Mankind loves a moral panic. Throughout history, countless things have been censored, sparking fears of societal collapse. Yet, most of these fears remain unfounded. Today, we still see examples of censorship that will likely seem nonsensical in the future. For instance, coffee was once considered satanic, and surfing was seen as a pastime for savages.
Let’s explore ten normal things that people amazingly once deemed immoral.
Silk
Many predictions of moral decay start with sex. How bedroom activities lead to social breakdown is often unclear, yet many societies have banned behaviors for this reason. Ancient Rome was no different, oddly regulating silk.
The fabric was a status symbol, but Roman moralists heavily criticized it. Seneca thought women wearing silk were practically nude: “They cannot swear with good conscience that they are not naked.”
While women were criticized, silk was also deemed feminine. Pliny the Elder believed men wearing it contributed to cultural decline, and Emperor Tiberius banned it for men altogether. [1]
Ovid’s Poetry
Silk wasn’t the only target of Roman moralists. Emperor Augustus censored Ovid, a famous poet. His books were burned in Florence’s “Bonfire of the Vanities,” banned by the Bishop of London, and illegal to import to the USA until 1930.
Translations often omitted parts deemed inappropriate. Sex is a major theme in Ovid’s works, covering various scenarios.
Ovid’s Ars Amatoria (Art of Love) was a seduction manual. This book had a long history of censorship. When the U.S. finally allowed it, it was considered a literary classic, not because its morality was reassessed. [2]
Coffee
Coffee is now a staple in European culture. However, in the 17th century, it was decried as “Satan’s drink.”
As the Ottoman Empire grew, coffee became associated with them since they couldn’t drink alcohol. Priests feared that widespread coffee consumption would lead to the adoption of Ottoman beliefs. Some even asked Pope Clement VIII to ban it.
Besides being the drink of “infidels,” the Church feared it would endanger their supremacy and the Pope’s position. Surprisingly, Clement refused, reportedly saying coffee was “so delicious that it would be a pity to let the infidels have exclusive use of it.” [3]
Bananas
After its papal blessing, coffee quickly became popular in Europe. Its association with the Ottoman Empire was its only controversy. Unlike bananas, coffee didn’t resemble body parts.
In the prudish 1800s, bananas were not widely consumed in America. Their suggestive shape made them taboo. They were disguised when eaten, like wrapping them in foil and slicing them in a bowl.
Andrew Preston of the Boston Fruit Company changed this. He highlighted the health benefits and issued postcards showing Victorian ladies eating bananas at picnics to normalize them. [4]
Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk
Joseph Stalin had strong moral views for a man responsible for countless deaths. In January 1936, Dmitri Shostakovich, a young composer, learned this when Stalin walked out of his opera Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District.
A harsh review followed, and the opera disappeared from theaters. The criticism centered on the depiction of sex, described with “quacks, hoots, growls and gasps,” and labeled as “tickling the perverted taste of the bourgeoisie.”
Stalin was offended by the sex scene and the sympathetic portrayal of an adulterous murderer. Shostakovich feared arrest, but the opera led to the definition of “Socialist Realism” in art. [5]
Music in General
Music censorship isn’t limited to the last century. In 2023, the Taliban in Afghanistan banned music in general. Performing or broadcasting it is outlawed. Why?
According to the Vice and Virtue Ministry, music “causes moral corruption” and misleads the youth. This policy was also in force in the 1990s. The Taliban organized bonfires, burning instruments.
Having seen this before, many Afghan musicians fled the country in 2021. Those who stayed have faced beatings, humiliation, and discrimination. [6]
Surfing
Moral issues in sports often focus on athletes’ personal lives. Concerns arise about injuries in contact sports, but criticism usually targets fans. Participating in sports is rarely deemed immoral. However, surfing is an exception.
While some European visitors to Hawaii admired “he’e nalu,” or “wave sliding,” missionaries disapproved. One described it as the pastime of “chattering savages.” They discouraged surfing and introduced new games.
They didn’t outright ban surfing but were concerned about it being practiced nude or with little clothing and both sexes participating. Scandalous! [7]
Bertrand Russell’s Lectures
“Canceling” is moral outrage used to remove a bad influence. In 1940s New York, that influence was Bertrand Russell, a philosopher. Some wanted to deprive students at the College of the City of New York of his teachings.
His liberal views about sex were the issue. The risk he’d corrupt youth outweighed his contributions to philosophy, logic, and mathematics.
A judge sided with a family seeking to cancel his appointment. The mayor withdrew funding, leaving Russell jobless. [8]
Christmas
“Puritanical” describes strict moral behavior. In 16th and 17th century England, Puritans sought a godly life devoid of merrymaking. They passed laws banning immoral behavior like drinking, dancing, and games.
They also outlawed Christmas, seeing it as a festival of sin. Christians banned Christmas, disliking pagan traditions like trees and decorations.
Mince pies and Christmas pudding were off the menu, carols were forbidden, and businesses had to stay open. The ban lifted in England in 1660, but it wasn’t a legal holiday in some U.S. states until 1856. [9]
Statues
Statues are usually controversial for celebrating bad people. However, there have been cases where people feared statues would inspire evil deeds.
In 2023, a demonic-looking statue called “Khru Kai Kaeo” was displayed outside a hotel in Bangkok. Some feared it would cause evil, although this was not the case.
The Council of Artists Promoting Buddhism called for its removal, saying it promoted devil worship. Another group wanted it moved because it threatened their culture. [10]
The statue was eventually removed because the hotel lacked the necessary permission.
From silk to statues, many things once considered immoral now seem absurd. Moral standards evolve, shaping what society deems acceptable.
What do you think about these past moral judgments? Leave your comment below!
