Quote Originally Posted by piebaldpython
If the rate is now 56%, then that means a whole bunch of people smartened up. Having been born in Philly in 1956, I can't think of ONE male that I know who was born in the USA before 1970 that wasn't circumcised. Not a ONE....unless he was foreign born or if his parents had recently emigrated from Europe.
Yep. Same here when I was growing up in California. One day in the P.E. locker room in Jr. High, the entire class was shocked to see their first uncircumcised classmate (a new student) in the showers. Before then I didn't realize that we were outside of nature.

Quote Originally Posted by Bloozcat
It's origins are religious. It first started in Abraham's time and was part of God's covenant with the Hebrew people. It became a Judeo/Christian tradition after that.
From what I understand Jews and Muslims are regularly circumcised but it is hardly a Christian tradition. More of a twisted American thing. Here's an interesting little piece about it:

http://www.salon.com/life/feature/19...26feature.html