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The '''age of accountability''' is a teaching within [[Christian]] theology, which states that [[child]]ren who die before they reach the point in their mental development to where they can understand right from wrong (and as a result cannot make a [[faith]] decision with full understanding), are not held accountable by God for their own [[sin]]s, and thus go to Heaven after death.

The '''age of accountability''' is a teaching within [[Christian]] theology, which states that [[child]]ren who die before they reach the point in their mental development to where they can understand right from wrong (and as a result cannot make a [[faith]] decision with full understanding), are not held accountable by God for their own [[sin]]s, and thus go to Heaven after death.

The concept is not directly supported in the [[Bible]], though King David's statement in II Samuel 12:23 about his son who died (the one conceived through his adulterous relationship with Bathsheba) is often used as a supporting text.<ref>"But now he is dead. Why should I fast?  Can I bring him back again?  I shall go to him, but he will not return to me."</ref>  Also, there is no set age among those who hold to the teaching; generally it depends on both the age and mental development of the person.<ref>It is therefore possible, that a person born with severe mental retardation may '''''never''''' reach that age, even in adulthood.</ref>

The concept is not directly supported in the [[Bible]], though King David's statement in II Samuel 12:23 about his son who died (the one conceived through his adulterous relationship with Bathsheba) is often used as a supporting text.<ref>"But now he is dead. Why should I fast?  Can I bring him back again?  I shall go to him, but he will not return to me."</ref>  Also, there is no set age among those who hold to the teaching; generally it depends on both the age and mental development of the person.<ref>It is therefore possible, that a person born with severe mental retardation may '''''never''''' reach that age, even in adulthood.</ref> Though, some have argued that it is no older than 13 (the age at which a boy becomes an adult in Jewish culture) or possibly 20 (the age above which the Jews in the wilderness, excluding Joshua and Caleb, would die there for their rebellion against Moses)

The teaching is generally held within Christianity; however, there is a minority position which denies the teaching.<ref>[https://gentlereformation.com/2017/05/22/the-age-of-accountability/ The Age of Accountability? - Gentle Reformation]</ref>

The teaching is generally held within Christianity; however, there is a minority position which denies the teaching.<ref>[https://gentlereformation.com/2017/05/22/the-age-of-accountability/ The Age of Accountability? - Gentle Reformation]</ref>