re: Happiness?

I don't know if you realize it, but you moved into a bit of materialist philosophy there. I actually agree that those are all very important issues to discuss with considering the question "what is love?" (baby don't hurt me....don't hurt me...no more... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpwK3vFGJp0 Sorry.) I'll address that in another post, because it deserves a bit longer of an answer than I have time for just this second. Come to think, answer isn't really the right word, philosophy isn't as interested in answers as finding the right question to ask, so I'll see what I can do as far as questioning your questions.

Now as for your last paragraph, those I can answer.
Faith cannot make calls on ethical demands because ethics are a human consideration. They don't stand on faith, they stand on human understanding and a common belief in what is good. Ethics are not a question of believing in the unbelieved, they are a study of the 'why?' of morality, so basing them in faith is like basing them on ocean currents...it has nothing to do with the ideas being discussed.
As to your second question, no I wouldn't say that personal happiness is the goal of ethical consideration, I would say human happiness is. I'm not a 100% utilitarian in these matters, but I think we should approach ethics and morality in as utilitarian a mode as possible. This means asking tough questions and looking at why the answers are right, not just accepting handed down ethos as holding some sort of divine warrant. This means looking at things you hold dear and trying to figure out why you should, or why you shouldn't. Ethics and morality are not easy questions, they are painful fields to move into, but rewarding none the less.
Know why your answers are your answers, and make sure they are YOUR answers, not simply parrotings of the ancient world. If something is ethical it shouldn't need to be cited in a bible verse or a shifting of the burden of proof heavenward to explain why. The answers are out there, and to use a phrase we were raised on, seek and ye shall find.