Couty Alexander; Couty & Christa Alexander
Livingston Parish, LA – On the surface, Couty Lamar Alexander looked like such a nice young man. Definitely a church-going young man. Back in 2004, he was part of team of youngsters who traveled to Jamaica to conduct Vacation Bible Schools. Afterward, he said, “It was a wonderful mission field experience. The kids we worked with were great. I can’t wait to go back and see the kids again.” Don’t know if he got to return to Jamaica to see the kids again, but as of last week, he had a special child to think about—his own. Married at the beginning of March, he and Christa Ann (nee Baker) were expecting a baby in December. Looking at the pictures of Christa on Couty’s MySpace, it’s easy to imagine a dark-haired, fair-skinned baby with her mother’s sweet face and smile. It’s also easy to imagine that baby growing up to conduct Vacation Bible Schools in another country just like Daddy did, since both Christa and Couty grew up in God-fearing homes and were active in their Missionary Baptist church.
In addition to his new bride and church activities, Couty recently completed paramedic school and was employed by Acadian Ambulance as an EMT. I don’t know at what level he was certified, but I know if I fell down the stairs or started having chest pains, I’d be damn happy to have him show up to get me to the hospital. Let’s face it, an EMT can be the difference between life and death, so I can see myself thinking of him as a true blessing while he splinted my leg or got the bleeding stopped. Couty must’ve been pretty proud, too, based on the number of pictures he has on MySpace of his classmates and coworkers.
Allow me a quick detour, folks. You know it as well as I do—lots of public servants have a sort of split life. Think about the cops and firefighters you know or have heard about. Their jobs are hard in ways most of us never have to deal with—getting to know the local psych ward candidates, talking down the chick who is on suicide attempt Number 7, understanding that Bubba’s promise to lay off whatever’s killing him is just empty air, knowing that if the little girl you just interviewed were you own daughter, you’d wind up with your hands around someone’s throat…you get my point. Same’s true of EMTs. You hear about them developing a special bond with one another and relying on dark and/or raunchy humor to help get them through the day.
Couty’s MySpace appears to be a reflection of the professional side of his life, since pretty much all his friends there are EMTs. And, yeah, maybe there’s a few slightly risqué comments, some references to booze—nothing alarming, but not really what you’d expect from a young man living a Christ-centered life.
Now, 99% of the time, everything I’ve written up till now would be neither here nor there. Nice young man raised in the church with a beautiful Christian bride, soon to be a father, and having dedicated his professional life to doing good for others. Who cares if his MySpace—which completely lacks any reference to his Christian life and doesn’t even feature his wife as a friend—suggests that when he’s on the job he adopts a slightly different and more accessible persona, maybe worries a little less about a dirty joke or two? Right. Nobody would care. Hell, how many of you reading this have a MySpace profile on which your age is slightly, ahem, deflated? Nobody would care, except that what happened this past Saturday has a lot of people wondering what the fuck was going on with Couty Alexander.
On Saturday evening, while Christa Alexander was gathering clothing for church from her closet, her husband of three months went from being a nice guy to a cold-blooded murdering sonofabitch. Because what Couty did was shoot his 24-year-old pregnant wife in the back of the head with a nine-millimeter pistol. In the back of the head. Did you get that? He shot her in the head, from behind. If this were a novel, we’d say he shot her EXECUTION STYLE. And then? Then, he went to work. A twelve-hour shift as an EMT. Somewhere in Louisiana are people who worked with and people who were cared for by Couty Alexander in the 12 hours after he shot his pregnant wife to death from behind. I would fucking hate to be one of those people today, because that’s just creepy.
We might not know any of this except for the fact that Couty turns out to be not only a cold-blooded murdering sonofabitch but also a pretty damn stupid cold-blooded murdering sonofabitch. Once he finished his shift and got back home, he dialed 911 and reported that he’d returned home to find his wife dead. Dude. You’re an EMT? Did you pay any attention? Are you not aware that time of death can be pinpointed? Naw, he ransacked the house and claimed it was a burglary gone awry and even went so far as to tell police he’d sold a nine-millimeter pistol to some guy named Steve the previous Friday. Alas for Couty, the authorities weren’t buying it. On Sunday, he admitted to shooting Christa. He currently is charged with second-degree murder, first-degree feticide, and obstruction of justice.
As is so often the case, it’s the why that gets me. Why, Couty, why? What could be so horribly wrong in a four-month old marriage that the solution is a bullet? It seems unlikely that after so short a time and while expecting a child, Christa would be planning to leave you. Even if there were problems, there are your families, your church fellowship, your colleagues, somebody could’ve helped, if you’d asked. Why didn’t you ask?
Funeral services for Christa are Thursday at TrinityBaptistChurch in Abita Springs.
645 responses so far ↓
Pages: [1] 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 … 13 » Show All
1
Ruby
Jul 1, 2008 at 8:58 pm -Baby someone else’s, perhaps? That’s about all I could think of that would be too upsetting for him to seek out help or other solutions.
My question is if he walked up to her and shot her in the back of her head when she was not engaged in a physical confrontation with him, why is this 2nd degree murder instead of 1st? He clearly had intent/premeditation, no??
Nice job, Lizard.
2
WryBread
Jul 1, 2008 at 9:22 pm -I tried to look up the meaning of the name “Couty” online. I got a lot of listings for “county baby names” and inquiry if I meant to type “country baby names.”
So much for the name game tonight.
Married in March, expecting in April, murdered in July. Another woman? The old “I can get rid of my obligations and be free to marry HER with just one faked murder in my home?”
Poor dead woman. It sounds as if she had no idea she was in danger.
3
Lizard
Jul 1, 2008 at 11:24 pm -A friend has posted pictures of Christa:
http://picasaweb.google.com/ew.....fulChrista
4
silvahalo68
Jul 1, 2008 at 11:40 pm -This is so awful. I’m sure Christa and her family were so excited about the upcoming baby. I Wonder how far along she was. Makes you think you can’t really know someone, even the person you marry… God, I hope that is not true. Couty will rote in hell and in jail.
Rest in peace Christa and baby.
5
Fate
Jul 2, 2008 at 3:15 am -I’m looking at his pictures and I’m trying to see something more tangible or just slightly hidden that would give clue to what this guy did.
You see a camo vest and a Navy SEALs t-shirt and it wouldn’t surprise me that if this idiot entertained fantasy’s of maybe a different more exciting life.
Seemed he had everyone patting him on the back and career taking off.
Wasn’t enough, Couty, was it?
Needed to take down your wife like a fucken coward.
I hope whatever he missed in her look right at the moment he shot her is looking back at him in prison for the rest of his life.
6
SNOOKIE
Jul 2, 2008 at 7:40 am -this is so sad-what an asshole
7
jenjen0135
Jul 2, 2008 at 9:15 am -Wow. What a personality change. I’m betting on the “I’m too young to be saddled down with a kid and I had so many things I wanted to do with my life” argument.
I am a former LE and hubby is currently. Completely different personalities at home or away from “the job”. We have been in it for over 15 years and have learned how to seperate the tension and anxiety of work stuff from the home stuff. Maybe this guy was having some kind of identity crisis?
I also know that some of these young adults hitting the “real world” after having been “encompassed” or “sheltered” their entire lives by a “devout christian upbringing” have no idea how to realistically deal with problems in everyday life. They have never had to worry about things like that before–You know, bills, babies, stress, money problems…
Not saying there was anything wrong with how they were raised at all- It may have just quelched any other personalities or tendancies that this guy may have had all along.
8
bunsintheoven
Jul 2, 2008 at 10:39 am -I’ve heard that he was having an affair with his partner. And she was packing up clothes to leave, not to go to church. But it could be wrong. You know how rumors start and escalate!
9
thepooh5
Jul 2, 2008 at 10:42 am -Welcome Buns. Are you local to the community where this happened?
10
Lizard
Jul 2, 2008 at 10:55 am -Welcome to D’D, Buns! There’s quite a bit of scuttlebutt around the Net regarding motive and Christa’s actions; enough people have insisted that leaving Couty–or even arguing him–would be completely out of character for Christa that I’m going to count it a rumor for now. I do note that a lot of the Web buzz comes from people who know the Alexander and Baker families through their churches; I haven’t yet come across a single comment by someone who worked with or knew Couty in a professional capacity.
11
erik_willie_10
Jul 2, 2008 at 11:44 am -You know, I am very very disgusted by whoever the person is that wrote this article. It wouldn’t be so bad if all of the language was not present. For people like me that grew up with Couty, it makes us mad. I am willing to bet that you wouldn’t have the guts to say all of that infront of his face or any of his family. Judging by the material and the motives behind the article, I would have to assume that you are about 15 years old. Next time you try to write an article about something that you know nothing about, do it in a more professional and formal way. I’m sure that his family would be quite upset if they were to come across this article. So, you really need to consider being more careful.
12
sugarglider
Jul 2, 2008 at 11:59 am -Doesn’t sound like such a personality change. People go who around trying to impose their versions of God on other people are, typically, assholes. And he was a missionary. So, there you go. That’s my opinion.
13
erik_willie_10
Jul 2, 2008 at 12:01 pm -So does that mean that you dont believe that we should go around spreading our beliefs about God?
14
thepooh5
Jul 2, 2008 at 12:03 pm -His family? I do feel for them, as I’m sure they are hurting. Hurting from their son’s actions, hurting for the loss of a grandchild that their son murdered, hurting over the loss of their daughter-in-law.
I have to say, I’m more concerned about her family and their losses. Where is your concern that her family might read something upsetting - like how their daughter was shot from behind, also killing her unborn child, their grandchild, by someone they considered to be a family member now? Think about the victims not the murderer - he chose his actions. She and her family just have to suffer from them. They made no choices.
15
Lizard
Jul 2, 2008 at 12:06 pm -I’m the “whoever” that wrote this article, and frankly, I don’t give a fuck if you’re disgusted or not. Your issue seems to be “all of the language,” and I assume you mean the “fuck” and “sonofabitch” words. You think the family would be upset by me using some dirty words? Couty shot Christa in the head from behind. Then went to work. Then tried to cover up what he did. That’s the obscenity right there.
16
erik_willie_10
Jul 2, 2008 at 12:06 pm -But he just goes on blabbing about it like a kid not getting enough sweets in a candy store. I knew her father personally and he wouldnt be so happy about the situation either. He would much rather is be consolidated, not floating around on the internet forEVERYONEto see
17
sugarglider
Jul 2, 2008 at 12:07 pm -You are a stupid, ignorant, dumbass. But you are a really hilarious one, too.
1) You object to “the the languauge”? Does the 10 in your name stand for your IQ points or your age? No one gives a SHIT whether or not you approve of their “language.” You know what WE don’t approve of? Your buddy Cunty shooting his wife. You know what “the person who wrote this article” is “disgusted” by? Cunty murdering his wife, that’s what.
2) You say you bet the person who wrote this article wouldn’t have the “guts” to say any of this in front of Cunty and Cunty’s family. Wow, you really are a dumbass. YEAH, well, that’s probably because Lizard hopes for more out of life than having his or her “guts” shot out by Cunty.
3) You’re worried his family would be upset by reading this article? Uh, guess, what his cunty family should be upset by the fact that their son MURDERED HIS WIFE.
18
erik_willie_10
Jul 2, 2008 at 12:09 pm -Well I am the whoever that is goin to tell you to grow up. Seriously, if you got shot in the head, would you want some idiot posting it on the internet for other people to see? Or what if it was your own daughter. You most certainly wouldnt want this for her now would you?
19
erik_willie_10
Jul 2, 2008 at 12:11 pm -And you takl about my IQ being low. You people just dont get the picture. If you were murdered or someone that you really loved was murdered, you wouldnt want people talking about it behind your back on the internet. Now would u? Or are you to incomprehensive to take all that in at once?
20
sugarglider
Jul 2, 2008 at 12:13 pm -Was my opinion about aggressive evangelicism somehow not clear?People can talk about their beliefs all they want, that’s called Freedom of Speech. The concept of “spreading” one’s beliefs imperialistically all over everyone else is a different matter etnirely, and is anathema to American principles. Let me make it clear that I am talking here about *aggressive evangelicism* in particular. And my opinion is jsut that, my opinion. If I wanted to have other people’s religious beliefs shoved down my throat, I would move to SAUDI ARABIA. My opinion just happens to be founded on the foundational VALUES of America. Thomas Jefferson specified that Freedom of Religion means freedom from other people’s religions. And this is America.
There’s nothing to debate here. My position should be clear now if it wasn’t before.
21
thepooh5
Jul 2, 2008 at 12:17 pm -And if I were you, I wouldn’t take that bet that “these” members wouldn’t say anything to Couty’s face. But, since you mentioned it, WHY? Is he supposed to be some sort of bad ass or something? I thought he was such a good, christian guy.
And don’t even start with me about the good Lord, I’m not attacking the christian faith. I assure you that I believe in God and Christ. I ask this question because of comment #10, that it would be “out of character” for her to even argue with Couty. Again, why?
It seems you clearly know this set of people, what can you add about him or her and the home situation? I’m sure you could lend some insight to this case, unless you are an old friend, who has not seen Couty, in some time. A lot of people who come on here to defend there friends, quite often, it turns out they USED to know this person, but have been out of contact for a good period of time and are struggling with the possibility that a person they ONCE knew could commit such an act.
I don’t know if you are a current or past friend, but I do invite you to share any insight you may have to his actions or to what in the world was going on. Welcome to the site. I’m sorry for your personal pain. Please just remember, he caused your pain, not the write up of this article - it would not exist without his actions. Again, I’m sorry.
22
sugarglider
Jul 2, 2008 at 12:17 pm -Helloooo? Tough. He killed his wife. Sorry you think it shouldn’t have been reported on the news, or that other people shouldn’t have their own opinions and have the right to voice them (unlike you, as you made clear in whiny Comment #13). That’s what happens, see, when someone does something like this. It’s not a “family matter.” It is a societal matter, and we are part of society.
Perhaps you just aren’t thinking straight because you’re upset. Time will tell if your reasoning problem is circumstantial or longstanding.
23
Lizard
Jul 2, 2008 at 12:17 pm -You’re joking, right? If I were shot in the head, I probably would be dead, and I wouldn’t care. Even if I were dead and DID care, I sure as hell would hope people would be talking about the asshat that shot me.
You’re going to be very busy if you think it’s your job to patrol the Internet and ensure that people aren’t “talking” about Couty and Christa. Every single thing I wrote about–it’s somewhere else on the Internet. You conveniently fail to mention what I did not include. Names, occupations, and locations of family members are out there, but including them is disrespectful in my eyes, so ambulance chasers will need to go elsewhere to get those.
24
sugarglider
Jul 2, 2008 at 12:19 pm -1) If I got shot in the head, what I would want is…NOT TO HAVE GOTTEN SHOT IN THE HEAD.
2) If my daughter was killed, what I would want is JUSTICE. And, frankly, as far as the internet goes, yes, I would be thrilled. I would want EVERYONE AVAILABLE TO REVILE THE MAN WHO DID IT.
25
sugarglider
Jul 2, 2008 at 12:23 pm -1) If you want to use the word “to” as a synonym for “also,” you need to add another “o” to “to.”
2)Personally, as I already said, yeah, I WOULD want them to “talk about it behind my back” (a phrase I haven’t used since I was 12, albeit for much more trivial matters).
3) The word you want is “uncomprehending,” not “incomprehensive.”
4) You’re the one who opened the IQ can of worms by accusing Lizard of being 15 years old.
26
solange822001
Jul 2, 2008 at 12:25 pm -Hahahah, what a moron. He just killed his wife and unborn BABY, and they would be upset by a well-written honest article? Listen to yourself you fucking idiot, please, listen to yourself!
27
Athena
Jul 2, 2008 at 12:25 pm -Actually, if I were to be murdered, I would want everyone and anyone who heard the story to spread the word - to let the world know that my murderer was a selfish, evil, worthless human being who cared so little about human life that he took one so callously. I’d want everyone to know that he was a spineless coward of an individual, who couldn’t even bring himself to look me in the eye when he snuffed my life out.
If Christa’s family members take issue with what we do here, they’re free to let us know. But how arrogant of you to presume to speak for them! Does the Bible not address hubris? If it does not, it is as flawed as those who speak in its name.
28
sugarglider
Jul 2, 2008 at 12:26 pm -Just to make clear, I certainly didn’t attack “the christian faith.” Just for the record, there is not “the” christian faith, anyway. There are many versions. Just ask the FDLS. They’re Christians. Bigamists, sexual abusers of children, but, yes, Christians. Heck, just ask Couty. Maybe he can explain his version of what it means to be a Christian. I don’t think I’ll be interested in that particular version!
29
sugarglider
Jul 2, 2008 at 12:35 pm -p.s. to Lizard: excellently written article, by the way. Great narrative development. Even if you are a sonuvabitchin potty-mouth
30
Lizard
Jul 2, 2008 at 12:37 pm -Hey, thanks, Sugar! I really fucking mean it!
31
thepooh5
Jul 2, 2008 at 12:39 pm -Just to make clear, I didn’t accuse you of attacking the Christian faith. That comment was for Erik_Willie_10. I did not want Erik to take my post out of context and reply to it thinking, that I was somehow attacking the faith.
I wanted Erik to know that it was not about religion but his friend specifically. I did not want his answer swayed by missing the point when I said, “I thought he was supposed to be a good, christian guy”. I wanted to know why he/she thought we wouldn’t have the guts to say anything to his face. (Is he some sort of bad ass that no one crosses?) I wanted to know why it would be completely out of character for his wife to even argue with him. (Is he abusive?)
32
thepooh5
Jul 2, 2008 at 12:41 pm -I agree. Good job Lizard.
33
sugarglider
Jul 2, 2008 at 12:44 pm -34
jenjen0135
Jul 2, 2008 at 12:55 pm -I don’t think it looks like a 15 yo wrote it. Not choppy enough and surely not enough gang-banger-baby-mama speak in it.
It is a fairly decent piece of literary genius that transitions nicely from choirboy to murderous asshat–all in one page.
Nice job Lizard!
35
Lizard
Jul 2, 2008 at 1:00 pm -Dammit! I’m stuck being old.
Thank you, Pooh and JenJen. It’s one of those stories that after I heard about it, it kept itching…why why why? There’s still some piece we haven’t heard about yet. Maybe he was having an affair or fell for a co-worker. Maybe he has a mental disorder/illness that just manifested. Maybe some combination of many scenarios.
36
jenjen0135
Jul 2, 2008 at 1:09 pm -I am SURE there is more to the story that we aren’t hearing. YET.
I can’t wait to hear how this one plays out. So sad that a pretty, young mom-to-be and baby had to be the lives wasted here.
37
sugarglider
Jul 2, 2008 at 1:16 pm -Yes. I especially liked the imaginative rhetorical bits, the digressions wherein he shows up as your EMT.
This computer I’m on today is slow… Share some gems from his myspace?
38
sugarglider
Jul 2, 2008 at 1:21 pm -It could be anything. Perhaps she caught him buggering the neighbor’s pet llama. Could that be it, ErikWillie10?
Sorry. That was unkind. But you did come in here lashing at everyone, and now we’re waiting tirelessly for you to enlighten us as to the details, and, you know, set us straight. DO you have anything that would clarify things in our understanding of Christa’s senseless murder. I assumed you did, since you began by accusing Lizard of writing about thinks s/he knew naught of.
39
Lizard
Jul 2, 2008 at 1:27 pm -There were three for me. One was that under “General Interests,” first on his list is “Guns” (followed by hunting, fishing, and pretty girls). One female commenter put up a photo of a margarita and added “make me take my clothes off!” Another female commenter wrote “Glad you are back in the ’saddle’, just wondering who’s saddle it is?…hehe.” Other than that…well, this is just my impression. His MySpace feels “stiff” and “flat” to me, like he’s trying really hard to come across as a certain kind of person or as someone different from who he actually is.
40
jenjen0135
Jul 2, 2008 at 1:39 pm -I wonder if there is another one somewhere- not under his “given” name/ email…
41
sugarglider
Jul 2, 2008 at 1:41 pm -That all doesn’t jibe very well his supposed godfearingness. His interests are guns and pretty girls? Not his wife? Not christ? Perhaps he had a double life. Thanks for sharing, Lizard.
42
solange822001
Jul 2, 2008 at 1:54 pm -“Murdered woman’s father forgives her accused killer”
http://www.wafb.com/Global/story.asp?S=8587883
Why would he forgive him? I’d want him dead. But I can’t judge this poor man, whatever gives him peace….
43
sugarglider
Jul 2, 2008 at 2:05 pm -The question is, what does he mean by forgive? Forgiving–in order to really be forgiveness–would be to let Couty’s life just proceed as usual. That’s what “forgive” means. No jail, no punishment, not even a dirty look now and then. When you “forgive a debt,” that means the debt goes away. If that’s what her father means, I’d have to say that seems–sorry–very wrongheaded. I doubt that’s what he means, though, and of course I wish him peace. But he hasn’t actually “forgiven” him unless that *is* what he means.
Myself? Regardless, I don’t forgive him.
44
anneinchicago
Jul 2, 2008 at 2:08 pm -http://www.chosic.net/couty-alexander/
Interesting comments here including one from Angry Uncle. He seems to be Christa’s Uncle and is certainly a lot less forgiving than her father.
And this is a link, to of all things, the Fighting Fundamental Forums where those who knw both families are talking…
http://www.fundamentalforums.c.....mp;t=52107
45
sugarglider
Jul 2, 2008 at 2:11 pm -Quote from the article Solange linked to, which answers the question I just posed as to what he means by forgiveness:
***Baker says although he wants to see justice served, he’s already forgiven his daughter’s accused killer. “Like I said earlier, we’ve forgiven him. Even before we knew who it was, we forgave him.” Baker says one thing that gives him comfort is knowing Christa is now in a better place. “Well, she’s with the Lord. She’s in heaven. She’s in a better place.”***
I am sorry to say this about a man who is grieving, but he’s being a hypocrite. I don’t condemn him for it, considering the situation, but it’s still a fact. You can’t want “justice” AND get credit for “forgiving.” Forgive a debt, the debt GOES AWAY. That’s forgiveness. So, what I read this as is: “I want credit for having forgiven, because i believe it is the christian thing to do. But I don’t want anyone else to forgive him, because, in fact, I want him to be punished for what he did.” Sigh.
46
jenjen0135
Jul 2, 2008 at 2:31 pm -These are Christians. In their heart, and as they read the bible, God has ordered them to forgive.
That said, to want justice is a tricky way of saying that they can say and believe that they have “forgiven”, but that the law of the land will hold him responsible and that it is out of the family’s hands at this point.
47
solange822001
Jul 2, 2008 at 2:37 pm -I just LOVE reading things like this (quoted from the fundamentalforums linked above by Anneinchicaco):
“One only has to look at the story of David to know that even ones who at one time were VERY CLOSE to the heart of God can commit murder.
Instead of speculating about Couty’s salvation or lack thereof, why not pray for him? Yes, he made a mistake. A terrible, horrible, tragic mistake. I bet he knows that. I bet he is wondering if God can forgive him. I bet he needs to know that even after taking the life of his wife and child, God’s arms are still open to him.”
Sorry, I doubt this guy is worrying about whether God will forgive him. I would think God is the last thing on his mind. I also love when people refer to cold-blooded murder as a “mistake”. A mistake is typing “here” instead of “hear”, or leaving the toilet seat up. Killing a woman and her unborn child is much more than a mistake. I guess this is the difference between someone who posts in a forum with the name “demon” in it, and someone who posts in the fundamentalforums lol
48
Athena
Jul 2, 2008 at 2:42 pm -I am sorry to say this about a man who is grieving, but he’s being a hypocrite. I don’t condemn him for it, considering the situation, but it’s still a fact. You can’t want “justice” AND get credit for “forgiving.” Forgive a debt, the debt GOES AWAY. That’s forgiveness. So, what I read this as is: “I want credit for having forgiven, because i believe it is the christian thing to do. But I don’t want anyone else to forgive him, because, in fact, I want him to be punished for what he did.” Sigh.
A fine point, Sugar. Obviously, this man lost a daughter and his thoughts, feeling and to an extent, actions, are totally excusable. I feel deeply for the man and applaud his attempt at providing an example to people.
That being said, religion makes people act funny. It’s very kind of you ladies to clarify that you’re not attacking Christianity; I’m happy to point out the inherent contradiction and ill-logic organized religion requires. If my observations are to be considered an attack, so be it. Sadly, Christians have made a mockery of the spirit of forgiveness. They’ve turned it into shallow posturing so that they’ve covered their bases in the event He is watching. It’s actually quite cheap. True forgiveness in this case requires the utmost faith that the murderer will be judged and punished accordingly by God. So, no artificial punishment required, right?
On a separate note - I absolutely HATE the term “God-fearing”, because of it’s connotation that suggests “good”. A child who is kept in line solely out of fear of consequence qualifies as obediant, but certainly not morally righteous. This is no different for the devout. If a fear of God’s wrath is the only thing keeping you from doing bad things, you’re still a bad person.
49