Then surely these people shouldn't be put in prison or punished? After all it's not their fault.
Here is some useful information from About.com
The study of the psychopath reveals an individual who is incapable of feeling guilt, remorse or empathy for their actions. They are generally cunning, manipulative and know the difference between right and wrong but dismiss it as applying to them. They are incapable of normal emotions such as love, generally react without considering the consequences of their actions and show extreme egocentric and narcissistic behavior.
Common Characteristics Among Psychopaths
The following characteristics of a psychopath, defined by Hervery M. Cleckley in 1941 in the book
Mask of Sanity include:
· Superficial charm and average intelligence.
· Absence of delusions and other signs of irrational thinking.
· Absence of nervousness or neurotic manifestations.
· Unreliability.
· Untruthfulness and insincerity.
· Lack of remorse or shame.
· Antisocial behaviour without apparent compunction.
· Poor judgement and failure to learn from experience.
· Pathological egocentricity and incapacity to love.
· General poverty in major affective reactions.
· Specific loss of insight.
· Unresponsiveness in general interpersonal relations.
· Fantastic and uninviting behaviour with drink, and sometimes without.
· Suicide threats rarely carried out.
· Sex life impersonal, trivial, and poorly integrated.
· Failure to follow any life plan.
There are different degrees of psychopathic behaviour and different types including the sexual psychopath and the work psychopath. Most studies indicate that there are no conventional methods available which cures psychopathic behaviour. On the contrary, when conventional methods have been used, the psychopath becomes empowered, and reacts by improving their cunning, manipulative methods and their ability to conceal their true personality, even from trained eyes.
Since the psychopath has no real emotions, they develop their own personality throughout their life by mimicking those around them. Their inability to control inappropriate outburst of anger and hostility often results in loss of jobs, disassociation with friends and family and divorce. This in itself is filtered by the psychopath into a justification process for more aggressive behaviour.
Because of their inability to gauge when their actions are being perceived as dishonest, deceitful or dangerous, they also fail to accept that there are consequences for their actions. They always maintain a belief that they can outwit those who pursue them and that they will never be caught. Once caught, they believe they will find a way back out.
On another website it indicated that they were prone to violence and criminality and there are different levels of psychopathy with various outcomes. The one in scripture was extreme because he was confined to caves because of his violent disposition and because he self harmed.
If it is demon possession it may or may not be their fault. If it was a product of parental or familial activity then no it is not his fault. If he opened himself to demonic activity voluntarily then it is his fault.
Demon possession is something that happens becuase you invite a demon into your body and mind. Having done that you give him the right to do anything he wants because inviting him in gives him the right to control and command. As Jesus defeated the devil on the cross it means that a demon cannot invade your life as a Christian unless you open a door to one. If that happens the best antidote is the authority and power of the name of Jesus which can be invoked to get rid of it. Having done that myself I know that it works.
The other aspect is that as Jesus defeated satan on the cross, he has authority over all the demon world and if asked, will deal with any personal or societal demonic activity. I have a book that tells the account of a particular town in South America that was experiencing a lot of violent crime. A group of intercessors did a prayer walk around the town binding the power of the violent demons. Within three months violent crime was almost non existent.
Drugs won't get rid of demon activity in a persons life. All it will do is control their actions as a result of the demon activity because they can alter the responses of the brain. Only deliverance will rid the person of the demons invading their lives.