Law, Order, and Total Depravity

So I'm watching Law and Order (I'm sure you're all surprised), and was reminded of one of my favorite themes of the show. The episode revolves around a butcher, who's forced to take shortcuts by the large corporation he supplies his meat to. As a result of these shortcuts, five children die. Later, some kid journalist is snooping around, taking pictures, and the butcher confronts him to get the film. The kid won't give it to him, and so the butcher kills him.

What gets me is the comment of the butcher when he finally confesses to McCoy. "I never thought I could do something like that." And this is a common theme in L&O, repeated in one form or another quite often. Someone who doesn't think themself to be capable of some evil, or someone who would appear to be incapable of doing evil (they're such a nice person), does something absolutely horrible.

It's a nice way, I think, to drive home the kernel of truth behind that Calvinist doctrine of total depravity. Whatever veneer of respectability, 'niceness', or other facade we present to others and/or ourselves, there's a depraved, self-centered person there beneath, some sort of 'old man'. We can certainly fool others, and usually fool ourselves, but he's lurking there all the same. So why should we be surprised if we find ourselves, or others who seem to be 'nice people' capable of all sorts of horrendous evil.