Governments do legislate culture. Explain to me why we have monogomous marriage laws or laws about drinking in some places but not others, etc etc etc? Not cultural?
Sure.
99% of the developed world has laws about monogomous marriage, whether you are in Japan, Australia, USA, Brazil, Spain, Norway, Malaysia or India. I'd say it's based on the world's concept of modernity, and opposition to female "slavery", not due any specific culture, unless you think India-Japan-Norway-Brazil are all part of the same culture.
As for where we can drink alcohol, I'm not sure what you mean. I can't think of a single "culture" that forbids drinking alcohol. There are plenty of religions that forbid it, but that's my point, the laws are a way of legislating religious values.
Do you disagree with me that the Muslims legislate their religion more than the other major religions? If so I'm surprised. I'm pretty sure that if you go to a cop in most Muslims countries and slander the prophet Mohamed that you're probably going to jail, but you can say most anything you choose about Christ or Shiva or Bhudda in countries where those figures are worshipped and just be considered a jerk, but you aren't going into the slammer. |
