The European debate on male circumcision offers a unique window into how human rights are interpreted differently by various groups, cultures, and societies. It shows the stark difference of opinion between thick communities and the thin societies in which they live. In this case, those who emphasize individual rights (the proponents of the ban on neonatal circumcision) are pitted against those who believe that religious law or the needs of the community ought to matter more. Both sides claim that they are backed both by the law and by human rights conventions. In this and other cases, however, religious communities in the West feel threatened as courts and governments increasingly prioritize almost any right over that of religious freedom.