Plato posed a question:

Are laws moral because the gods command them (divine command theory), or do the gods command them because they are moral?

Plato thought divine command theory is arbitrary and morality can't be arbitrary.

Divine command theory is the way god acts in the bible.

"You just need to develop a deep appreciation of suffering." Non-cognitive appreciation does not lead to non-arbitrary morality, IMHO.

some may argue, and some have argued, that morality is a system. i don't buy that, but the idea is prevalent enough that i prefer to speak of ethicality, not morality. on the other hand, morality, or ethicality, while it may involve, or even revolve around, reducing suffering, that is not what it means. that isn't its definition. as doe appreciation, no. just no. you do not have to appreciate suffering. you just have to recognize it and empathize with it. i do agree that none of this need in any way be dependent on mythology. it comes from within, albeit it can be ignited from without.

g

And you "appreciate" suffering through empathy. It always comes back to empathy.