Sorry, I didn't mean to be so obtuse.
I was just trying to be humorous.
My point is just that whether people behave properly towards others comes comes down to the mechanism that control their behavior.
Using your principle, it seems to me that ultimately it comes down to a question of fear of what the other person will do to me; that is the motivation for my good behavior.
My concern is what if my neighbor isn't worried about what I'll do to him, because he is 6'8", 280, has LOTS of weapons (that is, more and bigger ones than me) and belongs to a motorcycle club? I don't think his concern for what I can do to him will necessarily be enough to deter him from treating me badly, if it is in his interest or desire to do so.
Yes, the police and civil law are a deterrant, but judging from our prisons, not a completely effective one for many people.
I would argue that what prevents more abuse of weaker neighbors by stronger ones is something more than just sheer deterrence. I think it is the fact that so many people people believe that there is such a thing as right and wrong, apart from the law. And this sense, I would argue, is where 'religion' comes in, although not necessarily in the form of organized religions or churches.
Let me leave it at that.
I hope my post hasn't offended you. It was not my intention to, in the slightest. The points you made intrigued me, and I felt compelled to respond.
BTW, you don't REALLY think a fundamentalist Christian is as dangerous as a fundamentalist muslim, do you?
BTW, you don't REALLY think a fundamentalist Christian is as dangerous as a fundamentalist muslim, do you?
Well, if you were a child in David Koresh's ranch or a woman with child in Jim Jones congregation? Perhaps.
And then there's Henry the VIII. So yes, it's possible.