Reply #2: It gave him a good excuse, for sure.

[onager]

But I think he would have killed them no matter what religion he belonged to. Maybe even without a religion. Or maybe not, since he couldn't play the heaven/forgiveness card in that case.

The program has interviews with the psychiatrist who evaluated List after his capture. List was the stereotypical "nice guy next door." Quiet, an accountant, church-going, etc. etc. The shrink was adamant about one thing - whatever else he might have been, List wasn't insane. Though the List defense team sure tried to prove otherwise.

Back in the 90's, there was a good TV movie made about List: "Judgment Day."

List was played by...uh...Robert Blake...

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107285/