DMB
“The basic idea of what I’m trying to say is, that to believe in morals coming before religion is to believe that there is a power which comes before God which is not something that Judaism believes in.”
Aside from several pesukim and mamrei chazal that indicate that this isn’t quite so. There are also a few logical problems with this
1. It is a bit funny assert that ultimately all mitzvos are purely random, and arbitrary. There could have just as easily been a mitzvah to steal, and an averia to give tzedaka
granted not an impossible assertion but clearly one that doesn’t fit very well with most classical Jewish thought
2. You approach removes all impetus to serve/obey Hashem other than fear of punishment. to serve out of say Ahava, and recognizing all that Hashem does for you… Well who says Hakaros Hatov is a good thing?
It creates a bit of a circular reasoning,
Again not impossible to assert that ultimately the ONLY reason to listen is “well if you don’t your in big trouble… ” but I don’t think that fits with most classical Jewish thought.
Again there are questions on the other tzad as well.
I’m just offering food for thought