Taboo is a prohibition, a ban. Taboo has the meaning of an 'unapproachable thing.' Taboo corresponds to the 'divine-heavenly fear' of our time, the breaking of which in many ways will be like committing a 'sin' nowadays. The restrictions are not tied to a divine command and described as 'the oldest unwritten laws of humanity.' When taboo was in full force there was neither the idea of a supreme being in its present context, nor a belief system. Therefore taboo like totem could be said to be older than the supreme being.
The most ancient punishment systems of humanity could be tied to taboo. Avoidance of the dangers that are created by the violation of a taboo may be possible by penance and purification. In other words, by paying something, by refraining from certain things and by cleansing yourself (Can you detect the beginnings of the concepts of expiation, ablution, abstinence and fasting?).
The primitive communities were subjected to a series of prohibitions. They didn't know why. They didn't think of asking questions.
Taboo was accepted as if it is an open truth and the violation of it is believed to be punished automatically (Echoes of the accepted attitudes today?)
Taboos do not co-exist with individualism and the personal freedoms, which should be eradicated. (Precursors of the belief systems?).
Prohibitions are kept alive by an inner necessity; they are connected to the danger of contamination from the banned object; and necessitate ceremonial acts (like the belief systems of today).
All the taboos were ancient prohibitions, imposed externally and by force.
The oldest and most important taboo prohibitions are the two basic laws of totemism: 'Don't kill the totem animal' (it could be extended to the 'kin' as well) and 'avoid sexual relations with the opposite sex of the same clan.'
The primitive people who were living long before the imposition of laws by the gods had this command or the moral rule: You should not kill. This is a rule the violation of which shouldn't go unpunished. The isolation of professional executioners for a set period or temporarily originates from this superstition. The appeasement ceremonies, sacrifices, restrictions, isolation period, atonement and purification ceremonies in the belief systems and also following a battle in primitive communities all originate from one superstition: Thou shalt not kill! This must be familiar.
The individual is asked to sacrifice his/her instinctual satisfactions to the supreme being, who has declared: 'I'll take your revenge.' This is important because in the development of the early belief systems we could see that many things which were relinquished by humanity (because they were 'sins') were turned over to the 'supreme being' and became permissible in his name. This gave earthlings the opportunity to save themselves from the domination of their evil and socially harmful instincts.
Atonement in taboo ceremonies is much more fundamental than purification.
Taboo aims at the most powerful expectations and desires and it is also the typical method of legislation imposed by the chiefs and priests whose purpose is to preserve their assets and privileges.
