Atheism, circumcision and penile cancer

See: Atheism and penile cancer

The prophet Moses authored the book of Leviticus

Max Neuberger, writing in his "History of Medicine" states concerning the Mosaic laws:

“  |  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.[1] |  ”

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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."[2]

According to the American Cancer Society:

“  |  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.[3]

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## Contents

* 1 Circumcision and the rarity of penile cancer in the United States and South Korea
* 2 Secular Europe and circumcision
* 2.1 England/Wales/United States/Australia, male circumcision and penile cancer
* 2.2 Irreligious Sweden, circumcision and penile cancer
* 2.3 Study: Secular Europe has about twice the rate of penile cancer than the religious United States
* 3 Metastudy on penile cancer and some irreligious/nonreligious countries
* 4 Soviet Union, Jewish male circumcision and male circumcision
* 5 See also
* 6 References

## Circumcision and the rarity of penile cancer in the United States and South Korea[edit]

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 atheist and agnostic, indicated in 2020:

“  |  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.[4] |  ”

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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."[5]

The 2002 journal article entitled Extraordinarily high rates of male circumcision in South Korea: history and underlying causes states:

“  |  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."[6][7] |  ”

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In 2011, NBC New York reported that penile cancer in the United States was "rare".[8]

## Secular Europe and circumcision[edit]

See also: Atheism and penile cancer and Secular Europe

From a global perspective, Europe is more secular/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:

“  |  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.[9] |  ”

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Wikipedia, an online encyclopedia founded by an atheist and agnostic, indicates:

“  |  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.”[10] |  ”

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A number of male circumcision bans have been proposed by various Europeans.[11]

### England/Wales/United States/Australia, male circumcision and penile cancer[edit]

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.[12]

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:

“  |  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.[13]

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See also: Atheism, bestiality and penile cancer and Bestiality and Britain and Bestiality and Australia

### Irreligious Sweden, circumcision and penile cancer[edit]

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 agnostics/atheists/non-believers in God.[14]). [15]

Scandinavia is considered to consist of the countries of Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. The male circumcision rate in Scandinavia is approximately 1-2%.[16][17] See also: Bestiality and Sweden

### Study: Secular Europe has about twice the rate of penile cancer than the religious United States[edit]

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.[18] 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."[19]

As noted above, penile cancer is rare in the United States.[20]

The 2014 medical journal article Risk Factors and Prevalence of Penile Cancer which was published in the West 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."[21]

A Brazilian study indicates that men who engage in bestiality have twice the rate of penile cancer.[22] 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.[23] At the same time, in recent years there has been a very rapid growth of Christianity in Eastern Europe/Central Europe (see: Central and Eastern Europe and desecularization). Western Europe has a population of about 196,155,565. Central Europe has a population of around 165 million people. Eastern Europe has a population of around 293,000,000.

## Metastudy on penile cancer and some irreligious/nonreligious countries[edit]

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 agnostics/atheists/non-believers in God.[24]). [25]

## Soviet Union, Jewish male circumcision and male circumcision[edit]

Joseph Stalin's atheistic regime killed tens of millions of people. See also: Atheism and mass murder

The Soviet Union practiced state atheism and banned ritual circumcision.[26]

Wikipedia, an online encyclopedia founded by an atheist and agnostic, indicates:

“  |  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.[27] |  ”

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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."[28] 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."[29] (South Korea has adopted the religious United States' practice of male circumcision).

## See also[edit]

* Atheism and penile cancer
* Atheism and cancer
* Atheism, bestiality and penile cancer
* Atheism and bestiality
* Atheism and health
* The Bible and health
* Antisemitism, atheistic Communism, and penile cancer‎

## References[edit]

1. ↑ Neuburger, Max. History of Medicine. Oxford University Press, 1910, Vol. I, p. 38.
2. ↑ 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
3. ↑ Risk Factors for Penile Cancer
4. ↑ Religious male circumcision, Wikipedia
5. ↑ 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
6. ↑ Extraordinarily high rates of male circumcision in South Korea: history and underlying causes, BJU INTERNATIONAL, Volume 89: Pages 48-54, January 2002.
7. ↑ 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
8. ↑ Study Links Bestiality, Penile Cancer, NBC New York
9. ↑ Circumcision, the ultimate parenting dilemma, BBC
10. ↑ Circumcision and law, Wikipedia
11. ↑ Circumcision and law, Wikipedia
12. ↑ 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
13. ↑ 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
14. ↑ Top 50 Countries With Highest Proportion of Atheists / Agnostics(Zuckerman, 2005)
15. ↑ 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
16. ↑ Extraordinarily high rates of male circumcision in South Korea: history and underlying causes, BJU INTERNATIONAL, Volume 89: Pages 48-54, January 2002.
17. ↑ 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
18. ↑ In U.S., Decline of Christianity Continues at Rapid Pace, Pew Research
19. ↑ 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
20. ↑ Study Links Bestiality, Penile Cancer, NBC New York
21. ↑ 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
22. ↑ Study Links Bestiality, Penile Cancer, NBC New York
23. ↑ 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
24. ↑ Top 50 Countries With Highest Proportion of Atheists / Agnostics(Zuckerman, 2005)
25. ↑ 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
26. ↑ Walker, Bruce (June 27, 2012). German Court: Circumcision of Young Boys Constitutes “Illegal Bodily Harm”. The New American. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
27. ↑ Circumcision and law, Wikipedia
28. ↑ Some Aspects of Etiology and Prevention of Penile Cancer, Volume 92, Issue 6, December 1964, Pages 696-702
29. ↑ 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