literally from the Van Halen belt
the last time in western civ where everything was locked down to this extent was exactly about oaths, roughly 1560ish, when the Quakers decided they were done tithing 10% to the church whether Roman church or Church of England, they were forced to take an oath to the King (and thus be made liable for taxes/tithes to the State church) or be imprisoned for treason.
So many refused to take the oath (wear the mask) that THE PRISONS WERE EMPTIED OF THE WORST OFFENDERS in order to lock up Quakers who refused to take the oath OR THE AFFIRMATION because Jesus said an affirmation is only "an oath by one's head."
There were also stand-in laws, where a family could send a child to prison in place of the breadwinner. Usually the youngest daughter.
But how do we have a government without oaths? Did Jesus picture a perfect anarchy based on grace?
eventually everyone knuckled under and took the oath (or affirmation) (wore the mask) because the released violent criminals were running amok and it seemed like a simple gesture to get things back to normal and lock up the criminals again.