Age of Accountability

[1Prophetess]

Do all babies go to heaven or "a better place"? Is every "religion" the same (excepting those who do not believe in heaven or a better place) that all babies go to heaven?

Could it be that some babies, because of their parents choices, go to a hell? Or if there is a heaven and hell, do all babies go to heaven?

I want to clarify that I do not want this to be a debate about "Is There a Heaven and/or Hell?" but rather, where do babies and small children go when they die before they reach accountability?

And what is the age of accountability?

 

[ivebeenshown]

There is no 'age of accountability'. One person may be fully culpable for their choices at the age of 13 while another may be inculpable at 36 due to mental disability or psychological distress.

 

[squint]

Do all babies go to heaven or "a better place"? Is every "religion" the same (excepting those who do not believe in heaven or a better place) that all babies go to heaven?

Could it be that some babies, because of their parents choices, go to a hell? Or if there is a heaven and hell, do all babies go to heaven?

I want to clarify that I do not want this to be a debate about "Is There a Heaven and/or Hell?" but rather, where do babies and small children go when they die before they reach accountability?

And what is the age of accountability?

I seriously can't see any benefit to our own hearts whatsoever in even thinking a baby or a child can go to the Lake of Fire. That entire mindset is somewhat abhorrent to me internally. More than abhorrent. Why would any believer take that into themselves? I don't get it.

And then there are the extreme cases where some sects teach that children won't go to the Lake of Fire and some parents end up killing them to avoid hell. I don't get that either, but it happens!

Some of these things are simply bizarre.

s

 

[Kristos]

And what is the age of accountability?

30

 

[simonthezealot]

David speaking about his recently dead son in 2nd Samuel 12:23
"Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me."


If there were an age accountability, the example of Jesus heading on his own to the temple to be about His Fathers business at 12 would be a good one.

 

[Albion]

Do all babies go to heaven or "a better place"?

no one can say for certain.

Is every "religion" the same (excepting those who do not believe in heaven or a better place) that all babies go to heaven?

No. A common idea is that the children of believing parents are covered by their faith; but in the case of non-believers, it may be that God has some other plan in mind that is neither heaven nor hell.

Could it be that some babies, because of their parents choices, go to a hell?

No.

And what is the age of accountability?

The traditional answer is seven years of age.

 

[Kristos]

David speaking about his recently dead son in 2nd Samuel 12:23
"Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me."


If there were an age accountability, the example of Jesus heading on his own to the temple to be about His Fathers business at 12 would be a good one.

Based on scripture, he remained obedient until 30. If one is completely obedient, then who is accountable?

 

[Ishraqiyun]

I would think that every action produces a reaction regardless of the age of the person in question. Being of a certain age doesn't really protect you from that. There may be less of a sense of attachment to an action with a child though that could lessen it's full punch so to speak but it wouldn't stop the inevitable karmic boomerang effect completely.

I have a question about this issue myself too it seems pretty much on topic so I'll ask it. Does the idea of "age of accountability" exist also in Christian traditions that reject the idea of free will or is it something specific to free will traditions like say the Methodists?

 

[Kristos]

no one can say for certain.



No. A common idea is that the children of believing parents are covered by their faith; but in the case of non-believers, it may be that God has some other plan in mind that is neither heaven nor hell.



No.



The traditional answer is seven years of age.

Any scriptural basis for that?

It seems like if we rely only on scripture the only answer can be 30.

 

[Arglez]

Any scriptural basis for that?

It seems like if we rely only on scripture the only answer can be 30.

I don't really know or care too much about the age of accountability because I don't see scriptural reason to worry about it. But where's the scriptural answer that says it's 30? Just curious.

 

[Albion]

Any scriptural basis for that?

Nope. It's the guess of some ancient (Aristotle?) that the RCC institutionalized. But the question is simply "When is a child old enough to be able to discern good from evil?"...and 7 seems reasonable enough.

seems like if we rely only on scripture the only answer can be 30.

Well, it depends on what we want "age of accountability" to accomplish. In the Western church, communion is not usually administered to infants, so someone has to decide at what point in their lives they can appreciate the meaning of the sacrament. As you know, 'first communion' is a big thing in the RCC, but there is no parallel in other churches.

 

[Albion]

I have a question about this issue myself too it seems pretty much on topic so I'll ask it. Does the idea of "age of consent" exist also in Christian traditions that reject the idea of free will or is it something specific to free will traditions like say the Methodists?

Age of Consent as in laws regarding rape or marriage? I don't think there's any theological basis to those...and they vary widely from state to state.

 

[Kristos]

Nope. It's the guess of some ancient (Aristotle?) that the RCC institutionalized. But the question is simply "When is a child old enough to be able to discern good from evil?"...and 7 seems reasonable enough.


Well, it depends on what we want "age of accountability" to accomplish. In the Western church, communion is not usually administered to infants, so someone has to decide at what point in their lives they can appreciate the meaning of the sacrament. As you know, 'first communion' is a big thing in the RCC, but there is no parallel in other churches.

So in this case you don't care what scripture has to say, but in every other case it is the only allowable source? That doesn't make mush sense to me. Most adult have trouble discerning good from evil, so how do you expect a 7 year old to do it? Because some pagan philosopher said so. Really? That's your argument?

 

[Standing Up]

Traditionally the age of accountability is 12 or 13. (bar/bat mitzvah)

 

[Kristos]

Traditionally the age of accountability is 12 or 13. (bar/bat mitzvah)

Traditionally? That must hold a lot of weight with you. Why would even bother to repeat such blaspheme?

 

[squint]

Mark 10:14
But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.

There is plenty of space there to not fall into waffling of the unknown or outright condemnation of children. When believers reflect otherwise it is only a showing of their own hearts.

s

 

[Albion]

So in this case you don't care what scripture has to say, but in every other case it is the only allowable source?

Hey, I was just answering the question of the OP, not promoting my own belief. In my church we don't stew over things like an "age of accountability," so it appears to me that anyone who asks this question is coming from a Roman Catholic background or has heard something about it.

Have I rained on your denominational parade now? All set to find fault...and now nothing.

 

[Standing Up]

Do all babies go to heaven or "a better place"? Is every "religion" the same (excepting those who do not believe in heaven or a better place) that all babies go to heaven?

Could it be that some babies, because of their parents choices, go to a hell? Or if there is a heaven and hell, do all babies go to heaven?

I want to clarify that I do not want this to be a debate about "Is There a Heaven and/or Hell?" but rather, where do babies and small children go when they die before they reach accountability?

And what is the age of accountability?

Like many things around here, the answer will depend.

IF the concept of original sin is that we are born dead spiritually having inherited the fall of Adam and it's consequence (before we were even born, we have sinned-see David's psalm), then we get one answer. This answer, however, is now mitigated by the death, burial, resurrection of Christ Jesus and whether the babies parents are believers (holy; if the lump is holy, so the offspring).

IF the concept of original sin is that there is some age of accountability (12 or 13) before which one is not a "sinner", then we get another answer.

My belief is #1. But, and this is very important, I believe Christ is our Passover Lamb AND I also believe God in the reason for the God-given second passover meaning (see Numbers) (there is provision for hearing/receiving the Good News, regardless of your or a babies' day of death).

Hope that helps. God is faithful.

 

[Kristos]

Hey, I was just answering the question of the OP, not promoting my own belief. In my church we don't stew over things like an "age of accountability," so it appears to me that anyone who asks this question is coming from a Roman Catholic background or has heard something about it.

Have I rained on your denominational parade now? All set to find fault...and now nothing.

Okay, then answer the question - not for someone else as you claim to have done before, but for yourself.

I'm not Catholic in case you haven't noticed - never have been.

 

[Albion]

Okay, then answer the question - not for someone else as you claim to have done before, but for yourself.

I'm not Catholic in case you haven't noticed - never have been.

I noticed, but it doesn't matter. When I said that if someone asks about the "age of accountability,..." I was referring to the OP, not to you.

And now about my own view of the "age of accountability." It doesn't enter into anything that we do in our church. We never deal in such speculation. OK now?

But if someone were to ask about the "age of accountability," there is an answer. Rather than speculate all over the place like others have done here, the Roman Catholic Church does use the term and it does govern certain of that church's policies and beliefs.