If you were born "mentally ill" would you still be held accountable for your sins?

Question

Unfortunately some people are born crazy, they truely have no "moral compass" or understanding of right or wrong.

Let's assume this person has commited murder (or whatever other sins you would like) and has been hospitalized. If the person because of their illness can not comprehend the concept of repenting or even who or what jesus is, would they still be held accountable for their sins and sent to hell?

Would god not have created the sickness in the person to begin with?

Sara I don't think you are very familiar with severe mental illness.

Answer 1

Non-religious

Being mentally ill no justification for crime.

EDIT: There are some people who commit crimes and happen to be mentally ill, but their criminal behavior is not caused by psychotic or delusional states. It has not been proven that people with mental illness commit a crime necessarily because of their illness.

Answer 2

the Bible infers that you must have been exposed to the Holy Spirit to be held accountable, at least that is the general interpretation by most real religious scholars I have known.

So if a person were so mentally impaired that they could not make rational decisions or even understand the issue, my GUESS is that these conditions are going to be taken into consideration. I'm not God, I can't speak for Him, neither can any of us.

Answer 3

Each of us is born into an infinite variety of circumstances. Some have good parents, some bad. Some grow up in oppressive nations, some in relatively free ones. Some are born mentally ill, and others at least seem normal (I'm convinced everyone is at least somewhat mentally ill).

We aren't 100% responsible for anything, but to the extent we are, justice will have its due.

That is the wonderful thing about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Through our faith in Him, we can be free of the effects of sin through repentance and forgiving others. That way we can experience the growth that comes through our earth life and still return to our Heavenly Father.

Answer 4

I am an atheist, but if I were religious I can't imagine worshipping any god who would send this person to hell. Sara have you ever had any contact with someone who is seriously sick? My daughter was in treatment for years and while not that sick, some of the people we came across while getting her treatment were. Some had no idea what year it was, or who they were. Some are there on voluntarity treatment, they can leave if they wanted to.

Answer 5

For someone who has used this defense for most of his life. I hope that I shall never have to be held accountable for nearly even half of my sins. If so, I'm pretty much in the same boat as Satan, Judas and the guy who invented the new Coke recipe.

Answer 6

Since the God of many major religions is obviously mentally ill himself, perhaps that would make it easier to have empathy for mentally ill people and give them a pardon.

Answer 7

"Would god not have created the sickness in the person to begin with?"

that is actually the answer to your question. some people are actually born to be sent to hell. God made them to remind others of sinning and bad stuff. in the same way He does it, He also makes crazy humans to show what either sin or innocence is.

Answer 8

some claim there is a bio imperitive and genetic disposition to the criminal mind and environment comes second maybe we should be looking for a cure like in clockwork orange .
holding people accountable doesn't stop the criminal only makes sense to those who are honest to begin with . justice without vengence makes sense to me .

Answer 9

My understanding is that mental illness is a form of rebellion. People born in that state refuse to face the consequences of their behavior in previous life. Human law excuses them, but they will never escape the law of karma and reincarnation.

Answer 10

From a lot of these answers, I get the impression that the Biblical god is a heartless jerk.