Toto

So how about those Shi'ite Iraqi's?

Now that they are liberated, they are free to whip themselves with sharp objects, drawing blood. (Catholics also do this, or used to - Opus Dei in particular still retains the custom.)

Bush has decided that separation of mosque and state is a good thing. But would it violate their religious freedom to outlaw this disgusting practice?

Should self-flagellants be restrained and forcibly medicated?

Autonemesis

I don't see that it is much different from fasting, or piercings, or tattoos, or S&M, or any of the other reasons people come up with to experience pain and cut/clip/pierce/stretch/color parts of their bodies. I'd be very surprised if the wounds from self-flagellation cause permanent injury beyond what a piercing or tatto would cause.

Certainly a line ought to be drawn, but they're not amputating limbs or conducting human sacrifice, not anything close. I think part of the reason its done is because the blood is so dramatic. Even infidels take notice. But I don't think it's actually all that harmful, considered alongside other pain fetishes we do tolerate. The religous element sure does contribute to its odiousness, though, I'll grant that.

Daggah

Like all other stupid things people do to themselves, it's not a government's place to keep them from harming themselves...but an intelligent, humanistic (not necessarily secular humanism) society can exert its influence to eliminate barbaric practices.

dangin

Yeah, we can't even stop people for refusing medical treatment for their children in the U.S., not to mention the snake handlers. (can you say duhhh?) So the flagellites should be free to do as they please. If we forced anything on them, it should be education. What they do with their own time is up to them, unless they are bleeding on my carpet, and then i'll show them the meaning of flagellate.