In very simple words, when someone gives you or does a favore for you, won't you be greatful for him? What if that someone saves your or your beloved's life? Won't you be in debt for him for the rest of your life? Now what about that someone who gave you life, soul, body, brain, and made you able to be a human being rather than a monkey or a donkey!? Not mentioning that he created you and he (and only he) knows you and knows the best for you. If that someone tells you (as a woman) to cover your hair and body and don't let anyone except your husband see and touch it, then he knows it's the best for you more than your limitted brain can ever know why. By logic, he gave you life and health and your whole life, moreover he knows your future and your secrets because he created you, won't you listen to him and obey him? The brain and human's nature says we all have to obey whoever made a good deed to us (as a favore pay back). That "someone" some call him with many names. But again, the human's native/nature can never believe that a human being can creat such life and do such favors for all humans. He must be someone above everything else our mind can imagine. But we can only sense his greatness and presense in our lives.
Not diving away from the main topic, but commenting on Gypsy's words about "these things were perfectly normal and acceptable, and in some societies prostitutes or courtesans were highly regarded members of society". Well, what do you say about the new refreshing era in Europe and USA for the Christian organisations and associations to put back-on-track and attract new people to Christian religion? They all start to fight the prostitution and alcohol and else. They finally start to see and feel the bad influence of those bad deeds, especially on youth and the new generation of this time.
So i believe that no matter how fun and exciting our desires may seem, not all what shines is gold!