This is a question my husband and I discussed, please give me your thoughts!?

Question

Is a child responsible for his/her sins after she has conciousness of what is good and what is bad or after puberty?

Answer 1

The Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) said:

“The pen is lifted from three [persons who will not be taken to account]: the insane whose rationality has been overcome until he recovers, the sleeper until he wakes, and the children until they attain puberty”. (Ahmad and Abu Dawud)

Answer 2

As soon as a child becomes aware of what things are good and bad they begin to take on the responsiblity of those actions, so if a child commits a sin once they are old enough and understand whats good and bad they are responsible for that. Even things they were unaware was good or bad they are responsible for later but because they dont know exactly what was good or bad the sin is still there but held in less of a regard. By the time a child reaches puberty they should know what good and bad is and will be responsible for their sins. Until then it falls on the shoulders of the parents.

Answer 3

yes. Most people don't remember much before the age of 4. After that, seven is usually accepted by the church as the age by which children know right from wrong. They know what lying is. They know what destructive behaviour is. They know about anger and being selfish. If they don't, their parents have to spend more time with them. If they are simple, they cannot be responsible. A child should help its mother with picking up by the time he/she is 3. They should know that there is a time to play, and a time to pick up. By the time they are five, they should know how to make the bed on their own. By the time they are 12, they should be able to sweep the kitchen floor like an expert.

I memorized the creed in grade 3 (when I was 8). A child who knows the creed knows right from wrong.

A parent, however, is not to overburden a child so that the child is caused to sin.

The parent can no longer be blamed for any problems arising from sin that the child may have after 18, or after they leave home. People mature at different rates. You can't blame your parents for your stuff after 25 at the latest. There is something incredibly wrong with a person who keeps blaming their parents after that. For instance, in cases of physical and sexual abuse where there is no justice. A person will thirst for justice for a very very long time.

Answer 4

From a religious stand point yes, everyone is and they ask for forgiveness even for the original sin which in my opinion is ridiculous. Since when is being born a sin.

In reality, it would depend on how you define sin, if your defining it as doing something wrong when you know it's wrong then yes they are responsible and should be told that they were wrong and punished so they don't do it again.

Otherwise no they aren't responsible as they are only children and still need to be taught what is right and wrong.

Answer 5

I believe that we reach an age of accountability.

That said.... I'm not sure that the "age" is the same for everyone. But there is clearly a moment in all of our lives when we crossover from innocent to where we are aware of the choice to do good things or bad.

It's at that point, that you are responsible for your sins and should be aware that there are consequences for those sins.

And hopefully, it's at that "age" we discover that we are truly powerless to BE without sin, until we fall on the grace of the Saviour who died for our sins.

Answer 6

NO, because by that age hopefully they will have seen through the veil of bullshit and realise that the IS no such thing as sin and that the religion that has been forced on them against their will is the biggest lie ever told. What do you think gives you the right to choose your child's beliefs for him/her? Spiritual enlightenment is a personal matter that we each must discover and choose for ourselves without any outside influence.

Answer 7

Excellent question! that is a thinker..i would say yes because if they know whats good and whats bad then they are responsible especially if they are old enough to know and hopefully they will not repeat it again. And really children are not born perfect cause two imperfect people cannot create a perfect child..they just have to learn what to do and what not to do as they get older.

Answer 8

A child becomes responsible for his sins after the age of reason, which is generally considered to be around seven.

Answer 9

This deals with infant baptism and follow up. Children are not held to any serious account, but initiation of maturity occurs with Confirmation at 12 for Catholics and 13 for Jews in Bar Mitzvah.

So, don't worry about hell and damnation. God smarter than that.

Answer 10

A child is always responsible for his or her sins. Its just once a child is aware of the sins he or she is doing , then it becomes a greater sin. Remember the person who does and action is responsible for it. Its the degree of how he/she is responsible for the action that varies.

Answer 11

It isn't something that happens at a specific point in time. A child gradually grows in responsibility for personal behavior as he/she grows in knowledge, awareness, understanding and maturity.