"I really likedyour reply. It does answer some of my questions. But there still remains the problem I have with his reason for killing. He has no real choice in the matter. He was given this problem that he has to deal with. His desire to kill. He wrestles with this problem and he was never given the oprtunity to say he did not want this desire. It was dumped upon him.
So if we use that old saying: If life gives you lemons - Make Lemon Aid. As i see it he was given his lemons as his psychopathy, and he has made the lemon aid by killing only the people that need to be killed.
I do agree the first thing to get into heaven is to believe in God. I was taught that if you truely repented your sind you would be forgiven. This is where I had my problem with religeon is that I can go my whole life living God like, Not having anything because I was doing As Christ did. But some idiot business man that lied and cheated and lived with all of the money and things that money buy. One that did not live Christ like could at the last minute all of the sudden believe in God and be forgiven of his sin, and accepted into heaven just like one who lived a poor life and lived as close to Christ like as possible. So I think Dexter has a shot at it. If he believes in God.
I too am not preaching, but it issomething I had on my mind for awhile."

"Is Dexter then to be thought of as one of the avenging angels...? I've actually given this topic some thought, as well..."

"Well if we're talking about the Christian God here, then the answer would definitely be Dexter's going to Hell. "Thou Shalt Not Kill" means "Thou Shalt Not Kill". It shouldn't matter why he does it, all the matters is that he does it and he's not suppose to. Another reason Dexter would go to hell is because he doesn't believe in God, and I think thats the most important rule for getting into Heaven.

And I don't think Dexter kills these people because he feels they need punishing. He kills because its the way he was taught, and he's afraid to step outside the lines for fear he gets caught. And I believe motivations are more important than actions when concerning heaven. I mean, if somebody was trying to blow up a bus full of small children, and somehow accidentally saved somebody's life, and then he died, I think he'd still go to hell because he intended to kill the children, and although he wasn't successful and saved a life in turn, he'd still be a bastard in God's eyes. Conversely, if somebody was honestly trying to save a bus full of children from dying, and accidentally killed them instead, I think God would forgive them and let them in heaven. It was an honest accident and they meant the best, and are probably terribly sorry.

So I think if Dexter did get to heaven, he'd still go to hell because he killed to satisfy a blood lust he had, not because he felt the people deserved to die.

But I'm not preaching. I don't believe in any of that stuff myself anyway. I'm on Dexter's side about this one. No need to sweat the afterlife."

"Bottom line is Dexter is usurping God's authority by Dexter deciding whom should die for thier crimes.

But, if it is humor you want-

St Peter would ask one question that Dex must answer to be able to get in through the pearly gates. He might ask..

Where do all the female reindeer go while Santa and the male reindeer are out delivering presents?

Of course the only answer that is correct is...

They go into town and blow a few bucks!"

"Well, first, the commandment is "thou shalt not murder" not "thou shalt not kill."
However, this does not save Dexter. He murders... even though he murders murderers. If he only killed murderers (did not gain a benefit), then, he actually would not be in danger of that commandment. Kinda like it is okay for a soldier to kill in defense of a nation; the soldier derives nothing but protecting his family and community (or, an executioner who kills a murder in the matter of completing his duties).

I would like to point out, though, that the Ten Commandments actually do not exactly apply to St. Peter. Jesus himself reduced the commandments to two:
1. Love God.
2. Love everyone like yourself.

Thus, and here's where Rita may be the start of Dexter's salvation (or, really, Deb's the gateway person, Rita the mode): does Dexter love mankind? Can he? If so, all he really is short, is reconciliation with God after realizing his love for humanity. Protecting Rita from Paul was a first step; protecting Aster is a second, and, finally, the possibility of fatherhood is a third.
This does not mean he has to stop killing; after all, he's already mastered the compulsion. THAT happened in the second season."