Why can't we just be "excellent" to each other?

[CapnAwesome]

New to this forum, and thanks for all the welcomes in the Introductions sub-forum.

I'm curious about something. I understand that religions were created in the absence of science; it helped "explain" why certain things occurred, and to drive behaviors to satisfy a deity or deities. Now that science explains so much, we should be able to look back and snicker at how wrong religion really is.

But what I've observed could be considered reflexively following the habits of previous generations, partly to honor their beliefs, but also to not take any chances (i.e., "they might be right after all"). Not to single any religion out, but some orthodox religions are hardcore about ritual and continuing the beliefs of their predecessors. I know for a fact that some younger followers are told they are a link in a chain going all the way back to some figure they consider historic, and it would be a grave sin to break that link.

So why can't we simply accept what science has exposed to us, and huddle around core behaviors that represent civil society? This could be thought of as the new ten commandments, but there would be no higher power to administer and forgive. That would be the role of society. Could it be as simple as unifying behind simple "laws" such as:

1. Be nice to each other
   
2. Pay it forward: be generous by giving your time, money, and stuff to the less fortunate
   
3. Help out each other
   
4. Live a life you can be proud of, and tell others of those who lived well
   
5. Leave the earth in good shape while you're here
   
6. Support leaders and fellow citizens who live according to the above, and punish those who do not
   

I'm sure there are more, but all of those transcend religion. We don't need to carve out an hour every Sunday with ritual, decorative garments, and pomp and circumstance, do we?

I think a scarcity of resources and/or an inequitable distribution of them pretty much precludes all your rules. It's hard to be nice to people when your kids are hungry and the local warlord or whatever has 10 hummers.