Thank you for posting @son-of-satire.

You nailed it....deep down we knpw ....we keep being reminded by that still small voice. Oh yes...we all share that same subtle consciousness.

One way to look at it....if one may add to the resulting dialogue. Looking at the big picture....man is depraved....depending on ones choices he has restraints in place...so he just looks belter than some...but the depravity of man is an absolute.
The issue is what do you think of Christ?
Accept or Reject Him.

Faith alone in Christ alone for salvation.

Adam the first man lost rulership of the world to Satan, the fallen one. God provided a salvation solution; Jesus Christ bearing the sins of the world that our souls may be saved from the fate that Satan has planned for us.

Since you have a religious background as do so many of us.
I will add:

Religion is man by mans efforts seeking the approbation of God.
Christianity is God seeking man through the work of Jesus Christ on the cross.

Wishing you God's best for your life.
Looking forward to reading your future posts.

For God loved the world (mankind) so much that He gave His Son, the uniquely born one that anyone who believes on Him shall not perish but have eternal life. from the original Koine greek language of the New Testament. John3.16

You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.