Anabaptist Theologies of Childhood and Education (2)

Abstract

"Infancy was a state of unselfwilled innocence, a state of ignorance. Therefore the development of the will marked an important change in the character of the child and a signifi~ cant stage in the process of personal growth. The second criterion of the development of the child from innocence into youth was the ability to choose between alternatives. In this is an obedience freely exercised and a choice willingly undertaken. The third criterion was the exhibition of the good conscience, a recognition of the fear of the Lord. The beginning of conscience was linked with the development of self will and reason. Within the development of the conscience 'was the principle of obedience to parents, to the community and ultimately the voluntary surrender of oneself to the community. "