It is no surprise, then, that people whose belief systems are a muddle of Casey\u2019s sweet-mystery-of-life passage and Modern Family bridle at the strict sexual morality of the monotheistic religions. This is exacerbated by traditional Christianity\u2019s refusal either to conform to the spirit of the age or to go away and be quiet. The erosion of the state\u2019s role in upholding public morality both foreshadowed and led to the cultural rejection of religion\u2019s right to judge the morality or immorality of certain acts.<\/p>\n
Evangelicals still loudly proclaim that one should \u201cwait until marriage,\u201d\u009d even if that command is largely honored in the breach. The Catholic Church has not relaxed its prohibition on contraception, even if many of its adherents ignore its teaching or even loudly oppose it. Both Evangelicals and Catholics (and those members of mainline churches who hold to traditionalist norms) grapple with the culture on multiple fronts\u201d\u201dpraying outside abortion clinics, attending the March for Life, objecting to FDA approval of abortifacients, decrying pornography, etc. In short, they have remained a thorn in the side of an ever-more-permissive culture for over forty years. (Orthodox Christianity, Orthodox Judaism, and Islam also adhere to strict moral norms regarding sexual behavior, but attract less attention because of their status as minority religions.)<\/p>\n
This cultural attitude has led to religious liberty\u2019s current embattled position.<\/p>\n