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Originally Posted by kat  There's an ample history of what it leads to; at a minimum, serious gender inequality and limited opportunity for women. At worst, killings (contemporary examples can be found in the form of 'honor killings'; slightly more historically, another example is the tradition of burning a dead man's widow in India). |
Sati is not an example of an aversion to women manifesting itself. The custom which recalls the storie of a hindu goddess jumping into a fire when her husband died, probably started with the rajput, when the muslims were invading - it was incredibly strong message we'd rather die with our husbands than become fodder for your harems.
Even today (with the famous case in Rajasthan in 1987) one who commits it is condsidered saint- like .it is more akin to honorable suicide in japan. I am not condoning it (obviously!) but its not like the husband dies and she's used to kindle the sandalwood.
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Originally Posted by kat Repression is a hallmark of societies which aren't functioning well. Finding internal enemies for witch-hunts or scapegoating, or prescribing a moral code, to be enforced on all citizens who aren't extremely politically well-connected, is far from unknown. |
I think you're turning it into an either or there is a difference between liberty and libertinism.
countries which are morally decadent which includes promiscuity are usually on their last legs - history is littered with examples.
stoic protestant europe vs. decadent pre reformation catholic countries, stoic Republican Rome vs. the sexually decadent Enstrucans, the 'fanatic' religious Iberians led by Isabell, vs, the 'sophisticated, far wealthier an dmore powerful but emphasized , irreligious Moors.
and speaking of Goodwins' law if you look at the conditions of the Wiemer republic
