To Understand Today's Culture Wars, You First have to Understand Ancient Honor and Shame Societies

Updated: May 20, 2023

The concepts of honor and shame in the ancient Mediterranean world were deeply ingrained in the social fabric of the time. "Honor" referred to a person's reputation or standing in their community while "shame" referred to the loss of that reputation. Honor was typically associated with traits such as bravery, loyalty, and honesty. At this personal level, honor may be defined as the worth or significance that each individual felt about themselves. Hence, shame was often associated with personal cowardice, deceit, and other disreputable behavior. Honor was an individual belief in self-worth coupled with the community's general agreement with that self-worth.

In many respects, this concept of "honor" is akin to receiving a promotion in the military today. "Shame" would translate to today's demotion or dishonorable discharge from the armed services. And as icky as it is to make this association, ancient honor-shame cultures are not unlike social media today where public opinion often arbitrates a person's reputation and even ability to find a job. Think of credit scores in the modern world, which can have serious consequences for someone trying to buy a home, take out a business loan, or receive credit card perks and awards.

For the religions that developed near the Mediterranean, honor and shame culture played a central role in defining people's social status. In this society, an individual's reputation was determined, in large part, by their sensitivity to public opinion of how others saw them. One's honor was linked with "face" (saving face) and "respect." Those with a good honor rating were valued and respected; those with a low rating faced limitations in interactions with higher social classes. The honorable person was one who knew how to maintain social boundaries and observed respect for others. But the shameful person was one who did not observe social boundaries. As a result, being called a "fool" and treated as having no value or worth was considered one of the worst fates a person could endure. Obviously, the ancient codes of honor were quite subjective and relative in nature; what marked a person as shameful in one's social cluster might be deemed honorable in another. As such, shame was a powerful tool for social control. Fear of shame could prevent individuals from engaging in behavior that would be considered dishonorable, and those who did behave dishonorably could face social ostracism or even violence.

In essence, following an "honor code" meant following a set of unwritten rules and expectations that dictate how individuals should behave in order to maintain a good reputation within the community. It encompassed everything from how one dressed and spoke to how one conducted themselves in social and business situations. At its core, the honor code was about maintaining a positive reputation and standing within one's community, and avoiding behaviors or actions that might bring shame or dishonor upon oneself or one's family.

The honor code was enforced through a system of social sanctions and rewards. Those who behaved in accordance with the code were rewarded with respect, admiration, and opportunities for advancement within society. Conversely, those who violated the code were subject to shame, ridicule, and exclusion from the community. At this public level, honor may be defined as the value ascribed or attained from one’s social cluster.

Moreover, honor was closely tied to a person's family, clan, and economic class. An individual's actions could bring honor or shame not only to themselves but to their entire family. In some cultures, such as ancient Greece and Rome, honor was also closely linked to social status and wealth. For example, wealthy and powerful individuals were often seen as more honorable than those who were poor or of lower social status. Maintaining one's honor was not just a personal concern, but a collective responsibility shared by the entire community.

In some honor-based societies, such as those currently found in the Middle East, honor was closely tied to notions of masculinity and virility. This meant that any perceived slight to one's honor could result in a violent response, as individuals sought to restore their honor and reputation through acts of violence or revenge. It was this honor and shame culture that permeates the pages of the entire Bible and the Qur'an. For almost every narrative in each book, the people's understanding of and need to gain honor (while at the same time avoiding shame) likely influenced every aspect of their social interactions and behaviors. To identify just five well-known examples:

Joseph and his brothers (Genesis 37-50): In this story, Joseph's brothers became envious of him and plotted against him because their father Jacob favored him. They sold him into slavery, which brought shame upon Joseph and his family. However, through his integrity and faithfulness, Joseph eventually rose to a position of honor in Egypt, demonstrating the potential for honor to be restored.
David and Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11): King David's affair with Bathsheba and his subsequent plot to have her husband Uriah killed brought shame upon David and his royal lineage. Nathan the prophet confronted David, and although David repented, the consequences of his actions continued to affect his family and kingdom.
Jesus' Crucifixion (Matthew 27): Jesus' crucifixion can be seen as a powerful example of honor and shame. From a worldly perspective, Jesus' crucifixion was a shameful and humiliating event. However, from a Christian perspective, Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross brought honor and redemption since it was an act of obedience to God and a demonstration of love for humanity.
Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32): This parable illustrates the themes of honor and shame in the context of family relationships. The younger son's request for his inheritance and subsequent wasteful behavior brought shame upon himself and his family. However, when he returned home repentant, his father welcomed him with open arms and restored his honor.
Paul's teachings on honor and shame (Romans 2:6-11, 1 Corinthians 1:26-31): The Apostle Paul repeatedly addressed the concepts of honor and shame in his writings. He emphasized that true honor comes from God and is not based on worldly standards. He challenged the societal norms of his time by highlighting that God chooses the weak and foolish things of the world to bring about His purposes, thereby subverting the prevailing honor codes.

The Culture Wars are Partly about Honor and Shame

It is this ancient honor and shame culture that underlies today's culture wars where both sides of the political aisle fight over who is more shameful. For instance, in both ancient honor systems and contemporary culture wars, reputation and public opinion play a significant role. Individuals and groups often engage in battles over public perception, seeking to shape the narrative and gain validation from their respective communities. Moreover, both liberals and conservatives today engage in tribalism and identity politics. People align themselves with ideological tribes, and deviations from the group's norms can result in being shamed or ostracized.

Just like in ancient honor and shame cultures, the culture wars of today contain similar moral judgments and social control. In honor cultures, adherence to societal norms was essential for maintaining honor, and deviations from those norms were met with shame and social consequences. Similarly, in today's culture wars, there is often a clash of moral values and judgments, where each side seeks to enforce its own set of standards and norms. Deviations from these norms can lead to public shaming, cancel culture, or social exclusion.

Finally, in both honor cultures and contemporary culture wars, there is a complex interplay between honor and victimhood. Being victimized or shamed brought dishonor while seeking justice or vindication could restore one's honor. In today's culture wars, victimhood narratives are often employed as a means to gain moral authority and rally support. Individuals or groups may claim victim status in order to gain sympathy, justify their positions, or delegitimize opposing viewpoints.

Of course, it's important to note that while these connections exist, the dynamics of honor and shame in ancient societies were much more deeply ingrained and directly tied to social, economic, and even physical consequences. Today's culture wars are influenced by a broader range of factors, including political ideologies, technological advancements, globalization, and individualism. Therefore, while there may be echoes of honor and shame cultures, it would be an oversimplification to view contemporary culture wars solely through that lens. However, it is a lens that still must be understood, and people cannot understand the culture wars without first recognizing the influence of ancient honor societies on religious believers today.