Examination

Does practicing Christianity in modern society imply setting oneself up for defeat? What is a true Christian?

I think complementary to the questions above is Bertrand Russell's simple and heartening definition of the good life.

The good life is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge.

Knowledge and love are both indefinitely extensible; therefore, however good a life may be, a better life can be imagined. Neither love without knowledge, nor knowledge without love can produce a good life.

-- What I Believe by Bertrand Russell