Once upon a time, most people in the West knew the Bible, believed that God was watching them and that God would judge the quick and the dead. This didn't make people perfect (nothing can do that) but to some extent it made people think about their choices. They believed that doing the right thing was probably in their best interest, even if they didn't act that way all the time.
Today? It's all about me. I make the rules. I'm not answerable to anyone. Don't judge me.
The modern approach does not lead to moral behavior. At all.