I don't know, but I think we underestimate people. I think most of them are, by and large, rather good. Now, good doesn't make the news and good is rarely memorable. Like anyone, I read the new and think "what's wrong with people?"

And while we all also do bad things, we could ALL improve, I think that goodness is much more common than evil or cruelty. I think that if evil were the most common trait, our species would have been extinct some time ago.

Frankly, I think that what's most wrong is the values of the systems under which we live. It lionizes greed and puts personal wealth and power and fame as some sort of idea. And while people are, I believe, mostly good, I believe they tend to adapt to the societies in which they live.

I'm, perhaps, more optimistic than you about people. For example, I find most religious people I meet to be largely kind and thoughtful. Now, these days, the loudest and most visible Christians are bigoted and cruel. As a result, we may underestimate Christians as a group. And after 9/11, we tend to do the same about Islamic people. That's a mistake.

I like people. I see the good in people. I don't see all that much difference morally between theists and non-theists. Perhaps the biggest strength (and possibly danger) among the religious is that they tend to have regular services, meet as a community and support each other. On balance, I think that's a good thing. With places like Westboro Baptist Church as very visible exceptions.