+17
Everyone has a set of morals. The rules and codes they try to live by. Some people have a set of morals and pick a religion that exemplifies and respects the same morals. Many more people pick a religion and adopt the moral guidelines that religion sets. Others decide their set of morals without religion and rely purely on their own ethical compass. None of these choices are better than any other, merely different, amirite?
I was basically going to say this, but you did it far more thoroughly and eloquently than I was going to. :)