When does a 'child' become an 'adult' in Christianity?

[TJ in Oregon]

In Catholicism the answer is at Confirmation. That is when the teen has decided to affirm for his or herself that they really believe in the Church's teachings. The effective result in society, however, is that children become adults when they leave their parents to go to college because until then the parents are really making many decisions for the child.

The notion of childlike innocence implies a much younger age than when people effectively become adults. This innocence takes on the understanding that children are too young to discern or understand or consent to most sins and thus commit few.

[TJ in Oregon]

Yeah, I will agree with you BRTD (write that on the calendar ) that Confirmation is done at too young an age for the individual statement to truly be meaningful. I think waiting until 17 or 18 would be preferable.

Additionally, most Catholics are pretty badly catechized and four more years should help with that some. Granted my 14 year old self would have balked at 4 more years of CCD class, but that's adolescence for you