Why is it that most serial killers have been Christian?

Question

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_killer

Answer 1

Christianity makes killing ok, if you have a "good enough" reason...

Answer 2

America statistically could be considered a country in which there is more violence than in other similarly developed countries, and it is quite well-known that America has bred more serial killers than any other country in the world. A lot of social factors come into play there, religion and the upbringing of a person also has much to play in this. I am not too familiar with the number of religions in America and/or which are the most popular, but it would seem that Christianity would be one of the most dominant, it is therefore more likely for it to turn out that most serial killers would tend to be Christian, however that does mean that Christianity breeds serial killers, it is much more complicated than that.

Example: You may find a strong positive correlation between Primary School Bullies and Strawberry Ice-Cream, however, that does not Strawberry Ice-Cream is responsible for Bullying behaviour in Primary School Children, it could just be the fact that Primary School Children love strawberry Ice Cream, and these specific ones you're looking at are happen to be Bullies.

Answer 3

--If your stats are accurate, that is not surprising! Hypocrisy can lead to terrible consequences!

--But, maybe giving some benefit of doubt, AND I mean maybe, please note how the demons play havoc with people when the right attitude exists, that of an obscene one:

--This text indicates what demons can do if they are possessing someone, and that one practiced a measure of christianity then extracated from it:

(Luke 11:24-26) “24 “When an unclean spirit comes out of a man, it passes through parched places in search of a resting-place, and, after finding none, it says, ‘I will return to my house out of which I moved.’ 25 And on arriving it finds it swept clean and adorned. 26 Then it goes its way and takes along seven different spirits more wicked than itself, and, after getting inside, they dwell there; and the final circumstances of that man become worse than the first.””

--I LOOKED at your reference and all I was able to find, that related, was this:

Missionary(WIKIPEDIA REF.)
So-called missionary killers believe that their acts are justified on the basis that they are getting rid of a certain type of person (often prostitutes or members of a certain ethnicity), and thus doing society a favour. Gary Ridgway and Aileen Wuornos are often described as missionary killers. In Wuornos' case, the victims were not prostitutes, but their patrons. Missionary killers differ from other types of serial killer in that their motive is generally non-sexual. Arguably, Jack the Ripper may also fit this role."
--IF THIS IS WHAT YOU MEANT--by your reference, it does not carry much weight.
--ITS A GOOD idea to have a specific comment on a major assertion of any kind!

--So what I am implying is that , if indeed this might be what these serial sickos do then it is something to think on. No definite answer just a possiblility!

Answer 4

Wgy is it that most serial killers are people who join Yahoo Answers in the month of February?
This question is about as valid as yours.
I checked the link you showed and found absolutely nothing to validate your claim. Although I would aspect that most serial killers in America would be "christian" , seeing as the vast majority of Americans are "christian".
There have been some Muslims, osme Atheists, and I don't know what else.
In another country, where Christianity does not prevail, most serial killers would belong to the prevailing religion of that country.
Need I say more?

Answer 5

Theism encourages a false sense of power and invincibility. There are some theists who believe they won't die! How crazy is that?! and if you believe you won't die, that you are protected by a supreme power, what's to stop you doing what you like? Of course, it doesn't follow that a theist will become a serial killer - many use that feeling to do good things. But it's probably the case that for the psychologically deranged (and they are many), a mass religion based on faith and not works like Christianity is like strapping explosives to them.

Which is why Islam is the same - you're a kind of serial killer if you blow yourself up in a vegetable market or a bus queue, aren't you?

Answer 6

I disagree with your assumption that they were Christian. In fact, according to the source that you cite, history's most prevalent serial killer was a Hindu!

On the other hand, I don't see a correlation with religion, anyway. After all most serial killers also ate bread. Does that mean that people who eat bread are more likely to become serial killers? Hmmm...

Answer 7

Is that really true? weird. I'm Christian,
and I have to wonder: when these serial killers are out killing, who the hell is doing their laundry? I barely have enough time in a day to get on R&S, study, be a mom,
and keep up my home.
And what about protesters you see with signs on the news all the time? Who is doing their laundry??

Answer 8

Christian in name only not in deed. Knowing the difference is the key.

Question is do you know what the difference is? Do you know what being a Christian really is?

Ask yourself some of the following.

Are you a good person? What a question, most of us believe that we are good people because we can look around and find someone that is far worse than we are. We can always point to the things that we think make us a good person.

But how good are we really? Dare we take this test and look at ourselves and see if we really are good? Hmmm.

If you are willing try this and see just how good a person you are.

The Good Person Test.

How will you do? Pass or fail?


Have you ever told a lie?
Doesn't matter how big or small, just a lie.
What does that make you? Before answering think about this, if I told you a lie what would you call me? A liar?

Have you ever stolen anything? Cost doesn't matter, a piece of gum, failed to give back an ink pen that you borrowed, anything.
What does that make you?

Jesus said, "You know the saying of old, you shall not commit adultery but I say that if look at someone to lust after them you have committed adultery in your heart.
Have you ever lusted?

Jesus said that hate is equal to murder.
Have you ever hated anyone?

See one day we all are going to stand before a Holy God on Judgment Day and he is going to judge us based on His Holy Law, the Ten Commandments. These are just 4 of them and how did you do? Guilty? I have broken all of these and more, what about you? How well will you do on Judgment Day?

If we break just one point of God's Law we are guilty of breaking all the law and Gods Wrath abides upon us all. Based on God's Law we are all guilty and all are deserving of punishment. But there is an out for us.

Jesus paid the price for each one of us, took on himself God's Wrath so we wouldn't have to face it on our own. Jesus was beaten, battered, bleed and died so we wouldn't have to face God's Wrath. He rose again so that we would life in his presence. Our crimes, His payment.

The real question is where will you stand on Judgment Day. Pay yourself or have it paid for you. Think about it.

Answer 9

Whoever said they were Christian? They may have come from a Christian background since that is the predominant religious belief in the US but it DOENST make them Christian!!!

Answer 10

Because, in the 18th century, they believed they are doing the work of God and when people study christianity they think they are doing the right thing by going on a killing spree to send all those evil people to hell or either that they're insane. If you were christian you would know that......

Answer 11

I don't see where that article states that most serial killers were/are practicing Christians.

I think you need to post statistics to prove your assertion as well as what you are defining as "christian"

Just this atheist's thought.