Is there a moral basis for the concept of blame

[mrgold]

All people are the product of their starting materials and the experiences that mold them. Even if you believe in some kind of immortal soul, I don't see how someone can control the kind of soul they are given. Therefore is there a legitimate basis for saying someone is at fault in a strictly moral sense? Or is blame merely a socially useful concept? In that context does it make any sense to say someone deserves to die, or forfeits their right to life if they kill another person?