I don't believe that at all. History shows that alliances, especially between natural enemies, are formed out of self interest, not altruism, and last only as long as they are useful for that end.
"why is it necessary to postulate a deity to provide instruction into what is,after all, basic instinct...?"
I don't believe the golden rule is a "basic instinct", again history shows just the opposite. And even if it were true all you are positing is pragmatism not objective morality. Apart from God, if someone whats to violate the golden rule and they prosper from this behavior that what conceivable basis would you have to say that is objectively "wrong"?
‘I don’t believe the golden rule is a “basic instinct”’
what I stated is not the Golden Rule...read it again...
‘History shows that alliances, especially between natural enemies, are formed out of self interest, not altruism’
nothing I posted disputes that point; in fact, it is precisely what I was saying; self interest is dependent upon some level of trust of the other fellow, at least up to the point where an alliance formed from it becomes untenable...if you’re worried the other guy might stab you in the back, which you don’t want, then it is incumbent on you to not do it to him, which he is equally worried about and doesn’t want, in order to effect the alliance...nowhere have I even introduced the concept of altruism...