rate in 1945 was <0.1%. When averaged over the whole population, the present South Korean circumcision rate is ~60%; the rate has increased dramatically with time and particularly in the past 20 years, when the estimated number of male circumcisions has exceeded the number of male births. Although circumcision in South Korea has been strongly influenced by American culture, it has never been predominantly neonatal."<ref>[http://www.cirp.org/library/cultural/pang1/ Extraordinarily high rates of male circumcision in South Korea: history and underlying causes], BJU INTERNATIONAL, Volume 89: Pages 48-54, January 2002.</ref><ref>Frisch M, Friis S, Kruger Kjaer S, Melbye M. Falling incidence of penile cancer in an uncircumcised population (Denmark 1943-90). Br Med J 1995; 311: 1471</ref>}}
In 2011, NBC New York reported that penile cancer in the United States was "rare".<ref>[https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/study-links-bestiality-penile-cancer/1932492/ Study Links Bestiality, Penile Cancer], NBC New York</ref>
== Secular Europe and circumcision ==
''See also:'' [[Atheism and penile cancer]] and [[Secular Europe]]
From a global perspective, [[Europe]] is more secular/[[Atheism|atheistic]] than the rest of the world although it does have a considerable amount of religious immigrants who have higher birth rates (see: [[Secular Europe]] and [[Atheist population]] and [[Global atheism]]).
In 2012, the [[BBC]] reported in an article entitled ''Circumcision, the ultimate parenting dilemma'':
{{Cquote|While Europe increasingly questions the practice of circumcising boys, US paediatricians are about to say that the medical case for it is getting stronger. Most US adult men are circumcised, but the number of newborns having the op is falling, and is now below 50% in some states - intensifying the dilemma for parents.<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-19072761 Circumcision, the ultimate parenting dilemma], BBC</ref>}}
Wikipedia, an online encyclopedia founded by an atheist and agnostic, indicates:
{{Cquote|On 1 October 2013, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted a non-binding resolution in which they state they are "particularly worried about a category of violation of the physical integrity of children," and included in this category "circumcision of young boys for religious reasons." On 7 October, Israel's president Shimon Peres wrote a personal missive to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, to stop the ban, arguing: "The Jewish communities across Europe would be greatly afflicted to see their cultural and religious freedom impeded upon by the Council of Europe, an institution devoted to the protection of these very rights." Two days later, Jagland clarified that the resolution was non-binding and that “Nothing in the body of our legally binding standards would lead us to put on equal footing the issue of female genital mutilation and the circumcision of young boys for religious reasons.”<ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Circumcision_and_law&oldid=965306904 Circumcision and law], Wikipedia</ref>}}
A number of male circumcision bans have been proposed by various Europeans.<ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Circumcision_and_law&oldid=965306904 Circumcision and law], Wikipedia</ref>
=== England/Wales/United States/Australia, male circumcision and penile cancer ===
[[Image:England.gif|right|thumb|200px|A study reported that [[England]] and [[Wales]] had the highest incidence and mortality rates of penile cancer compared to Australia and US and also the lowest infant circumcision rates and overall circumcision prevalence.<ref>[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4536252/ Trends in penile cancer: a comparative study between Australia, England and Wales, and the US], Springerplus. 2015; 4: 420. Published online 2015 Aug 14. doi: 10.1186/s40064-015-1191-4</ref>
<br />
<br />
England (highlighted in light green), showing the boundaries of the ceremonial counties.]]
As noted above, the United States is a religious country (see: [[United States, irreligion vs. religion and demographics]] and [[Sociology of "atheism is un-American" view]] and [[American atheism]]).
The [[UK]] and [[Australia]] are more irreligious/nonreligious than the United States (see: [[British atheism]] and [[UK and secularism]] and [[Irreligion in Australia]]).
The 2015 journal article ''Trends in penile cancer: a comparative study between Australia, England and Wales, and the US'' reported:
{{Cquote|The overall incidence of penile cancer in England and Wales (1.44 per 100,000 man-years) was higher than in Australia (0.80 per 100,000), and the US (0.66 per 100,000). Incidence of penile cancer in all three countries has remained relatively stable over time. Similarly, although the mortality rates were also higher in England and Wales (0.37 per 100,000 man-years) compared to Australia (0.18 per 100,000) and the US (0.15 per 100,000), the mortality/incidence ratios were similar for all three countries.
[[England]] and [[Wales]] had the highest incidence and mortality rates of penile cancer compared to Australia and US and also the lowest infant circumcision rates and overall circumcision prevalence. This offers some support to previous data suggesting infant circumcision may reduce risk of penile cancer. However, despite having higher circumcision rates in the US, the incidence of penile cancer in Australia and the US were similar, suggesting that the penile cancer incidence is not solely attributable to circumcision rates.<ref>[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4536252/ Trends in penile cancer: a comparative study between Australia, England and Wales, and the US], Springerplus. 2015; 4: 420. Published online 2015 Aug 14. doi: 10.1186/s40064-015-1191-4</ref>}}
See also: [[Atheism, bestiality and penile cancer]] and [[Bestiality and Britain]] and [[Bestiality and Australia]]
=== Irreligious Sweden, circumcision and penile cancer ===
[[Sweden]] had a rate of 2.1 people with penile cancer per 100,000 people between the years of 2000-2012 (Sweden is one of the most atheistic counties in the world and the website adherents.com reported that in 2005 46 - 85% of Swedes were [[agnosticism|agnostics]]/atheists/non-believers in God.<ref>[http://www.adherents.com/largecom/com_atheist.html Top 50 Countries With Highest Proportion of Atheists / Agnostics(Zuckerman, 2005)]</ref>).
<ref>[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6645409/ ''Incidence of penile cancer worldwide: systematic review and meta-analysis''], Rev Panam Salud Publica. 2017; 41: e117. Published online 2017 Nov 30. doi: 10.26633/RPSP.2017.117</ref>
[[Scandinavia]] is considered to consist of the countries of [[Norway]], Sweden, and [[Denmark]]. The male circumcision rate in [[Scandinavia]] is approximately 1-2%.<ref>[http://www.cirp.org/library/cultural/pang1/ Extraordinarily high rates of male circumcision in South Korea: history and underlying causes], BJU INTERNATIONAL, Volume 89: Pages 48-54, January 2002.</ref><ref>Frisch M, Friis S, Kruger Kjaer S, Melbye M. Falling incidence of penile cancer in an uncircumcised population (Denmark 1943-90). Br Med J 1995; 311: 1471</ref> See also: [[Bestiality and Sweden]]
=== Study: Secular Europe has about twice the rate of penile cancer than the religious United States ===
[[Image:Irving Berlin.jpg|left|thumb|200px|[[Irving Berlin]]'s song God Bless America is a popular American patriotic song written by Berlin in 1918. See: [[Sociology of "atheism is un-American" view]] and [[American atheism]]]]
[[Secular Europe]] recently had a notable problem with bestiality (see: [[Bestiality and secular Europe]]).
As noted above, there is a positive correlation between engaging in bestiality and penile cancer.
In the United States, Pew Research survey data indicates that the percentage of atheists in the United States has remained at 4% from 2015 to July 2019.<ref>[https://www.pewforum.org/2019/10/17/in-u-s-decline-of-christianity-continues-at-rapid-pace/ In U.S., Decline of Christianity Continues at Rapid Pace], Pew Research</ref> See: [[American atheism]]
The 2017 medical journal article entitled ''Incidence of penile cancer worldwide: systematic review and meta-analysis'' published in the ''Revista Panamericana de Salud Pública/Pan American Journal of Public Health'' indicated: "Penile cancer is a rare malignancy, especially in developed countries, in which the annual incidence is below 1 case per 100,000 men."<ref>[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6645409/ ''Incidence of penile cancer worldwide: systematic review and meta-analysis''], Rev Panam Salud Publica. 2017; 41: e117. Published online 2017 Nov 30. doi: 10.26633/RPSP.2017.117</ref>
As noted above, penile cancer is rare in the United States.<ref>[https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/study-links-bestiality-penile-cancer/1932492/ Study Links Bestiality, Penile Cancer], NBC New York</ref>
The 2014 medical journal article ''Risk Factors and Prevalence of Penile Cancer'' which was published in the W''est Indian Medical Journal'' indicates: "The incidence rate of penile cancer in the USA is 0.58 per 100,000. In Europe, the incidence rate of the disease is 1.33 per 100,000."<ref>[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4663967/#:~:text=The%20United%20States%20of%20America,per%20100%20000%20(1). Risk Factors and Prevalence of Penile Cancer], West Indian Med Journal. 2014 Oct; 63(6): 559–560, Published online 2015 Jul 28. doi: 10.7727/wimj.2015.381</ref>
A Brazilian study indicates that men who engage in bestiality have twice the rate of penile cancer.<ref>[https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/study-links-bestiality-penile-cancer/1932492/ Study Links Bestiality, Penile Cancer], NBC New York</ref> [[Atheism, bestiality and penile cancer]]
On the other hand, a 2017 metastudy reported that [[North America]] (Includes [[United States]] and [[Canada]]) had a rate of penile cancer cases of .91 people per 100,000 people and Europe had a rate of .90 penile cancer cases per 100,000 people.<ref>[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6645409/ ''Incidence of penile cancer worldwide: systematic review and meta-analysis''], Rev Panam Salud Publica. 2017; 41: e117. Published online 2017 Nov 30. doi: 10.26633/RPSP.2017.117</ref> At the same time, in recent years there has been a very rapid growth of Christianity in eastern/central Europe (see: [[Central and Eastern Europe and desecularization]]).
== Metastudy on penile cancer and some irreligious/nonreligious countries ==
A 2017 metastudy on penile cancer reported that: the Socialist Republic of Romania (Marxist-Leninist one-party communist/atheist state) had a 7.2 people with penile cancer per 100,000 people between the years of 1983- 1987; [[Vietnam]] (Vietnam has state atheism) had a rate of 2.34 people with penile cancer per 100,000 people between the years of 1991-1993; and [[Sweden]] had a rate of 2.1 people with penile cancer per 100,000 people between the years of 2000-2012 (Sweden is one of the most atheistic counties in the world and the website adherents.com reported that in 2005 46 - 85% of Swedes were [[agnosticism|agnostics]]/atheists/non-believers in God.<ref>[http://www.adherents.com/largecom/com_atheist.html Top 50 Countries With Highest Proportion of Atheists / Agnostics(Zuckerman, 2005)]</ref>).
<ref>[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6645409/ ''Incidence of penile cancer worldwide: systematic review and meta-analysis''], Rev Panam Salud Publica. 2017; 41: e117. Published online 2017 Nov 30. doi: 10.26633/RPSP.2017.117</ref>
== Soviet Union, Jewish male circumcision and male circumcision ==
[[File:Stalin-140508 27880t.jpg|right|200px|thumb|[[Joseph Stalin]]'s atheistic regime killed tens of millions of people. See also: [[Atheism and Mass Murder|Atheism and mass murder]] ]]
The [[Soviet Union]] practiced [[state atheism]].
[[Wikipedia]], an online encyclopedia founded by an atheist and [[agnosticism|agnostic]], indicates:
{{Cquote|Before glasnost, according to an article in The Jewish Press, Jewish ritual circumcision was forbidden in the Soviet Union. However, David E. Fishman, professor of Jewish History at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, states that, whereas the heder and yeshiva, the organs of Jewish education, "were banned by virtue of the law separating church and school, and subjected to tough police and administrative actions," circumcision was not proscribed by law or suppressed by executive measures. Jehoshua A. Gilboa writes that while circumcision was not officially or explicitly banned, pressure was exerted to make it difficult. Mohels in particular were concerned that they could be punished for any health issue that might develop, even if it arose some time after the circumcision.<ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Circumcision_and_law&oldid=965306904 Circumcision and law], Wikipedia</ref>}}
In 1964, A.L. Shabad reported in ''The Journal of Urology'': "In the Union of Soviet Socialistic Republics the incidence of penile cancer has varied in recent years from 0.5 to 1 per cent of cancerous diseases."<ref>[https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0022534717640345 Some Aspects of Etiology and Prevention of Penile Cancer], Volume 92, Issue 6, December 1964, Pages 696-702</ref>
As noted above, the 2019 medical journal article ''Single-Center Analysis of Human Papillomavirus Infection and P16INK4A Expression among Korean Patients with Penile Cancer'' published in ''Biomed Research International'' states: "In Korea, primary penile cancer is both rare and rarely reported, accounting for only 74 cases in 2015, which corresponded to only 0.03% of all malignant tumors during that year."<ref>[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6457309/ ''Single-Center Analysis of Human Papillomavirus Infection and P16INK4A Expression among Korean Patients with Penile Cancer''], Biomed Res Int. 2019; 2019: 6940582. Published online 2019 Mar 26. doi: 10.1155/2019/6940582</ref> (South Korea has adopted the religious United States' practice of male circumcision).
== See also ==
*[[Atheism and penile cancer]]
*[[Atheism and cancer]]
*[[Atheism, bestiality and penile cancer]]
*[[Atheism and bestiality]]
*[[Atheism and health]]
*[[The Bible and health]]
=== Soviet Union and male circumcision ===
=== Soviet Union and male circumcision ===