The seven commandments of Dalamatia and Eden, along with the ten injunctions of the Hebrews, were transformative taboos that replaced many pre-existing prohibitions and offered rewards for obedience. [1]
Taboos served as the earliest form of societal regulation, evolving to become the ancestor of primitive self-control and foundational to ceremonial standards. [2] Sickness is believed to be a punishment for sin or taboo violation, a prevailing theory among various cultures throughout history. [3]
Taboos on killing, believed to have been handed down from gods, were established by self-interest, sanctified by society as traditional mores, and consecrated by religion as moral law, resulting in the safety and sanctity of human life. [4]
Taboos, burdensome yet effective in organizing society, serve as the foundation for the traditions and conventions that shape civilized man's established institutions. [5]
Consecrated land, marked with family insignia and protected by magic taboos, bestowed a “priest's title” to the owners, as seen with the Hebrews' respect for family landmarks and stone markers. [6]
Establishing institutions of survival, such as industry, property, and war for gain, is rooted in the fear instinct and regulated by taboo, convention, and religious sanction. [7] Primitive society operated negatively through taboos, inherently restricting liberties and enforcing prohibitive laws. [8] Jesus delivered us from the slavery of taboo and taught us to see the world as fundamentally good. [9] The violation of taboos among early tribes was seen as both a crime and a sin, leading to punishment and the invention of hells for violators. [10] Taboos were man's earliest effort to avoid offending ghosts, evolving into ceremonial standards and primitive self-control. [11] Primitive religion upholds far-flung taboos essential for civilized society's evolution. [12]
The taboo of eating pork, similar to the modesty of women during menstruation, stemmed from a fear of defilement and sin. [13]
Food taboos, rooted in fetishism and totemism, have persisted across cultures, from the sacred swine of the Phoenicians and cow of the Hindus to the prohibition on pork in Egyptian, Hebraic, and Islamic traditions. [14]
The evolution of marriage is tied to the control of sex, shaped by social, religious, and civil restrictions, creating a perpetual conflict between basic instincts and evolving ethics. [15] The early races often practiced infanticide and twin taboos, but the Andonite people viewed twins as signs of good luck. [16]
See also: UB 89:1.