[chrispedersen]

Besides.. who says its thematic.
It wasn't in Dom2 at all.

Additionally, wearing horsehair and beating yourself with straps or knots - how does that lead to diease, battle frigth, limps etc.?

There are still orders of flagellent monks - 'mortification of the flesh' was what they hoped to acheive aka the will to withstand the temptations of the flesh, and to subjugate the body to the spirit.
I would argue this leads to higher morale, magic resistance and hitpoints, not afflictions.

NOWHERE in medieval history did flagellants have anywhere near the incident of affliction that Dom3 does.