Buzz
Humanity has always been captivated by moral alarms. Across the ages, countless aspects of life have been banned or criticized under the assumption that they would lead individuals to forsake their principles and plunge into chaos and immorality. Yet, such outcomes have rarely, if ever, materialized.
Even in modern times, instances of such prohibitions persist globally, despite the high likelihood that these concerns are baseless. Eventually, they are almost certain to be viewed as absurd. How else can one explain the notion that coffee was once deemed devilish (until opinions shifted) or that surfing was labeled as a barbaric activity?
Continue reading to uncover more about these and other ordinary things that were surprisingly branded as immoral in the past.
10. Silk
Numerous forecasts of societal moral decline often trace their origins to a common source: sexuality. While the precise mechanism by which private behavior disrupts social order remains vague, many civilizations have historically outlawed or frowned upon specific practices for these reasons. Ancient Rome was no exception, and one peculiar item they regulated for this purpose was silk.
This luxurious fabric was widely favored among the elite as a status symbol, yet it faced harsh condemnation from Roman moralists. Seneca (d. AD 64), for instance, argued that women clad in silk appeared almost naked in public; he famously remarked, 'They cannot honestly claim they are clothed.'
Although women bore the brunt of criticism for donning silk, the material was still perceived as inherently feminine. Pliny the Elder (d. AD 79) believed that men who wore it were hastening the erosion of Roman traditions, while Emperor Tiberius (42 BC–AD 37) took the extreme step of prohibiting men from wearing it entirely.
9. Ovid’s Poetry
Silk wasn’t the sole target of Roman moral scrutiny. Under the rule of the morally stringent Emperor Augustus, the works of the renowned poet Ovid were censored. This was not an isolated incident; his writings were burned during Florence’s 'Bonfire of the Vanities' in the 15th century and banned by the Bishop of London a century later. Additionally, they remained prohibited from import into the USA until 1930.
Translations of his works have often omitted sections deemed unsuitable. Given that Ovid’s writings frequently explore themes of sexuality, it’s no wonder he has been a contentious figure throughout history. His works delve into various aspects of intimacy, not limiting themselves to fictional scenarios.
Ovid’s Ars Amatoria (Art of Love) served as a guidebook on the art of seduction. This was the text banned from import into the U.S., and it may hold the record for the longest history of censorship. When the U.S. eventually permitted its entry, it wasn’t due to a moral reevaluation but because it met the legal criteria for a literary classic.
8. Coffee
From sipping cappuccinos at Italian counters to pondering existential thoughts over a cup of coffee in Parisian cafés, coffee is deeply ingrained in European culture. However, this wasn’t always true. When it first rose to prominence in the 17th century, it was denounced as 'Satan’s drink.'
During that era, the Ottoman Empire was expanding its influence across Christian regions of Europe. Coffee, the Ottomans’ preferred social beverage due to their abstinence from alcohol, sparked fears among clergy that its adoption would lead to the spread of Ottoman beliefs. Some even pleaded with Pope Clement VIII to outlaw it entirely.
Not only was coffee associated with those they deemed infidels, but if their fears materialized and it led to the spread of Islam in Europe, the church’s dominance and the Pope’s authority would be at risk. Surprisingly, Clement declined to ban it. He allegedly remarked that coffee was 'too delightful to let the infidels enjoy it alone.'
7. Bananas
Following its papal approval, coffee gained rapid acceptance across Europe. Its controversy stemmed mainly from its Ottoman ties, but its appearance likely played a role. A simple bean or a cup of dark liquid doesn’t resemble much else—certainly not body parts. Bananas, however, faced a different challenge. Their suggestive shape made them a target of moral scrutiny, hindering their popularity for years.
By the early 1800s, a prudish era, bananas were known to some Americans but not widely consumed. Their phallic form made them taboo. When eaten, they were often concealed—wrapped in foil or sliced in bowls—to avoid exposing anyone to the 'immoral' fruit.
Andrew Preston of the Boston Fruit Company, later United Fruit, revolutionized this perception. He highlighted bananas’ affordability and health benefits and distributed postcards depicting Victorian women enjoying them at picnics, making the fruit more socially acceptable.
6. Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk
Joseph Stalin, despite his brutal regime, held surprisingly rigid views on morality. In January 1936, Dmitri Shostakovich, a renowned young composer, experienced a defining moment in his career when Stalin attended a performance of his opera Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District and abruptly left.
A harsh critique followed shortly after, leading to the opera’s removal from theaters. Much of the criticism focused on the explicit depiction of intimacy in the music, which used unconventional sounds like 'quacks, hoots, growls, and gasps' to portray love scenes realistically. The work was accused of 'catering to the depraved tastes of the bourgeoisie.'
Stalin is believed to have been particularly offended by the first act’s intimate scene, though the opera’s sympathetic portrayal of an adulterous murderer likely added to the controversy. Shostakovich lived in fear for months, anticipating arrest. Instead, the incident prompted Soviet officials to establish guidelines for acceptable art, later termed 'Socialist Realism.'
5. Music in General
Music censorship is not a relic of the past or exclusive to Stalinist Russia. It persists today and has even intensified in certain regions. While Stalin and the Soviets targeted specific artists and works, the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2023 aimed to ban all music—not just Western or popular genres, but music as a whole. Performing or broadcasting music on TV or radio is now illegal. But why?
An official from their Vice and Virtue Ministry claimed that music 'leads to moral decay' and 'misleads the youth.' This ban is not new; it was also enforced during the Taliban’s rule in the 1990s. Upon reinstating this absurd policy, the Taliban held public bonfires to destroy musical instruments.
Having experienced this before, many Afghan musicians took precautions when the Taliban regained power in 2021. Some fled the country, while those who remained faced beatings, humiliation, and discrimination.
4. Surfing
When moral debates arise in sports, they often center on athletes’ personal conduct or the physical risks of contact sports. Rarely is participation in a sport itself deemed immoral. However, surfing, one of the world’s oldest pastimes, stands as an exception to this norm.
While some European travelers to Hawaii in the late 18th and 19th centuries admired the native tradition of 'he’e nalu,' or 'wave sliding,' the missionaries who followed disapproved. One even dismissed it as the hobby of 'chattering savages.' They discouraged locals from surfing and introduced alternative games, leading to a decline in the sport’s popularity.
However, it seems they never outright banned surfing, contrary to some claims. Their primary objections stemmed from the practice of surfing nude or minimally clothed, and the participation of both genders. How shocking!
3. Statues
Statues typically spark controversy for honoring individuals with questionable legacies, not for inspiring immoral behavior. Yet, there have been instances globally where people feared the latter.
A 2023 example from Thailand involved a massive statue outside a Bangkok hotel. Named 'Khru Kai Kaeo,' the 13-foot (4-meter) sculpture depicted a jet-black, winged vampire with glowing red eyes. While undeniably eerie, could it truly incite evil? Some believed so.
The Council of Artists Promoting Buddhism demanded the statue’s removal, claiming it encouraged devil worship. They argued that people might perform animal sacrifices in its presence, though no such incidents were ever reported. Another group requested it be relocated to a less prominent spot, citing vague concerns about it undermining their culture and beliefs.
The eerie statue was eventually taken down, with officials citing the hotel’s lack of proper permits as the reason.
2. Christmas
The term 'puritanical,' often used to describe rigid moral or religious behavior, traces its roots to 16th and 17th century England. Puritans, a faction within the Church of England, sought to redefine a pious life, rejecting any form of celebration or festivity. They successfully pushed for laws in England and Colonial America that prohibited activities they deemed immoral, such as drinking, dancing, and games.
Among the celebrations they targeted was Christmas, which they viewed as a hub of sinful behavior. Ironically, Christians themselves banned Christmas, disapproving of its incorporation of pagan traditions like trees and decorations, which they saw as disrespectful to God. Their restrictions extended beyond these elements.
Surprisingly, mince pies and Christmas pudding were banned, carol singing was prohibited, and businesses were required to remain open on Christmas Day. Although the ban was lifted in England by 1660, it wasn’t recognized as a legal holiday in some U.S. states until 1856.
1. Bertrand Russell’s Lectures
The concept of 'canceling' is simply a modern term for using moral outrage to remove perceived negative influences from public view. In 1940s New York, that influence was philosopher Bertrand Russell. His audience included students at the College of the City of New York, but some sought to deny them the opportunity to learn from one of history’s greatest minds.
The reason? Russell’s progressive views on sexuality. Despite his prior teaching roles at prestigious U.S. universities without incident, critics claimed his influence would corrupt the moral values of young students. This concern overshadowed his monumental contributions to philosophy, logic, and mathematics, as well as his expertise as an educator.
This argument prevailed when a family sued to block Russell’s appointment, fearing his 'immorality' would taint young minds. When they succeeded, the mayor revoked funding for Russell’s position, leaving him unemployed.
