Nechomah – +1. The specific term, “tinok shenishba” can not possibly apply to goyim since the full phrase is something like, “tinok shenishba bein hagoyim.” However, theoretically the basic concept can. Meaning, it would be possible that Hashem doesn’t judge goyim for something they didn’t know. I think that is what some of the posters were referring to, even though the terminology may be inaccurate.
I don’t have a source off-hand and I don’t have time to look for one, but I think that those who are saying that this concept doesn’t apply to goyim may be correct.
However, I think IITFT brought up the topic in reference to Yidden. I think he was saying that Yidden are not tinok shenishba in regards to 7 Mitzvos b’nei Noach. Is that correct, IITFT?
I am also wondering if you have a source for that, or are you assuming that based on the fact that the Goyim are not considered “Tinok shenishba” (I know those words can’t be used for goyim, but my point is that the concept does not even apply to goyim) for the 7 Mitzvos b’nei Noach, and t/f you are assuming that Yidden also can’t be tinok shenishba for the 7 Mitzvos?
If so, I think it is an incorrect assumption. Even though the goyim only have 7 laws as opposed to our 613, they are judged much more harshly for those 7. This happens in several ways. I think that I have learned (again, I have no source off-hand) that one of the ways they are judged more harshly is that they have no concept of tinok shenishba which does apply to Yidden.
But in any case, my point was that regardless of how Hashem judges people, that has nothing to do with us. It is not our job to judge people. Our job is to sympathize with them and try to help them to keep the Mitzvos so that they don’t get punished. Obviously, we have to use our seichel in how we go about it. But it is good to keep in mind a great quote I heard once: “If I know the way to earn Eternal Life, how much would I have to hate someone else in order to not tell them about it?”.
If it is in fact true that someone is going to burn because they don’t know about the Mitzvos (and I’m not saying that it is), then you really should feel bad for them and try to teach them about the Mitzvos (if you can do so in a productive way, and either way, you should try your best to be as nice as possible so that you can make a Kiddush Hashem and they more likely to want to be like you).
Regarding Goyim, while it seems unfair that they will be not get a cheilik in Olam Haba because of something they don’t know about, that should be our impetus to teach them. The only way they will know is if we teach them. That is why there are Jews who dedicate their lives to teaching goyim about the 7 Mitzvos b’nei Noach. I think the only reason most of us don’t do it is because there are so many Jews who are ignorant or confused, and our responsibility lies with them first.