Jews, Christians, & Muslims, when does free will begin?

Question

All are welcome to answer, but I address this specifically to the monotheistic triad for the bearing it has on their doctrine.

When does free will begin?  At birth? Conception? Before?

Also, any justification for your stance would be welcome.

Tiberia · Accepted Answer

Acc Judaism, Free Will begins when the child is old enough to make decisions, and be educated.  This is usually around the age of 3.

But children aren't held to their decisions by God - only adults are.
Legal minumum age in Judaism is 13 for boys, and 12 for girls.

@Talia:  You're 100% wrong.  Halakha doesn't even recognize the embryo as being ALIVE right after conception - not for several weeks.  So there's no way it would have any sort of Will, free or not.
Read up on the whole discussion on Abortion in Halakha for more.

GivPerf · Answer

Judaism believes that free will begins as soon after birth as the child realizes there is a right and wrong.

However, we are not held responsible for our poor choices until the age of maturity, 13 for boys and 12 for girls.

Talia · Answer

I'm an Orthodox Jew. As far as I know, Judaism believes that free will begins at conception; the moment you're in this world, you have free will. I don't know what decisions we're gonna have to make in the womb, but as far as I know, we have free will in there.

Help me please http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ap32ZWVG8ELc7CRZ_F26kyPsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20090706163338AArK0Vv

Once In A Blue Moon ☪✡☯☮✝ · Answer

Before birth, when we were in heaven i heard

Anonymous · Answer

When the fetus graduates from college.

Anonymous · Answer

The moment you renounce religion and allegiances.

anon · Answer

it is apparent the first time you told a lie

superb9006 · Answer

When you can decide for yourself about anything.

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Jews, Christians, & Muslims, when does free will begin?

8 Answers