Moral code part I

What we know... Humans make horrible choices and hurt others around them sometimes to an appalling degree. Humans are not basically good in behavior, but bad. (Lord of the Flies) Eventhough they know the difference (usually) between the two. What makes people try to be good? How is it some people are just more loving, self-less, and "good"? Sometimes they fear so they do good. Fear of reprecussions of violating social norms or religious beliefs, reaps the benefit of them behaving "good". Truth be told being good benefits many. Being "bad" usually is detrimental to many. So, society tries to impose and institutionalize "good" behavior. Humans are imperfect and sometimes just plain stupid. Their actions at times do not succinctly follow to improve, support or benefit the promotion and enforcement of "good" behavior. Things often go terribly wrong. But there is an innate understanding that humans must have "enforcers" or authoritarian leadership in place to help continue the establishment of moral code, i.e. "good" behavior. Do the authorities always represent the best application of moral code? No. Should moral code still be supported, promoted and authorized? Yes. The question of the day, does the belief in, and or worship and reverence of a supreme being somehow impact the overall behavior of humans? Does this belief and religious institution help people be "good" and benefit society on the whole? Or, does it just give authority to raving lunatics and madmen? Does it cause more harm than good? The claim of authority from belief in a higher being has resulted in human behavior that was detrimentally harmful. Can the "belief" ever be tremendously beneficial? Again, it has been tremendously beneficial in the benevolent behavior it has produced. (i.e. actions of people like Mother Theresa) However, this seems absent of the need for authoritarian presence in society. The greatest impact has not been through institutionalization of beliefs, but simply just the "belief" itself producing "good" behavior and societal benefits. Is it necessary for society to believe in a supreme being with moral authority? No. Does it help? Sometimes. (the idea of equality). Is religion bad? Emphasis of moral code is good. Authoritarian imposition of moral code by religious "belivers" hasn't always turned out so well. Conclusion, "belief" is fine but only authority outside religious belief can objectively establish society's behavioral code and enforce it to the level of determining whether the behavior in question benefits or harms society.