In Reply to: "the oughtness of things"... posted by ray on March 16, 2003 at 04:21:31:
When I look at nature, there is an order without religion. Take wolves for instance, they live in a society (largely) and are ordered by instinct. When they mate it is for life, and the other wolves help to care for the offspring. They are loving, playful and hunt for FOOD not for sport.
So there is order in nature and in instinct. I think one reason society is skewed right now is the fact that the world is highly populated in its most habitable areas, and there are clashes that would result, often in the name of religion causing GREAT bloodshed. Looking at the world today is a prime example.
I think if humans did as good a job as wolves, we would be much better off.
That being said, I believe humans are capable of much good or much destruction or just mere survival.
In the case of life changing events is when I discover most what I do or do NOT like about myself. Although I believe now that there is a loving God, I have no sex or definition of it. That is a great freedom for me. But as an Atheist, I had the same choices I have now which are to keep my instincts flowing in positive directions, or not, as I choose.
The freedom for me in both cases is that I do not have to seek permission or feel guilt for not complying with or being uncomfortable with what goes against my "gut feeling". This is something all humans have, religion or not.