Yesterday, I finished reading A Father's Story
Was Jeffrey genetically predisposed to become a murderer? From his father's account, I'd say most likely. But that's not such a stretch really. I think everyone is capable, under certain circumstances, to commit murder. Are our genes our destiny? I'm not saying that. Yet just as some people are naturally more sensitive, others "naturally" lack empathy.
What Jeffrey did, however, goes well beyond merely killing human beings. Perhaps his perversions defy explanation. One of the rationalizations that I find objectionable is when people label such people "monsters." Jeffrey Dahmer was no monster. He was a man. A man who felt, willed, loved, and performed monstrous things. Is there a qualitative difference between Jeffrey Dahmer and you? Certainly a difference in degree, but in quality? Have you never hated another or wished someone dead? Have you never treated people like they are your possessions? Have you never - in pain or anger or sorrow - tortured the innocents? By your words? Your actions or inactions? Ah. Maybe we have all grasped the handle to the door of the room Jeffrey entered.
Now I'm reading a brilliant text by Mikal Gilmore, brother of killer Gary Gilmore, called Shot in the Heart
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
The Family of a Serial Killer
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3 comments:
For a little bit of the other side of a murder investigation, I recommend "Homicide" by David Simon. Simon spent a year with homicide detectives in Baltimore. He was a crime reporter for the paper, and had a lot of experience with reporting on crimes, so he saw this as a good way to get the story. It is excellent. He then went on to write for the show of the same name, and I think he's written for other shows dealing with cops (HBO's The Wire, which is some of the best television period, in my opinion).
Scott Adle
How strange that I should come across this story on this page... I googled "Lutheran serial killers", curious as to whether there were more than just the three killers I know of who are Lutheran - John List (who murdered his entire family),Dennis Rader (the BTK killer), and my father (who killed my mother). All three men were heavily involved in the church. I'm fascinated by the Christian connection to these murders in general, and the Lutheran connection in particular. My half-brother, a LCMS church elder, thinks I'm going to hell for suspecting any link between between the religions of these men and the horrific acts they committed, but then - he doesn't want to believe that our father killed my mother in the first place, and won't let me talk to him about it. I wonder how others feel...
I would say there is a very strong relgious connection. The Old Testament states you shall not have another God. It states you shall not kill. It also states you shall not lay with another man.
Jeffery was a sinner, a murder and a sodomize but his biggest sin was a false God. Jesus said he is not he messiah and God promises to drive sinners away and into the service of other gods. Jeffery did not commit the sin of having another God until he turned to a man god named Jesus. 9 years passed since his experimental murder. It was when he began going to church with his grandmother that the real God dispatched Satan to touch Jeffery in the head to do evil against men who were sinning. Sodomy.
Jesus and Satn are both punishers.
The church is paganism and part of the test of Deut 13.
Bacause of the words Jesus spoke the folowing was to happen: Matthew 10:21 And brother will give up brother to death, and the father his child: and children will go against their fathers and mothers, and put them to death.
Dahmer ultimately was killed by a man who thought he was Jesus in a church.
This is sign from God to change direction. Who is listening. Read Deut 13 closely.
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