Quote:
Originally Posted by eweissenbach
So what about my nephew who died of SIDS at three months. He did not believe in Christ, or anything else for that matter. Is he destined to spend eternity in Hades? Or how about the person who was never introduced to Christianity, but lived a wonderfully giving and righteous life, are they destined to an afterlife spent in Hell?
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I have stayed out of this religion discussion, as I think it is much more dangerous than political, and seems to have more contentious statements like this, but on this subject......
infant salvation is an implicit certainty in most if not all religions. While not addressed specifically in any Bible, God praises the inoncence of children many times....speaking of their innocence he says "“for such is the kingdom of heaven.”
For what it might be worth...
"D. Will Babies and Children Who Die Young Go to Heaven?
The eternal fate of infants and children who die young is a common concern. The same concern applies to those who are mentally handicapped. Some Christians are more concerned about those who die without being baptized. Others are more concerned about those who die too young to make their own choice for faith. Unfortunately, the Bible does not say anything about this topic.
The predominant belief among Christians is that God makes provision for salvation for those who, through no fault of their own, die before being baptized or being able to make their own choices about faith.
It used to be a common belief among Catholics that children who died without being baptized would end up in Limbo, an intermediate state between heaven and hell. However, this is the current teaching of the Catholic Church:
1261 As regards children who have died without Baptism, the Church can only entrust them to the mercy of God, as she does in her funeral rites for them. Indeed, the great mercy of God who desires that all men should be saved, and Jesus' tenderness toward children which caused him to say: "Let the children come to me, do not hinder them," allow us to hope that there is a way of salvation for children who have died without Baptism... (from Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second edition.)
http://www.christianbiblereference.o...tion.htm#VIIID