Morality and ethics come from sound philosophy and whether you guys like it or not, true religion.
I still want Ron to define what he means by "true religion".
True religion in the context I've used is religion that bears good fruit. I have no way of knowing what is in anybody's heart. But I do have the ability to observe, reason and draw conclusions.
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. You shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles?
Even so, every good tree brings forth good fruit, but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that brings not forth good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire.
Therefore, by their fruits you shall know them.True religion is one that works out the "Greatest Commandment"
Then one of them, who was a lawyer, asked Him a question, tempting Him and saying, “Master, which is the greatest commandment in the law?”
Jesus said unto him, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." This is the first and great commandment and the second is like unto it: "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."
Of course me being a Christian believes the surest way to not go astray is to throw my lot in with Christ, attempting to follow Him and his example.
Now even in the Bible there were men who were described as just and upright, yet they weren't believers. Humans who live a just, moral life as we all have observed are not only found among the ranks of the "religious". These are the folks who fall into the category above who I said practice a sound philosophy.
For you libertarians and classical liberals. If you look at the life of Jesus and then the practice of the early church you will see the application of the non aggression principle. There was no desire to attain earthly power and authority, there was no attempt to use coercion to bring people to Christianity. Freedom to choose or reject Christ is the theme.
Early Christianity's focus was always on the individual, the individuals relationship to God. The individuals relationship to their neighbor, the individuals relationship to the state. Even the church, the assembly of believers when described as a whole is compared to our body. It is one body but made up of many different individual parts all needed to be considered whole. The concept of using coercive force to change hearts or lives is completely foreign to Christianity as found in the new testament.