Thank you for that exposition. (Of his writings I had read only Leviathan.) It reinforces for me that, regarding ethics, post-feudal European philosophy (and its progeny) can be described as a striving towards an ethic of mutual respect.
Such an ethic is implied by a belief in moral equality among people. The problem is that beliefs, be they theological or ideological, are at least as prone to inciting “civil war” as personal claims to power are — even among groups that share ‘core beliefs’, including a belief in moral equality. Exhibit A is the current devolution towards violent conflict among parties within Liberal nations.
The solution for humanity is an ethic of mutual respect that does not involve any beliefs. A brief summary of one such ethic is available for consideration here on medium.com in “From Locke to Real Justice.” It is related much more fully on my Web site, www.ajustsolution.com; Page: real justice.