To David f.

Sorry for how long it took to reply. The day after I gave my last response I came back to see if there was anything more, except that I couldn't find the topic "pornography." For what it's worth I thought maybe I said something out of step. Broke a rule on OLO that got the topic deleted. I've just recently found it, and read your responses. (Apparently the topic is more then a month old so it no longer shows up unless you change the filter in the general section to go back to the last quarter).

To David f.

You said earlier: "If life is a race I am not a winner since I am not on top. In a race there is only one winner. You are articulate. You can express yourself. If you weren’t articulate I wouldn’t be carrying on a dialogue with you."

For me it has to be a race. In thinking of it as a race with only one winner, that's not what I meant. Think of it as a marathon. A 5K run or walk for a charity. In this situation, everyone is running the race, and though some might have a competitive stance to be first or to beat those they are in the race with, the end result is that most of them are there to finish the race, not to be first. Just to be part of the cause they paid for to be in the race, and to finish to support the cause.

This is where most people are. They aren't the best or the top that make it the first in the race, but at least they finish. I have to strive everyday to be a better man then I am; or to be glad for the help and the kindness I receive when I'm not better. It is a race that I grow tired of often. But experience shows that there is the very real issue of not finishing the finish line. This isn't Christianity that brings this thought out. Christian studies have confirmed some things for me, and more importantly it has helped me in my search for God.

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With the point of sin, Christian understanding has helped me understand I'm not the only one who's broken. Everyone is. Everyone has their own struggles and battles, even people who have it all. Therefore to love your neighbor, love your enemy, and treat them the way you want to be treated has the conclusion that we all need it. We're all broken in one way or another or fighting a broken environment we can't escape from. Treating each other with kindness is a way of mending each other in our broken bits. The same is true for turning from our sins are for our own good. The same way a parent teaches their kids from doing wrong and to turn from a harmful influence or a bad behavior can be applied to helping each other out of bad situations.

You don't have to agree with my views of the world being broken or people being broken. But I want to stress two things. 1) that I've had to struggle to finish the race that most people can breeze through, and 2) that I've found God. Both of these before accepting Christianity.

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That said, there is a problem with human nature. You picked up on it when you say that religion is better if it doesn't hold all the power. This problem isn't just reserved for religions. It's for anyone who holds too much power. Governments, Kings, dictators, even cooperations who have a monopoly and a lot of money can do great evil because the people who are in charge do these things. Therefore there's a lesson within Christianity. Be humble, and beware of too much power and wealth. Look at Israel from the Jewish history within the bible. According to the bible Israel as a nation was conquered because of their great sins and that there was murder everywhere. From this I don't think of religion as a safe haven from sin any more then Israel was a safe haven from the negative aspects of human nature. It's a slow concept to accept but is a reminder that Christians need God. To not forget that just because a person goes to church or says that they are Christian.

In my opinion the phrase "repent, and turn from your sins," applies to Christians as well as non-Christians. In fact there are several warnings for believers if they don't that are in the New Testament.

Dear NNS,

I just got back from the hospital, and I appreciate your response.

You will do the best you can with Christianity and God, and I will do the best I can without either.

Sorry to hear you've been in the hospital. Hope you're doing ok.