ursaminortaur wrote:As society developed those in power whether chieftains/kings or high priests had a vested interest in keeping good order since maintenance of that order kept them in power. Religion was the marketing tool for maintaining that good order backed up by threats of punishment in this or the next life if you disobeyed the rules of the god(s). Religions and the moral codes they promoted were the creation of human societies.
But the Chinese managed to have moral codes without gods. Despite no-one to punish them, the Chinese developed a stable and (mostly) peaceful society. And without the need to launch crusades to convert everyone else.
Compare with, for example, the Arabs. Single powerful God. Endless strife about who worships him correctly.
Indeed, European christians managed several centuries of wars over the same matter.
Gryff