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Zach, I believe what Ironwood is trying to say, is people can still be good without a universal lawbook to make them. They don't need the fear of being punished when they die to make them care for each other or be moral. Moreso, they are more likely to be good if they are free of ancient ideals created during a much more primitive and barbaric time.
Humans are capable of using common sense, logic, reasoning, empathy, and other humane attributes which they are born with to learn how to be good to one another and make a better world.
Look at the Mafia. They are some of the most religious people there are. But they not only do criminal things, they also do immoral and inhumane things. Then they go and pray for penance, and feel because they have paid lip service by acting out the ritual prescribed by their particular religion, they cannot be punished by God for anything they do.
And then look at somebody who is nice by nature who is also religious. They may never harm a fly and live the most selfless and productive lives anyone ever could.
According to religion, both of those people will go to heaven. This is wrong.
Religion does not care whether people are good or bad, so long as they acknowledge it as superior. It is not based on doing right or being a good person. But on using mans fear of death; whether there is an afterlife; and the idea of guilt and being watched by "Big Brother" when the powers that be cant be around to keep you in line.
People are good or bad regardless of whether they believe in God, Allah, Yahweh, Buddha or the Flying Spaghetti Monster.
If there was no religion Zach, there would still be good people and bad people. Its just that there would be less divisiveness, and no primitive ways of thinking holding humanity back from being the best it can be.
"When I was a child I flew! Then as an adult- I watched others soar."
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