Had oma not shown him the path to enlightnemtn he himself would have never found it.
Because the ancient didn't believe in abstaining themselves from the mortal plain of existence, no one knows its possible. If he didn't know it was possible he would have never made the journey. The Orai make their presence known. Every one under them is aware of the path's existence. As fact that only some people will ever be able to make the journey, those who get in the way of their truth, stop others who could ascend from learning of it, so not so much as the non beleivers are evil, as they are an obstruction.They more or less believe as Daniel believes. He just fails to see the realization of the way people are, and the brutal truth. And the Orai are merely taking the easiest path, rather then setting up a Buddhist like culture.(later on their more true intentions are kinda revealed) But its surprising Daniel's reaction based on the information he knows and doesn't know at this point.