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Opponents of social conservatism argue that tradition is not necessarily a source of wisdom. Many views and values, for instance, which were at one time viewed as "traditional" are now viewed as outdated or even barbaric, such as slavery, the excessive use of corporal punishment, and in many Western countries (but not the US), capital punishment. Proponents of social conservatism counter that many "modern" values are also vapid and corrupt, often pointing to the perceived deterioration of the family over the past century as a result of increased social acceptance of divorce and promiscuity.
The meaning of social conservatism may vary between locations, depending on the social, religious and nationalistic traditions of a particular locale. It may be, for instance, socially conservative to promote "traditional" marriage in a Protestant, Mormon, or Catholic community, but socially conservative to promote polygamy in a devoutly MuslimA Muslim is a believer in or follower of Islam. The word Muslim means one who submits and implies complete submission to the will of God ( Allah). Muslims believe that nature is itself Islamic, since it follows natural laws placed by God. Thus, a Muslim s community. What is considered to be socially conservative is therefore very much dependent on what is considered traditional.