Religious and moral taboos, once dominant in America, have largely vanished. Writing about sex was formerly a crime; now nude lovemaking is common in R-rated movies. Gambling was a jail offense; now it’s operated by state governments. Unmarried couples who live together were arrested; now they’re casually accepted. Drinking alcohol was a crime; now it’s a social ritual. Abortion was a felony; now it’s a right guaranteed by the U.S. Supreme Court. Divorce was unthinkable; now it’s the end for more than half of marriages. Homosexuals were imprisoned; now they march for gay pride. Birth control was a crime; now it’s championed by the United Nations. Former Church’s “thou shalt nots” disappeared like frost in the sunshine.
2000 Years of Disbelief, p. 319