[Obadiah]

...we have to accept some people do not not have conscience.

Nope. No way I believe that. From my perspective, every human being is endowed by their Creator with "the work of the Law" written in their hearts (a conscience).

[goldstategop]

Then how can a child shoot a father in the back of the head? The word "conscience" implies we have the sense to know the difference between right and wrong as though it were second nature, a part of us and an intrinsic part of our character. In truth, there are people for whom this is terra incognita, who while they accept such rules exist, act only on them when it is in their self interest to do so. The rest of the time, they flout society's rules if they think they can get away with it.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[Dante3]

About 4% of Americans are considered sociopaths - they have no conscience. They are not like the rest of us. If you prefer, you can call them evil. Studies indicate that they have NOT been abused at a higher rate than the rest of the population.

[Quix]

Mostly I agree with you.

But sociopaths get created very early on. It's not all genetics. IT's not all conditioning. The combination somehow is deadly. And their consciences get effectively neutered very early on.

Perhaps it's what the Bible talks about--a conscience being seared as with a hot iron.

[Bear_Slayer]

Nope. No way I believe that. From my perspective, every human being is endowed by their Creator with "the work of the Law" written in their hearts (a conscience).

I Tim 4:1-2

"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, . . . . having their conscience seared with a hot iron."

If it is possible for professing believers to have their conscience seared, how much more those that have never professed a faith, in these latter days?