the sins of the father

[Queolby]

Just thought of something. and maybe you can give me your opinion on this argument. 

In Ezekiel 18:20 it says, "The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son" If this is a true principle then by necessity, work for the dead needs to exist.

From a mainstream Christian perspective, if it's a sin to deny Christ in this life, and then you inculcate that belief into your son, who now believes the same as the father does--regarding deity--and so now he will be "thrust down to hell" when he dies. The son is essentially being punished for the sins of the father because the son denied Jesus his whole life by way of the father's false teachings. 
So if that teaching in Ezekiel is true--that the sins of the father will not be on the head of the son...if this is true then by necessity, work for the dead must needs to exist to fulfill that principle.