View source for Circumcision

In males, '''circumcision''' is the surgical removal of the foreskin which covers the head of the penis. This operation is usually performed early in a child's life. Circumcision is a common practice not only in the [[United States]] and the [[Middle East]], but throughout the world and history.  It is generally not practiced in most of Europe and largely unheard of in Eastern Asian countries.  Ritual circumcision is common in the [[Jewish]] and [[Islam]]ic faiths, but uncommon altogether in [[Asia]], [[South America|South]] and [[Central America]], and most of [[Europe]].<ref>[http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/13585.html AMA report on Neonatal Circumcision]</ref>  Circumcision was an outward sign of the covenent between God and the Jewish people as told in the [[Bible]] in the book of [[Genesis]]. 

According to the American Cancer Society:
{{Cquote|Circumcision removes all (or part) of the foreskin. This procedure is most often done in infants, but it can be done later in life, too. Men who were circumcised as children may have a much lower chance of getting penile cancer than those who were not. In fact, some experts say that circumcision as an infant prevents this cancer. The same protective effect is not seen if circumcision is done as an adult.

The reason for the lower risk in circumcised men is not entirely clear, but it may be related to other known risk factors. For example, men who are circumcised can’t develop the condition called phimosis, and they don’t accumulate material known as smegma (see the next section). Men with smegma or phimosis have an increased risk of penile cancer. The later a man is circumcised, it's more likely that one of these conditions will occur first.

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>}}

Circumcision rates in the US have been declining since 1965, due in part to statements from the American Academy of Pediatrics<ref>AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS - Task Force on Circumcision - Circumcision Policy Statement [http://www.cirp.org/library/statements/aap1999/]</ref><ref>[http://www.aap.org/advocacy/archives/marcircum.htm AAP Press Release - NEW AAP CIRCUMCISION POLICY RELEASED]</ref><ref>PEDIATRICS Vol. 103 No. 3 March 1999, pp. 686-693 - AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS:  Circumcision Policy Statement [http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;103/3/686]"A statement of reaffirmation for this policy was published on September 1, 2005."</ref> and the [[American Medical Association]] <ref>[http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/13585.html AMA report on Neonatal Circumcision]</ref> discouraging the practice.  While it varies regionally, in 2004 about 57% of newborn boys in the US were circumcised.<ref>[http://www.cirp.org/library/statistics/USA/ United States Circumcision Incidence]</ref>

The procedure lasts only ten minutes and is often performed in a hospital before the baby is taken home. Local anesthesia and antibacterial ointment are used to prevent pain and infection. Some boys may experience a small amount of bleeding or redness, and this is a normal part of the procedure.

== Medical Benefits ==

The medical benefits suggested to accrue from circumcision are:

* Reduced incidence of urinary tract infection in infant males
* Reduced incidences of infection in prolonged exposure to non-hygenic conditions as might take place during war
* Decreased incidence of penile [[cancer]] in adult males
* Decreased susceptibility to certain sexually transmissible diseases, including human immunodeficiency virus ([[HIV]]). Studies taken in the African nations of Kenya and Uganda found that circumcised males were less than half as likely to acquire HIV when involved in intercourse with an infected partner than those who were never circumcised.<ref>Time Magazine, December 27th, 2007, Pg. 84</ref>

== AMA Response ==

Despite these benefits, the [[American Medical Association|AMA]] does not recommend routine infant circumcision. They state that because the incidence of urinary tract infection in infant males is low to begin with, circumcision is not justified as a preventive measure against this condition; because penile cancer is rare and occurs later in life, the use of circumcision as a preventive practice is not justified; and because behavioral factors are far more important risk factors for acquisition of HIV and other sexually transmissible diseases than circumcision status, circumcision cannot be responsibly viewed as "protecting" against such infections. The AMA concludes that "Existing scientific evidence demonstrates potential medical benefits of newborn male circumcision; however, these data are not sufficient to recommend routine neonatal circumcision."<ref>[http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/13585.html AMA report on Neonatal Circumcision]</ref>

== Female Circumcision (FGM) ==
Female circumcision, practiced in parts of Africa, is a much different procedure that can have lasting effects on a girl's health.<ref>JAMA Vol. 274 No. 21, December 6, 1995 - Female genital mutilation. Council on Scientific Affairs, American Medical Association [http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/274/21/1714]</ref>  The procedure may range from a simple cut in the pubic region to the complete removal of parts of the female reproductive organs. While the procedure is an important part of some African cultures, there is increased pressure by women's groups worldwide to ban it.  Female circumcision is often referred to in the medical community as [[Female Genital Mutilation]], or FGM.<ref>JAMA Vol. 274 No. 21, December 6, 1995 - Female genital mutilation. Council on Scientific Affairs, American Medical Association [http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/274/21/1714]</ref>

== Atheism, Judaism, circumcision and penile cancer ==

''See also:'' [[Atheism, circumcision and penile cancer]] and [[Atheism and penile cancer]] and [[The Bible and health]]

[[File:Prophet Moses.jpg|thumb|200px|right|The prophet [[Moses]] authored the book of [[Leviticus]] ]]
Max Neuberger, writing in his "History of Medicine" states concerning the Mosaic laws: 
{{cquote|The commands concern prophylaxis and suppression of epidemics, suppression of venereal disease and prostitution, care of the skin, baths, food, housing and clothing, regulation of labour, sexual life, discipline of the people, etc. Many of these commands, such as Sabbath rest, circumcision, laws concerning food (interdiction of blood and pork), measures concerning menstruating and lying-in women, and those suffering from gonorrhoea, isolation of lepers, and hygiene of the camp, are, in view of the conditions of the climate, surprisingly rational.<ref name="Neuburger, Max 1910, p. 38">Neuburger, Max. History of Medicine. Oxford University Press, 1910, Vol. I, p. 38.</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]]

*[[Circumcision ban]]

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Medical Terms]]
[[Category:Judaism]]
[[Category:Bible]]