I get what you are saying Jen - again gently and respectfully... How then does the policy of male circumscion get referenced as a religious practice when all of theother things are not followed?
the circumsicion was a sign of the covenant between God and the Isrealite nation...the mosaic laws were the regulations of that covenant.

Once Jesus had arrived, then the covenant was made new and the new sign of the covenant would be a persons faith in Jesus, rather then following of any set regulations as set out in the mosaic law.

So christians were told that they did not need to be circumsiced because the mosaic covenant was not required any longer. But i guess becuase many of the jews did not put faith in Jesus, they continued to follow the mosaic law under the old covenant.

Then when the jewish priesthood was destroyed in 70ce by the romans, they no longer had a means of continuing to offer the sacrifices required under the mosaic law... so those sacrifices stopped due to necessity rather then choice while circumsision was something they could continue to perform with or without a priesthood.