> I do not know that "terrifying" is the word I would choose, but I think
> we have to recognize the lack of weight we carry when we try to convince
> some folks in the religious community.
Thank you for acknowleding it is SOME folks and not MOST or ALL.
I definitely agree there are some in the religious community who put
discipline and/or physical punishment on par with building a child's mental
and spiritual well-being. The consequences are always disastrous.
> Note that it begins with a not too unreasonable statement.** The quote
> given, however, makes no such qualification ("restrained spanking"). It
> then goes on to the opposite end of the continuum ("left to himself").
> There is nothing in between???
>
> There is no room for reinforcing good behavior as a method of
> controlling behavior? No room for extinction procedures as a means of
> eliminating misbehavior?
>
> Just beat him, else he will bring shame to you?
There are many many many more passages about teaching good behavior
and the importance of love, respect, wisdom. They far outweigh the
passages on discipline and corporal punishment.
The book of Proverbs is full of passages that exemplify what I am talking
about, many directed at the issue of raising children. The word "discipline"
is used over and over and rarely specifically includes corporal punishment.
Further, there are many biblical passages that are aimed at parents, that
clearly (in my humble reading) make corporal punishment a very infrequent
and less preferred measure
Most Christian writers today that focus on childrearing spend much time on
loving children, being good role models, teaching them wisdom. Discipline is
infrequently yoked with corporal punishment, and given little attention.
-Ephesians 6:4 "Do not provoke your children to anger but bring them up in
the discipline and instructon of the Lord"
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Jim Guinee, Ph.D. Director of Training, Counseling Center
Adjunct Professor, Dept. of Psychology/Counseling
Dept. of Health Sciences
President-Elect, Arkansas College Counselor Association
University of Central Arkansas
313 Bernard Hall Conway, AR 72035 USA
(501) 450-3138 (office) (501) 450-3248 (fax)
"God looks at the clean hands, not the full ones."
-Publilius Syrus
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