Clitoral circumsion is cultural based, as even some Christian converts from various regions still do it today, even to the point of breaking the law to have it done to their children. It's an ancient practice these people were raised to believe is the only way to 'tame' a woman and make her a 'good' wife some day, since if she enjoys sex she'll cheat on her husband and bear children not of him. It's an ignorant practice that has no real basis even in physical means, as a woman can still enjoy sex vaginally.
But really, it's not a religious practice, and other than in Judaism, neither is circumsizing a male. It wasn't a very well known procedure till it was deemed more 'hygienic' for a baby to be snipped at birth, since really there was no open discussion at that time between any one about keeping such areas clean if you were uncircumsized. SO, basically to combat the illnesses and infections that can come with not cleaning that area in men, doctors were taught to push parents to have the boys circumsized at birth. It was much like how for many decades of this past century, mothers were taught that formula was healthier for their babies than breast milk. Doctor said it was so, so it had to be true...
But really, Kas, female cutting isn't done for religious reasons. People might lay the blame for it on their religion to make what they do alright, but when their church outlaws the practice and they sneak out to have it done anyways, that says to me it's going back to much deeper roots than the religion. Many areas in Africa, and even the Middle East, has had many religion changes over the centuries but they've still carried out this on their daughters no matter what God or gods were in their temples. It's much like in certain tribal areas of Africa a woman must have a plate in her lip or certain scars on her body to be deemed a good woman and worthy of being a wife.
So I guess I just felt like sticking up for Gash and pointing out he wasn't just disagreeing with you for the hell of it...