[fr_freak]

Is it reasonable to misbehave if there is not a deity? No.

Oh, I disagree entirely. Without a deity, or some similar force, there is absolutely no reason to behave according to any particular rules. Now, certainly in the kill or be killed world that would be the result, it would be silly to harm those who would help you survive - family, friends, etc. - unless an even greater benefit were derived, but for those who have no bearing on your survival or well-being, why not rape, pillage and murder, as long as the consequences of those actions don't bring harm upon yourself? For instance, if you could sneak into someone's house, kill them, steal their stuff, and nobody would ever know, why not do it?

In fact, I suggest that we can already see the type of behavior in a godless world now. Just look at the youth gangs. They have no morality whatsoever other than the tribal code of ethics: everyone is fair game except your own gang. They shoot people at random, rape, steal, vandalize, etc. without remorse. Then they write rap songs to brag about it.

[steve-b]

Nonsense. It is readily observed that behavior according to basic civilized rules produces better long-term results than instant gratification. Some people, both with and without religion, have the self-discipline to follow the former road; others of both sorts do not.

As you note, those who lack that self-discipline tend to degenerate into tribalism (sometimes with religious affiliation serving to provide a tribal identity).