I don't agree with your implied 1:1 isomorphism between "traditional societies" and "illiterate peasants".

Many would argue that the "highly educated, clerical class" of those times represented a rigidly traditional society that punished any who deviated slightly from their norms.

The original point was about the evils of traditional religious societies and brain washing. Religion is a convenient way to kill people, and a way to brain wash the masses. Of course it is both easier and harder than the meme religion is bad because of its apparent need of traditional catharsism through burning people. You seem to agree with this so what are we discussing?

> Of course it is both easier and harder than the meme religion is bad because of its apparent need of traditional catharsism through burning people.

Burning of people only happened in some parts of the world for some time. Religion is much more widespread phenomenon.

So it's hard to argue that one is a need of the other?

Orwell, in particular, via his character Goldstein, called out the highly educated, clerical class as the most likely to define deviation and punish deviants.

moderately educated, owning class: these can afford (at least some privacy for) their deviations, but in order to administer the economies which support their lifestyle, have need of the

highly educated, clerical class: these (having been deputised some power) must conform, lest they be rusticated into the

poorly educated, working class: these again get to deviate (because who cares); they've never ever been, and they're never ever going to be, any danger to the owning class.

But of course this tripartite division only holds true in Oceania (and Eastasia, and Eurasia); it clearly wouldn't in any actual earthly polities, right?

Stalinist Russia: highly educated peasants

Post-republican China: self-punishment as first resort

Current-day North Korea: traditional society