Why be good?

[dyresand]

Firstly, there is none. 'Objective' moral behaviour doesn't exist. All morality is subjective. So if we correct your question to 'What is the basis for moral behaviour?', you've already been given the answer. I'll repeat & simplify:

The basis for all moral behaviour, like everything else in our evolutionary development, is survival. Humans developed as a social species because those who behaved socially survived and reproduced more effectively thus propagating the genes for social behaviour. Further along human development, those societies which developed ethical standards (commonly referred to as social contracts, the precursors of law) survived better because they increased the effectiveness of social behaviour.

That's the basis, that's where morality comes from, all of it. No gods required.

It seems like the best option by a pretty good margin.  Most creatures seek out some kind of optimal life, and humans have become pretty sophisticated at it.  If all food is nourishing, why bother spending time finding and preparing the best foods?  If all clothing provides utility, why care about how it looks?  If all homes provide shelter, why care about how big the kitchen is?

Without a god or old book to tell us, what is the basis for wanting to present an attractive appearance?  Or wanting to prepare and eat the best foods?  Or wanting to live in a nice home?  Or wanting more than just to stumble through life without caring whether we're enjoying it or not?  Easy: we seek an optimal life.  An orderly and civilized society that follows certain rules that have stood the test of time and experimentation seems like a good starting point, so it's something we pursue without having to be ordered to by a divine being.

I hear you both, but it seems to me that while all the sheep are working together to find the pastures, there are still wolves looking to make a meal of them all. 

Somehow, the evolutionary process does not seem to have had an equal affect on all of us.

And the point of the OP is: Why should anyone be a sheep when the advantages of being a wolf are numerous?

Were all evolved creatures whether you like it or not. Religion and preachers are the wolves among people. It seeks to control and gain wealth while in turn calling money evil. hypocrasiy that what it truly is and what i boils down to. A religious institution never truly cares for its members only enough to keep the money and power in check and flowing. Because when is the last time you heard or even seen christians or any other abrahamic belief talking nice about atheists without saying they are going to burn in hell because they are not delusional like they are.