As Pamela Smock, a sociologist at the Population Studies Center at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, suggested, "There's been a sea change in societal, cultural and individual acceptance of cohabitation."

More from her article:

"The nature of cohabitation has changed," says Jay Teachman, a sociology professor at Western Washington University in Bellingham. "Cohabitators 20 years ago were the rule breakers, the rebels, the risk takers -- the folks who were perhaps not as interested in marriage, and using cohabitation as an alternative to marriage."

"Twenty or 25 years ago, if you were cohabiting and then married them, the marriage was more likely to dissolve and end in divorce," he says. "Today, that's not the case. You can cohabit with your spouse and not experience increased risk of divorce. We're making these finer distinctions that we didn't make before."

In an interesting twist, one researcher argued that cohabitating couples should be seen as "a family form in its own right," as completely distinct from marriage. USA Today rounded out its reporting with a poll. As the paper reported its findings:

Most people today reject the notion that couples who live together before marriage are more likely to get divorced, finds a weekend USA TODAY/Gallup Poll of 1,007 adults.

Almost half (49%) said living together makes divorce less likely; 13% said it makes no difference. Just 31% said living together first makes divorce more likely; 7% had no opinion.

The fascinating aspect of this poll is the very fact that the paper thought that a poll would be valuable.  The poll actually reveals nothing about the actual impact of cohabitation on marriage, but only on what people think about the impact of cohabitation.

Once all this is put together, a portrait of a changing America comes into view.  The most significant data reveals the incredible cultural shift on cohabitation since the late 1970s.  The larger picture concerning marriage would have to include the impact of so-called "no-fault" divorce laws that became widespread during the same period.

Even as marriage is still the norm, increasing numbers of heterosexual couples are cohabitating before, if not instead of, marrying.  The Census Bureau reports statistics, but the more urgent dimension of this development is moral.  The subversion of marriage comes at great cost, even if couples do not experience what they describe as trauma or trouble.  The reality of sexual intimacy outside of marriage always comes with a moral and spiritual cost, but this is rejected by a culture in denial.

For many, cohabitation is now just "part of the life course."

In addition to being one of Salem’s nationally syndicated radio talk show hosts, R. Albert Mohler, Jr. is the president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. Contact Dr. Mohler at www.albertmohler.com.