Spanking and religion

This article is part of the SM-201 Macropedia

Disciplinary spanking of children in the home and in education exists in all cultures and religions. Some religion's scripture, such as that of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, explicitly allows and encourages corporal punishment in justified cases, at least in their traditional interpretations.

Some religions have also authorized corporal punishment for adults, such as judicial corporal punishment, corporal punishment in religious institutions, and/or the corporal punishment of wives by their husbands.

Pro-spanking arguments

Most English language pro-spanking books and websites argument from a Christian point of view. In the U.S., the religious right have the reputation of being particularly pro-spanking. Children in the "bible belt" states are spanked more often than the national average.

Anti-spanking arguments

Many anti-spanking organisations and individuals also argue from a religious point of view against spanking children. They base their arguments against physical punishment on contradictory quotes from the same holy books. For an example, see Stop the Rod.

Links

Sometimes we get sick because the Lord is spanking us for being naughty (page from the True Komix series of publications for children produced by the new religious movement Children of God, now known as The Family International). (old link, broken)

English translations of Qur'an, Sura 4:34 (= Sura an-Nisa, verse 34).

4:34: Men are in charge of women, because Allah hath made the one of them to excel the other, and because they spend of their property (for the support of women). So good women are the obedient, guarding in secret that which Allah hath guarded. As for those from whom ye fear rebellion, admonish them and banish them to beds apart, and scourge them. Then if they obey you, seek not a way against them. Lo! Allah is ever High, Exalted, Great.

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