First published in 1559 by Pope Paul IV, this was an official list of publications deemed heretical, anticlerical, or lascivious. Catholics were forbidden from reading these books under pain of excommunication. The list included works by monumental thinkers like Galileo Galilei, Johannes Kepler, René Descartes, and Immanuel Kant.
Fifty years ago, religious blasphemy held the highest taboo index in Western culture. Today, that index has shifted toward racial slurs and identity-based pejoratives.
Recent research, most notably by Clark et al. (2024) , surveyed 470 psychology professors in the U.S. to identify scientific conclusions that are "taboo"—meaning scholars fear social or professional sanctions for discussing them. The 10 "Taboo Conclusions" index of taboo
In the early story, it is claimed that 85% of her brain is consumed by storing these taboo texts, leaving only 15% for regular memories, requiring an annual memory wipe. (This is later revealed to be a lie orchestrated by the church to keep her under control).
In traditional societies, misusing the name of a deity or invoking the devil was the ultimate taboo (blasphemy). First published in 1559 by Pope Paul IV,
series, a social science concept for measuring cultural prohibitions, or the specific restricted word lists in the popular board game 1. Sword Art Online: The Taboo Index Sword Art Online
Digital archivists and activists often create open directories containing materials that have been scrubbed from mainstream platforms. These digital indexes might include: Fifty years ago, religious blasphemy held the highest
Common examples of universal or near-universal taboos include: Consumption of human flesh. Incest: Sexual relations between close relatives. Desecration: Violating sacred objects or rituals.
The Anatomy of the Forbidden: Exploring the "Index of Taboo"