A random example: He says he doesn't like her, still he won't stop calling her. I think you could say all the same instead of still.
Oh, I see now. The very specific use of that phrase to mean
yet or
still. I hadn't thought of that use, so I see what you mean now. Nevertheless, that's not how I meant it.
I wouldn't agree on "there continue to be many countries", which at first sight means that they are remnants of the past, as it is precisely the contrary: they were under religious law and some day they adopted civil laws that are separated from religious law, and I doubt it will change back. But it's a matter of formulation
You are using
continue to be in a limited sense, such as nation by nation: "France continues to be a famous European country." However, I was using it more broadly: "In the past, incest was legal in some nations in the world. Today, there
continue to be some nations in the world [not necessarily the same as in the past] where incest is legal." That does not mean the same nations that allowed it centuries ago necessarily allow it today, nor that nations where it previously was illegal cannot have made it legal now. You were definitely applying the phrase differently than how I was using it.
This is exactly what happens in my country, except that only the blood relatives I mentioned are prohibited from marriage, for instance cousins at any degree can marry. I guess it's because it could create unsolvable issues in case of inheritance.
There are a variety of reasons why it might or might not be allowed. You have cited religion multiple times, and while it's true that's had an influence in some parts of the world, there are several other factors that may have contributed to prohibitions on incest. I have heard some describe how incest
could be the result of power differentials within a family, with one sibling dominating the other so they acquiesce when otherwise they would not engage in it. It's very possible some prohibitions stem from something more along these lines. It varies from region to region, I would think.