I could do what normal people do and do what I'm told, put everything in its place... Or I could build my Garden, find all the pieces that have been lost and guard them fiercely. I will always choose the latter.
Madness string 2603
So many weird old religious rules started out as trying to keep unenlightened but highly religious groups alive, fed, and disease-free, and somehow we've hung onto so much of it. For another example, check out the origin of sacred cows.