Archaic customs

From: Peter Metcalfe <P.Metcalfe_at_cantva.canterbury.ac.nz>
Date: Wed, 31 May 1995 20:44:39 +1300


Andrew Joelson:

>Peter Metcalf[e] wrote:

>>Similar archaic
>> pratices have survived for long periods of time (Jewish circumcision etc)

> Archaic?

My mistake. I forgot to specify the time period over what I was talking about. I was thinking of how the practice was once common in the Middle East 2nd millenium BC but in Augustus's time, only the Jews were practicing it (mainly for cultural identity).

>Is that why most western hospitals circumcise male babies?
>Gee, I thought it had something to do with general cleanliness and inhibiting
>disease.....

What diseases does circumcision inhibit? The only ones I know of are some forms of urethal cancer which is hardly prevalent enough to be the cause of the practice.

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