Sources of Morality

"Because morality is a social necessity, the moment faith in god is banished, man's gaze turns from god to man and he becomes socially conscious. Religious belief prevented the growth of a sense of realism. But atheism at once makes man realistic, and alive to the needs of morality." (aware of the need for cooperative survival?) Edmond de Goncourt, 1822-1896 Parenthesis added.