This morning I was doing an e-search of the 'Good News Bible' to find verses that contained 'child' or 'children'. Imagine my horror when I landed on Proverbs 22:15 and it was rendered thus:
Children just naturally do silly, careless things, but a good spanking will teach them how to behave. (GNB)
This isn't just bad translation, its very scary interpretation. So, I was distracted into a time of web-trawling, using Bible Gateway to check other translations, trying to find out just what the 'rod of disicpline' might have been or meant and finding some highly disturbing far right American Christian websites along the way - one even telling you what size of 'switch' you needed for a baby under a year old. Very scary indeed.
Most Bible translations opt for something such as
Young people are prone to foolishness and fads; the cure comes through tough-minded discipline. (The Message)
or
Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from them. (NIV)
Several online commentators see the 'rod of discipline' as figurative, one comparing it to the 'long arm of the law.' Those who see it as literal, and even those who see it as allied to corporal punishment, see its referent as 'grown up children' and note that since we don't stone our wilfully children to death (Deuteronomy 21) why would we spank them?
'Firm discipline' and 'tough love' are one thing, violence against children is another and we do well to beware any bad translations that tell us to 'spank' when the intent is otherwise.
Then there's Proverbs 23:13-14 too often cited as 'a good spanking never killed anyone'... if the rod in this context can't kill then it clearly isn't a 'good spanking' that is being alluded to. The GNB sacrily renders this verse as
Don't hesitate to disicpline children. A good spanking won't kill them.
Well actually yes it might, and alas plenty of news reports show it does. Better is the CEV which says
Don't fail to correct your children. You won't kill them by being firm, and it may even save their lives. (CEV)
Anyway, enough of the Bad-News Good-News Bible - I have to find some useful passages for next week.
(NB this post corrected due to earlier error)
Comments
Great read:
Plain Talk About Spanking by Jordan Riak
Can be read online on the website of Parents and Teachers Against Violence in Education (www.nospank.net)
Here are some Christians who agree:
"The much-touted 'biblical argument' in support of corporal punishment is founded upon proof-texting a few isolated passages from Proverbs. Using the same method of selective scripture reading, one could also cite the Bible as an authority for the practice of slavery, adultery, polygamy, incest, suppression of women, executing people who eat pork, and infanticide. The brutal and vindictive practice of corporal punishment cannot be reconciled with the major New Testament themes that teach love and forgiveness and a respect for the sacredness and dignity of children, and which overwhelmingly reject violence and retribution as a means of solving human problems. Would Jesus ever hit a child? NEVER!"
The Rev. Thomas E. Sagendorf, United Methodist Clergy (Retired), Hamilton, Indiana. Personal communication, 2006.
"If we really want a peaceful and compassionate world, we need to build communities of trust where all children are respected, where home and school are safe places to be and where discipline is taught by example."
Desmond M. Tutu, Archbishop Emeritus, Nobel Peace Prize recipient, Global Initiative to End All Corporal Punishment of Children, 2006. See www.nospank.net/globalreport.pdf
Ten Reasons I Can't Spank A Catholic Counselor's Critical Examination of Corporal Punishment By Gregory K. Popcak, MSW, LCSW
http://nospank.net/popcak.htm
"I have always been an advocate for the total abolition of corporal punishment and I believe the connection with pornography that is so oriented has its roots in our tradition of beating children."
Gordon Moyes, D. D., Pastor, Uniting Church, Superintendent of the Wesley Central Mission, Sydney, Australia. Excerpt from personal communication, 1980.
"I have never accepted the principle of 'spare the rod and spoil the child.'... I am persuaded that violent fathers produce violent sons... Children don't need beating. They need love and encouragement. They need fathers to whom they can look with respect rather than fear. Above all, they need example."
Gordon B. Hinckley, President, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, October 1994 General Conference.
United Methodist Church:
UMC General Conference, May 3, 2004, takes a stand against corporal punishment in all settings.
Click on the following links:
http://www.umc.org/Calms/petition.asp?mid=2886&Petition=1038
http://www.umc.org/Calms/Petition.asp?mid=2886&Petition=1037
Rita Swan, introducer of both resolutions, describes strategy
www.parentinginjesusfootsteps.org
A grace based explanation of Biblical child rearing:
www.aolff.org
It is worthwhile to read the articles of Herbert Ratner, M.D., a public health physician, former Consulter to the Pontifical Institute on the Family, and editor of Child and Family Quarterly. He was also an advisor to the La Leche League at the time of its formation. Back issues of Child and Family Quarterly are available from Child and Family, P.O. Box 508, Oak Park, IL 60303