To me there has to be a higher calling, one more important than pleasing the physical self. Someone said we spend most of our time trying to look good, or insuring we don't look bad. Trying to be right, and not perceived as wrong.
As I see it the reasons for religions and the gods were to institute this on some level. Gov't tries to do this and succeeds to some degree. But the desire to exist morally has to come from within for me anyway, and negative reinforcement does not work or only works to a degree and has to be carried out to the nth degree to be 'totally' effective.
So a religion that creates a desire within me to be a better person is what changed my wicked ways. But that doesn't work for all. I don't know if anything does. I also believe I had to be ready for it, ya know, pupil was ready....