Shaped from childhood, when does free will come in

[Mel_Stones]

It is impossible not to be shaped by others.

But is it possible to be shaped from infancy? In other words, can what we are exposed to in the first years of our lives have affect on us for life?
Does God infringe upon the free-will of others in order to save a child from suffering? The answer is obviously no, but does God give a guiding light to all that must be consciously ignored at the age of reason? Or can our conscious be ignored before the age of reason?
An example of shaping the young which brings up the question of who responsibility lies with: Hitler Youth. Were these young people responsible for their actions? Why or why not?
This is an extreme example so for the other end of the spectrum: a child’s parents always flip-off a church when they walk by so the child also does. Is the child responsible? Why or why not?

 

[tobias]

Sure children are conditioned in the formative years, but it is just conditioning and not a fixing of the will. Responsibility lies in the knowledge of and capacity to do otherwise.

 

[Carlan]

Sure children are conditioned in the formative years, but it is just conditioning and not a fixing of the will. Responsibility lies in the knowledge of and capacity to do otherwise.

yes, I believe parents are responsible for the formative years, however, Natural law kicks in at an early age,what is it seven years? Natural law comes from God, it is given to us by God.Carlan:thumbsup:

 

[tonyrey]

Does God infringe upon the free-will of others in order to save a child from suffering? The answer is obviously no, but does God give a guiding light to all that must be consciously ignored at the age of reason?

The answer is obviously no, but as pain is subjective we can be sure God intervenes to prevent a child from extreme suffering. The external signs of suffering are there but only God knows to what extent anyone really suffers.

Free will is the power to choose but it is limited by a person’s knowledge and understanding. So a child cannot normally be responsible to the same extent as an adult. But again only God knows to what extent He inspires a person to distinguish between good and evil. Child saints are evidence of His grace in this respect.