32 Killed 29 wounded in early reports at Virginia Tech.

[Robert]

On a side note....

We've all seen how deep, dark hate can lead to pure violence. This man has demonstrated it well. However, anyone who might be tempted to exclaim, "I am a good, decent person and I am nothing like this wicked man" will have a huge surprise on judgment day.

Let me make it extremely clear that as far as God's law is concerned the wicked deed of this man and the self-righteousness of those who deny Jesus Christ will bring the same result - the curse of the law - goodbye to heaven for eternity!!!

Keeping things in perspective,

Robert

[Woody]

The Court for the state of Virginia examined him and determined he was "mentally ill". We may never know how much control over his behavior he had at that time of his life. Could he have done better with Christ ... perhaps ... and perhaps not. I have prayed and prayed for God to heal my physical ailments ... are you telling me it is because of my lack of faith??? that I am not healed???

[Robert]

The Court for the state of Virginia examined him and determined he was "mentally ill".

It seems fashionable to call sin a disease....If it is a disease it can be removed or cured. Sin is a condition....We are spiritually bent towards self, period.

In the case of this young man it seems that he was hurt. People were perhaps cruel? Once human nature is wounded it strikes out, i.e., with out Christ. Yes this guy reacted violently.

I remember reading about this this woman who had contracted AIDS from some guy. She was mad as heck. What did she do? She didn't blow someone away, instead she passed on her virus by sleeping with as many men as possible. She got her revenge.

So people react differently, but in the end it is repaying evil with evil. Only Christ can help us not render evil for evil.

[Pockey]

I keep thinking, wow, this guy really went off the deep end. He seems to have passed the point of no return, the blaspheme of the Holy Spirit and became "possessed" so to speak. But then before I'm tempted to think I'm better than he is, what if I pass that point too. Not to say I would go on a shooting rampage, but what if I no longer care about my neighbor, whether he gets to know Christ, or how he is doing in his life. It's a similar attitude, just a slower kill.

[Amelia]

Interesting twist in his ragings. On the one hand he was lashing out at religion and Christians and on the other he said everyone treated him like Jesus and crucified him on the cross.

[there buster]

my take on the Va. Tech. episode is up on my blog

Grounds for Belief

[Woody]

Quote:

It seems fashionable to call sin a disease....If it is a disease it can be removed or cured.

It is typical of those with mental illness to not take the cure. The killer was given medications but it is questionable as to whether he took it.

If someone has a physical disability or mental disability ... do you consider it to be SIN ? Is the disabled person considered SIN because of the affliction?

[Robert]

If someone has a physical disability or mental disability ... do you consider it to be SIN ?

All imperfection is sin. Call it result, but nevertheless anything outside perfection is sin.

This guy wasn't mental....He was angry...full of hate. He was driven by his nature.

My opinion,

ROb

[Dr. Shane]

The mentally ill don't reason like normal people. It is not realistic to hold them to the same standards.

That is not to excuse murder.

[Robert]

The mentally ill don't reason like normal people. It is not realistic to hold them to the same standards.

Well then all of us are mentally ill according to the following:

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

[Jeannieb43]

The mentally ill don't reason like normal people. It is not realistic to hold them to the same standards.

But it is reasonable to hold them to obeying the LAWS. Their minds may be off kilter, but they are still required to obey all the laws of polite society. If they consistently disobey the customs of society, this creates a clue to their illness.

[bevin]

Mental illness is like physical illness - it covers a huge range of conditions.

Some mentally ill people can function normally, others can't

Those that can't should not be expected too - but they shouldn't get the freedoms that come with normal functioning either.

[Ron Lambert]

If the killer CHOSE to be mentally ill, then that gives him no more of an excuse than if he chose to be drunk. As long as choice is involved, moral accountability is also involved. The killer chose to go over to the dark side. Making this choice always results in mental illness. But it is a symptom of evil, not the cause of it; otherwise it would be an excuse for evil. Maybe his habitual choices to embrace the dark side over the past months and years of his life were the real cause of any mental illness that was detected in him at any time. Such choices tend to be progressive, spiralling further and further out of control into ever greater excesses of evil, until a kind of "critical mass" is reached, where the person explodes into violence.

[bevin]

Mental illness can be a result of poor choices - but it can also be the result of events way beyond the control of the afflicted person.

As with many accidents, there may be multiple factors that all had to be present to cause the final event. It is quite possible that

(a) he had a physiological problem that caused a mental illness,

AND

( he was treated badly by people around him

AND

© he made a conscious choice to do something about it

AND

(d) he had easy access to weapons

AND

(e) his victims choose not to arm themselves

AND

(f) his victims choose not to aggressively fight back

AND

(g) the authorities did not take steps after the first killing that would have prevented the second set

/Bevin

[Dr. Shane]

One part of the gun debate I think we have to look at is if those found mentally ill by a court should be allowed to buy guns. This student bought the guns legally and passed a background check.

[Robert]

( he was treated badly by people around him

AND

© he made a conscious choice to do something about it

Revenge is very natural.

[Gerr]

Are you a member of the militia?

I don't understand people's fascination with owning a gun!

Gerry