FREE WILL · CONTEXT
Before Knowing Good/Evil
Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good. For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings.
This passage is relevant for discussions on free will and moral awareness. It implies that there is a stage in childhood where one is not yet responsible for moral choices, questioning the idea of inherent, inherited sin.
THE CHRISTIAN RESPONSE
They often view this as a prophetic sign involving the coming of a child, focusing on historical context rather than moral doctrine. Muslim Response: The text suggests a developmental phase before moral accountability, aligning with the Islamic view that children are born sinless until they comprehend right and wrong.
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Before Knowing Good/Evil