[Ali Imran]

Since when did I say God would punish a child stealing a lollipop with the same kind of punishment meted out to a mass murderer? When taken out of context, my comment sounds cruel. You failed to take account of the age of accountability for children, meaning, at what age are children responsible for their own sins?

While the term age of accountability isn't found in the Bible, the principle is. As long as a child isn't able to distinguish between good and evil, he or she isn't responsible for the corruption inherited from Adam or the sins he or she personally commits.

God has a special love for children. Ps 139:13-16; Matt 18:2-4; Matt 10:14-16. Although the children were infected with sin because of Adam's orginal rebellion, God didn't condemn them because they had "no knowledge of good or evil."

I apologise for my assumption about your faith. Among Christians, they have different beliefs on this issue, as you well know.

What do you believe will happen to a small child who steals a lollipop and dies soon after without ever knowing about Jesus?