The Greatest Taboo? The Surprising Truth Of What The Bible Says About Incest

Editor's Blog





Photo credit:

Lot and his daughters, by Hendrick Goltzius, 1616. Dennis Jarvis/flickr, CC BY-SA

Incest sparks strong emotions – and today, in many cultures at least, they are largely negative. But has it always been thus? Or is the taboo peculiar to certain times and places?

Incest taboos are often said to be universal – and sex with a close relative (one’s parent, child, or sibling) is widely considered particularly depraved, as well as detrimental and stigmatising for any offspring who might result from such a union.