As far as the relationship between ethics and religion (including esotericism) the two evolved together. — Jack Cummins

:chin: Why do you believe this?

For instance, the ancient Hebrews would not have survived as a "people" – viable social group – "wandering for 40 years in the wilderness" had they not (usually) observed moral prohibitions against murder, lying, theft & adultery BEFORE they had received "commandments" (and subsequent Mosaic Laws).

As a reasonable generalization, h. sapiens must have survived for at least a hundred millennia or so as a eusocial – instinctually moral – species BEFORE they had invented "religion", so why do you say "the two evolved together"? Clearly, religions much later had coopted ethical norms, no?