Circumcision - yes or no?

[ZuWo]

You have to look at the impacts of a circumcision ban; you make it essentially impossible for Jews and Muslims to continue their religious life in a place where such a ban exists. I think the Jews are in an even greater jeopardy in such a scenario because the circumcision of a Jewish boy has to be carried out very early, which makes it very difficult for a Jewish family to look for safe ways to have their boy circumcised (e.g. find a doctor in another country where circumcision is legal). Muslim families might have more leeway because they usually have a lot more time to plan the circumcision of their son.

Discussing theories of "bodily integrity" and taking very libertarian stances on the issue on an internet forum is all well and good, but you have to think of the very practical effects of such a ban especially when it comes to Jews and the long-term survival of Judaism in the Western world. 

[ZuWo]

I am aware that reform Jews exist and are a sizable part of the Jewish community. In fact, there are plenty of them who live in my part of the town, along with all kinds of orthodox, Eastern European or very liberal Jews. I also agree that Judaism is "much more than circumcision" but that doesn't change the fact that circumcision is an essential element of Judaism for the great majority of Jews. Thus, if this practice is banned it becomes nearly impossible for many Jews to lead a normal religious life as Dieter Graumann, chair of the Central Committee of German Jews, made clear. I think you could compare the impact a circumcision ban would have on the Jewish community with a ban on baptisms for Christians; while Christianity is of course much more than the practice of baptism, you would ban a central aspect of the Christian faith.

[ZuWo]

I think you could compare the impact a circumcision ban would have on the Jewish community with a ban on baptisms for Christians; while Christianity is of course much more than the practice of baptism, you would ban a central aspect of the Christian faith.

No, I don't think you could compare the splashing of water on a baby's face with the permanent mutilation of a baby's penis.

I clearly did not state that the practices of circumcision and baptism are identical or even similar in any way. What I said was that the impact of a circumcision ban for the Jewish community would be comparable to the effect a ban of baptisms would have for Christians; a central aspect of the religion in question would become illegal, which would prevent many members of these religious groups from practicing their religion.

[ZuWo]

Okay, if you want to play with flawed comparisons, what if there were a ban on the stoning to death of women for such crimes as cohabitation with another man?  Should we pity this poor, abused religious community for having their rights infringed?

The comparison you are making here is indeed flawed. Circumcision is an essential aspect of both Judaism and Islam, while the stoning to death of people isn't. Circumcision is a religious ritual, while stoning is a form of punishment. It is a condemnable practice and is, sadly, still practiced by extremists, but in no way is it on par with circumcision when it comes to its significance for Jews and Muslims.

Any religious practice which actually harms people in a clearly tangible way should obviously not be legal. But that's not the case with circumcision; there is no proof that it harms those who are involved. On the contrary, the example of millions of people who are circumcised and don't care and the lack of a clear scientific answer to the question whether circumcision is positive or negative show that circumcision is a harmless practice.