about the tree of knowledge...?

Question

assuming of course that the bible is factual, adam and eve ate from the tree of knowledge of all that is good and evil. before this they knew not what sin was, therefore whatever they did could not be considered sinful. so, how can anyone say that anyone who does not know the difference between right or wrong, good or evil, is a sinner? isn't the lesson of adam and eve that we cannot sin until we know and understand what sin is? certainly, this would explain why we so rarely try children as adults. how can anyone make a claim that a child is evil or sinful before a child and even comprehend what these terms mean? seems pretty evil if you ask me.

last line should read, "... before a child can even comprehend..."

Answer 1

That's a good point.
It also doesn't make any sense that god wouldn't have given them another chance if they were willing to perform some sort of sacrifice. Everyone else gets atonement through blood except for the very first ones....? Doesn't make sense.

Answer 2

There is an age of accountability and accountability to believe in God and accept Jesus. Let's say that the is a person that is born on an island and he is alone. Being alone, he is without formal language, can not read or write.

So, how would this man be accountable for God?

He would look to the sky, the stars, the island around him and sense that there is a higher being that created it all. This man has now achieved salvation.

Now, a boat shows up and a man teaches him to read, write, language. And he is taught the path of salvation through Jesus. If the man accepts, he is saved. If he rejects Jesus, there is now accountability for his actions and he would be damned to Hell.

Since the man lived alone, there would be no sin. Yet, once he hears the gospel of Jesus, and denies it, he has sinned (the sin of rejecting Jesus is the unforgivable sin).

If he accepts Jesus, then he will go to Heaven.

--

The same applies for children. Once a child knowingly sins (lies, cheats, steals), then they are accountable for their sins. Jesus is the only path of redemption.