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This may help.

There are necessary “societal rules” and there is “religious-based morality.” Although both are historically intertwined – the common prohibitions that survival-based “morals” teach citizens is the foundation of all successful societies. For example, it is a universal fact that societies who fail to prohibit their citizens killing of their own offspring fail to survive and prosper. Look around, with the exception of abortion, no society fails to prohibit the killing of children. This is an example of “morals” based on survival instinct. I.e., necessary “rules” of society dictated by our species instinct to survive. There are many other such examples of basic “morals” that can be found in virtually every “religion-based moral” in history.

This is a difficult concept to grasp, but I will attempt to clarify it. All societies require “rules” to survive, function and prosper. Long-term religions traditionally incorporate the “rules” of society - codified and enforced as “morals.” Amongst those are the “morals” such as “no member of the society may assault, murder, rob, or defraud another member of the society.” Thus, “religion-based morality” more often than not is the codification of the “historically-based rules” necessary to the survival of the society.

Now expect an opponent to point out the non-survival-based societal “morals” of most religions. They have a legitimate point. Organized Religions are man-made entities. Like other man-made entities, they generally promote their own survival and prosperity. They also contain people in positions within the religious entities who have personal agendas they promote via their influential position as societies’ morality teachers. Accordingly, a significant amount of “religion-based morality” is actually self-serving rules for promoting the survival of the religion and the individuals operating the religion. However, this does not negate the fact that the basic rules for society survival are found within most “religious-based morality” teachings.

Nonetheless, “religious-based morality” is preferred over societal enforcement of “rules.” The reason is common sense. In the former, the motivation to comply with society’s behavior requirements is internally driven and constant. However, for the latter, to effect the necessary behavior restrictions requires the external use of society’s police presence to enforce the basic “rules.”

Nonetheless, “religious-based morality” is preferred over societal enforcement of “rules.” The reason is common sense. In the former, the motivation to comply with society’s behavior requirements is internally driven and constant. However, for the latter, to effect the necessary behavior restrictions requires the external use of society’s police presence to enforce the basic “rules.”

Exactly. We need much more than mere human laws in order to have a functioning, healthy society. The law cannot compel compassion. The law cannot force anyone to stop and help another. We should be encouraging those virtuous mindsets which foster life, happiness, and self-reliance, while discouraging those of vice which foster their opposites.