>>>“Muslim and Jewish children are entitled to the same protection as all other children,“ she said. She added that the practice caused unnecessary pain and was medically unbeneficial.<<<
Which is the same situation that Chick-Fil-A finds itself confronting.
In both cases, the state has decided what actions are morally permissible despite the religious beliefs of those involved. Circumcision is a key ritual element to being Jewish. It’s not just slicing off the foreskin. I’m assuming that the Moslems feel the same way.
Is there psychological pain involved with telling children that they’re eating the flesh and drinking the blood of their Messiah? Is it necessary? Apparently a bureaucrat in Norway knows what is necessary and what isn’t.
The Baha’i Faith has a ritual fast from sunrise to sunset that takes place every March. Could be painful; hunger is no laughing matter. You need to eat. Not eating for 12 hours every day for one month might be medically unbeneficial. Is it necessary? The state is taking it on itself to make that decision.
Not to mention the medical lack of necessity of Native Americans ingesting peyote and wandering the landscape finding visions, or being forced to sit in a cross-legged position for hours seeking dharma with a Buddhist monk.
It is strange indeed to watch Western civilization evolve towards totalitarianism, taking baby steps toward tyranny. This is just another step. I guess if you’re one of the remaining Jews in Norway, you can practice your religion, as long as the authorities approve the practice.
God help us.
Yes. Certainly the government could ban fasting for minors.