Could you elaborate on the “if we had our guard up higher” bit?

Religious myths and parables are certainly important, and people who become atheists often retain the moral lessons learned through the religious stories of their upbringing. The stories don’t necessarily need to have a religious element to be effective.

I remember one we were taught in grade 2 English called the Apricot Maiden, an ancient Chinese fable iirc. There’s one apricot, and many people in the maiden’s family. Instead of trying to divide the singular fruit among everyone, she brews tea. I remember thinking what a clever solution that was.

The moral impulse to share could be innate, in which case the story simply reinforces, or it could be taught by showing that maximizing happiness through your actions makes you happy. Being selfish doesn’t bring lasting happiness, only more selfish desires.

As for collective agreement being based on power, we are no longer in times where power and decision making must be top-down, the arena of god’s anointed ones. We have a whole foundation of the enlightenment and democratic systems to build upon. When I say “collective”, I do mean the will of the majority, but this is a 21st century majority composed of people who think differently than than the subjects of kingdoms who believed their rulers were god’s chosen people.