Given the point about Ontology, the first direct effect would be worldview. A worldview is what systems or values are established given what you assert as truth. Without God or a programmer, the only default option becomes nature. Yet as we can see through National Geographic, nature can be both beautiful and horrifying. As much as we can postulate about order by observing “phenomena,” there really is little we know that actually explains the order we live in.
I’ll start with a nature driven worldview, since it’s quite prevalent and inherently nihilistic. When one believes truly in nature itself, values are driven by relativism. What one sees as truth is constrained by physical senses alone, whereby beauty, value, and morality are all relative. However, this tends to result in conflict as what one views as beauty or a human right, another will view as ugly or a privilege. It’s end conclusion is constant war, based on what the popular ideology is at various times or eras.
A naturalistic view is driven by appearance or identity (race, gender, culture, sexuality, occupation, etc.). Once this identity is established, values are created that inherently self serve the imposed values based on ones identity. However, if those values aren’t universal, or acceptable to all value systems, the issue becomes how do you generate human values and society? Historically, it’s been laws and financial compensation. Yet that creates a paradox that most aren’t recognizing, that is those who make money and write laws are dictating values. Once that is recognized, cultures are based on the values of legal and financial parties rather than the population. So people who believe in naturalism are byproducts of popular opinion and financial/legal controllers, not necessarily by the identity values they assert. Ironically, if one defines their worldview by naturalism, they are anything but free, but guided by a common system that may constantly conflict with those values. Naturalism is a horrible way to define life.
The issue of values defined by a God based system are different. When the idea of an internal soul and recognition of the value of human spirits becomes fundamental, values become grounded in the bounds of doing the will of God. While there are many different spiritual directions people go from this path, there are many commonalities. Given that Gods will is defined by a written work or spiritual leaders, morals, values, and beauty are defined by a source of truth. Many of these systems are intended for universal practice, but in reality, special interpretations tend to pollute the values of these systems.
Ontology then forms the basis on which all other systems of value are derived from a worldview. As shown above, truth, goodness, beauty, God, Man and nature have a context in which to make value judgments. Without that basis, these would be speculative or relative at best. Values in a God based system are usually based on love, respect, and mutual progress. While some religious systems are based on exclusionary principles, Christianity is the only universally inclusive system whose recognition is based on realizing you are a sinner that needs a savior. It’s fascinating that most people think they are inherently good because they do one form of action and debase another form of action, yet don’t realize it is merely a form of slavery that justifies what you approve and creates a form of fear or judgment for what you do not. In the grander context, intentionality is what gets judged at the end of the day, and you can never know the right thing is if you don’t have a source of truth or a worldview.
