In pointing out that 0.1% of the mentally ill could kill someone, you've answered the question yourself: Yes, these mass murders could indeed be the result of mere mental illness - with no supernatural involvement at all.
Occam's Razor!
Regards,
Psychotropic drugs given to youngsters?
I’d like to see a study of recent mass killers versus such drugs given or prescribed.
Demons or drugs - what’s the difference?
If you know anything at all about the nature of spirituality you are aware that it is fundamental to the nature of reality. Mental illness as well as mental health are functions of spirituality. The simplest way to understand this is to recognize that love, hate, greed, generosity and countless conditions are of a spiritual and not a physical nature.
Demonic possession is domination by destructive forces. Salvation is domination by Godly forces. They are not equal but they are unique from each other. These are the principalities spoken of in the Bible. Acknowledging these forces is central to overcoming demonics.
The killer in Texas was an avowed atheist. He did not acknowledge the reality of God consciousness but he did open himself to destructive, evil forces. That is, while he rejected God he clearly did not reject Satan’s influence.
Psychiatry is still an infant and imprecise science, more about description and association than causes and cures. So saying, “Well, some parients do and others don't, we don't know why,” isn't simpler than saying, “In some instances malevolent spiritual beings may be involved.”
Now, case study:
Very intelligent (honors scholar type,) successful, kind lady. Very sweet and considerate of others. She is diagnosed as bipolar but it is controlled enough by meds that you would have to know her for a while to discern it.
She WILL not go to church, even for a academic lecture. She won't listen to excellent music if it's church-related. Holst's Short Festival Te Deum? No way.
She insists that no one discuss theology or philosophy in her presence. Then she makes little snide remarks about Xtian thought!
A meticulous researcher, she succumbs to all the popular errors about Catholic thought!
She says she is going to hell. She smiles, but she says it.
She is unbaptized. She doesn't have even the most common protection against demons.
So: a lovely, insightful, intelligent, generous person who becomes startlingly snarky, unfair, unscholarly, and almost phobic about church related things.
There are more observations, but this is enough to make demonic oppression (NOT possession) something which ought to be considered. The specificity, strength, and nastiness of her aversion is remarkable.