Why would God do this?

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aball1035

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I’m wondering why God allows children to be born with seemingly no means of getting to Heaven. Consider a young boy from a war-torn African village who’s told to kill with AK-47s at a very young age. Why does God let this happen? It seems like from birth they don’t even have a chance.

Any thoughts?
 
Granted that a God exists, I personally don’t think it’s his fault. It’s all about responsibility; living and learning in this cruel world we set ourselves up for. 😦

Ironically Yours, Blade and Blood
 
I am not sure they don’t have a chance. We are all encouraged to sin by our societies. They can refuse to kill and go to church instead. They decide not to.
 
It’s like in the movie Joan of Arc, when young Joan (age ten) is speaking with her parish priest:

Joan: Why does God make the French suffer?

Priest: We suffer at the hands of man, not God.

My point: life is always a blessing. Yes, there is evil in the world, but life is always a blessing and we must stand for its dignity.

Also, I don’t believe these children could be held culpable. That is one of the many problems of human trafficking: these children are slaves and forced to do stuff against their will. The people telling them to do this would be responsible.
 
It’s imporant to note that the Church acknowledges the possibility of “invincible ignorance” that can prevent one from learning and accepting the truth. I would think that a child born in a region and to parents that are for whatever reason hostile or ignorant of the ins and outs of Catholicism, who then ends up orphaned and conscripted into some warlord’s child army and brainwashed into killing on command – all before he’s even ten years old – would certainly qualify as one who is invincibly ignorant.

Such ignorance mitigates one’s culpability, and the childhood brainwashing or even the lack of parenting exacerbates the problem. Thus, it’s entirely possible that such a child could nonetheless be saved due to the fact that his sins may not be mortal given his lack of conscious knowledge.

Simply knowing there is a Catholic Church is not always enough to overcome one’s upbringing and cultural identity, particuarly if one is also brainwashed at an early age, as such children tend to be.

Peace,
Dante
 
NewYorker said:
I am not sure they don’t have a chance. We are all encouraged to sin by our societies. They can refuse to kill and go to church instead. They decide not to.
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OK, so you think a young child, orphaned and alone, approached by strangers with guns and ordered to take one and kill, has a free choice?

Most of these kids are very young and slaves. If they don’t do it, they will die. They’re not an adult making a decision to die for refusing to do evil. They’re children bullied and intimidated by adults who should have taken care of them but chose not to.
 
sanctamaria17 said:
OK, so you think a young child, orphaned and alone, approached by strangers with guns and ordered to take one and kill, has a free choice?

Most of these kids are very young and slaves. If they don’t do it, they will die. They’re not an adult making a decision to die for refusing to do evil. They’re children bullied and intimidated by adults who should have taken care of them but chose not to.
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Even if such a child DOES have a free choice to sin, then they necessarily have the equally free choice to repent of that sin prior to death, seek the sacraments if required (they aren’t always), and so be saved.

God gives everyone ample chance of salvation, and probably greater chances than we deserve.
 
Well now you’re just adding to the story. You’ve added “young” child. You added the fact that they are orphaned and alone. Added that strangers are making them do it.

You’re also assuming that they are bullied and intimidated. Perhaps they like it. Enjoy the wealth, the power, and the association it brings with others.

.
 
God doesn’t do this.
People do it to them.

This is what Jesus said of those who corrupt children: “Anyone who welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes Me. But anyone who is an obstacle to bring down one of these little ones who have faith in me would be better drowned in the depths of the sea with a great millstone around his neck.” [Matthew 18:5-7]
 
aball1035 said:
I’m wondering why God allows children to be born with seemingly no means of getting to Heaven. Consider a young boy from a war-torn African village who’s told to kill with AK-47s at a very young age. Why does God let this happen? It seems like from birth they don’t even have a chance.

Any thoughts?
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It’s against their will to become killers, often times. God’s mercy is endless…and His compassion inexhaustible. We have no idea if these boys will go to heaven…only God does. Hope that helps. :o
 
This is one of those situations where I think it’s important to remember the commandment to not judge, lest we be judged. We cannot EVER judge the state of ANYONE’S soul, not even those who seem to have no hope of salvation, from our standpoint. God is merciful and perfectly wise. He alone knows everything that happened to that person, what they are thinking, and their strengths and weaknesses. He knows if they are culpable or not, and will judge accordingly. All we can do is pray for everyone’s soul, not just those who seem to be lost, because we cannot judge one way or the other.

And don’t forget, God doesn’t control human actions, so He does NOT will evil to exist on Earth, but to have free will, TRUE free will, we must be able to choose to turn away from God, and some do. Just remember that our life on this Earth is temporary, and we are destined for something much greater, and much happier, after death. 👍
 
aball1035 said:
I’m wondering why God allows children to be born with seemingly no means of getting to Heaven. Consider a young boy from a war-torn African village who’s told to kill with AK-47s at a very young age. Why does God let this happen? It seems like from birth they don’t even have a chance.

Any thoughts?
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As I understand it, God provides sufficient grace for everyone to get to heaven. I heard Fr. Corapi say something similar to that, and matches with my understanding of a good, compassionate and merciful God. God’s justice is perfect–and His mercy is perfect. Do not suppose you understand how God will judge such souls who have been given what appears to us to be very little chance at heaven.

Remember Jesus said, “To whom much is given, much will be required.” It makes sense to me that the opposite may be true and that to whom little is given, little will be required.
 
gardenswithkids said:
As I understand it, God provides sufficient grace for everyone to get to heaven. I heard Fr. Corapi say something similar to that, and matches with my understanding of a good, compassionate and merciful God. God’s justice is perfect–and His mercy is perfect. Do not suppose you understand how God will judge such souls who have been given what appears to us to be very little chance at heaven.

Remember Jesus said, “To whom much is given, much will be required.” It makes sense to me that the opposite may be true and that to whom little is given, little will be required.
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That’s a beautiful post, gardens. :o
 
Hardcore Agnostic, that’s hilarious!

I guess that’s like being a hardcore “I’m not sure”?

A child or a person who knows no better would not be condemned, only those smart enough to figure it out but who chose to doubt!

Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, Ora Por Nobis Peccatoribus!

Mark
 
The very LAST thing that Jesus did, before he ascended into Heaven was to task his Church with taking care of this!

Mark, Chapter 16

**"**15 And he said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. "

We are not commanded to sit on our bottoms and let that child never hear of Christ. We are to go ourselves or to support those who go in our place to preach the good news to that child, and every other man, woman and child on this earth.
 
NewYorker said:
Well now you’re just adding to the story. You’ve added “young” child. You added the fact that they are orphaned and alone. Added that strangers are making them do it.

You’re also assuming that they are bullied and intimidated. Perhaps they like it. Enjoy the wealth, the power, and the association it brings with others.

.
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No, I’m just going with the research I’ve done, which is the case for most of these children. Research from organizations like International Justice Missions and the like. For most of these kids, they ARE young (hmmm, why do you think she said, “child”?) and they are bullied and intimidated.

Free choice does not involve coercion, people, even the Church acknowledges that, and she did say “child” and she did say that they were handed guns and told to do it. I just added what happens to be a case for a good number of these children.
 
I said you added stuff.

You said,

“No, I’m just going with the research I’ve done, which is the case for most of these children.”

Then you said,

"I just added what happens to be a case for a good number of these children. "
 
I added facts, though, not assumptions. From actual research not, “Maybe they just like power.” Most of these kids are either orphaned or sold into slavery. That is FACT! If they come to like power as older adults, that’s one thing. But to assume their choice is free, when even the OP added an element of coercion, is very naive.
 
It was a hypothetical situation.

You added stuff to it to make the individuals more sympathetic.
 
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