Theists: at one age is a child accountable for his sins? Atheists: who is our youngest Atheist here?

Question

Theists:

Say a tragedy occurs, and a child dies at an early age. Is he accountable for his sins? At what age is the cut off point?

Athiests:

Who is the younget Atheist here and how did you come to your understanding?

Answer 1

For theists - it really depends on which particular religion they hold. In Judaism, a child becomes accountable at age 13. For Christians, there is no set age, but the "age of accountability" is generally recognized as when an individual child is able to determine right from wrong AND why things are right or wrong AND is able to consider himself/herself a sinner. I have no idea about Islam or Hindu or other religions.

Answer 2

In mainline Christianity there is no true set age of accountability. It is believed that most Christians will be held accountable for their sins when they are old enough to know the difference between right and wrong. By this theory a 5 yr old will be accountable for his actions, even if he truly doesn't understand or comprehend what he is done. Children are taught to follow the teachings of Christ, but many do not comprehend what will happen if they sin and not repent. In the LDS church it is taught through revelation that the age of accountability and when a child can make the decision to be baptized is 8 years of age. This is something that even before I became LDS I felt strongly that this was the age. I remember this was the age that I felt compelled to repent for my sins and wanted to follow the teachings of Christ.

Answer 3

I think a child is accountable for their actions at the earliest age they have free will.

I suppose the "cut off point" would be the young age where the child cannot choose or act to feed themselves or whatever.

This sounds like a religious question. So in a Christian context, the child is accountable for Christian sins when they are cognitive enough to know the difference between right & wrong.

Answer 4

A child that die at an early age is not accountable , for a young child is innocent.Doesn't know what is good or evil and has not yet developed conscience.
When a child has started to develop conscience or know how to reason and accumulated knowledge of good or evil....that's the point.



And the youngest atheist here did not come to his understanding....For the knowledge of God is not in him...The fear of the Lord Almighty is the beginning of understanding. Wisdom is of the Lord and wickedness is of the devil...give to the devil his due.

Answer 5

the bible states that one is accountable when he not only knows the difference between right and wrong, but COMPREHENDS the understanding. God isn't going to forbid a 2 year old child from entering heaven. Another example is people in a third-world country, such as Ethiopia. some people die without ever learning of a religion, specifically because of a lack of missionaries. So if an Ethiopian man was 80 years old, but had never heard of a religion, he wouldn't be penalized when he died.

Answer 6

I don't know where my mother got it from, maybe the Bible and Jesus when He appeared at the Temple, but she always said a child is not responsible for their sins until they are 12. She would not allow me to be baptized until I was 12. I, however, do not think that anybody under the age of 21 should be responsible for their sins. They still think like children, so why should they be held accountable for anything. At least that seems to be true of most of them. There are exceptions!

Answer 7

One who is in this world is not by his/her demands/wishes. It is as per Gods Almightys wishes. One cannot breath, if He has not decided to let one do so. What are we getting by just talking (+), (-). One who boasts the most is the stupidius one. Yes if one seeks for knowledge, the Almighty lets him/her to do so, but accordingly, the amount varies to ones credits. Now what is the credit. Yes this is the ultimate, and this is the reason we, although unknown, are in touch. There are many means which only He can creat and only the one who has to understand will capture the others will just ignore. As this is His will. Credit is, what good or bad we are doing or are into. But the wonderful part is, the act which we go through unknowingly, is not at all considered. This is the only grace we have. This is also not a small thing. Just slap a person unknowingly. Can you? But there are things which happen and we repent, our consicious tells us we were wrong, although much later, but this is credited. So the world of Almighty is ruled only by HIM and is goverened only by HIM. And only by HIS grace we are here, not to rejoice but for our final journey. Pass this and one is free for ever.

Answer 8

A child has no accountability until they come to the age of accountability -usually 12-13- I say usually because if a child is not capable of being taught - due to mental limitation like poor brain development- the accountability falls to the care provider as the moral compass.

Ref: John 12:48 - He who puts me on one side and does not take my words to heart, is not without a judge: the word which I have said will be his judge on the last day.

Jerimiah 2:9 - Wherefore I will yet plead with you, saith the LORD, and with your children's children will I plead.

Answer 9

I'm 26, so I doubt I'm the youngest atheist; but I've considered myself an atheist since I was 14. I was raised Catholic but born gay, and when puberty gave me a moral sense, I rebelled against the Church that considers me an "abomination unto God," rather than internalizing that ignorance and spending the rest of my life hating myself and trying to change who I fundamentally am as a human being, as many people do.

Answer 10

The age of accountability begins when you can tell the difference between right and wrong. Whether you believe in a higher power, or just a personal sense of accountability.