Question about JW's and children?

Question

I have a friend who was raised in the JW's but has since left the church. She was telling me that in her church parents were required to use corporal punishment, often very severe such as spankings with boards and belts and such on their children as often as possible. Now im just wondering if anyone knows if this is actually a JW rule or if it was just the specific leaders in her church that seemed to be bent on pushing parents to use frequent spanking in their parenting?

Answer 1

They dont' use corporal punishment..but when I was small..my mom took me to the Kingdom Hall..My memory is being taken outside and spanked with a switch because I couldn't sit still for 2 hours..Then, as I grew older..had children..I was expected to spank them as well ..in order to make them sit still..I quit going because of that very reason..which made me do my own research and prayer...

Answer 2

I was raised a Jehovah's Witnesses and I'm still a Jehovah's Witness.

My Mother died and my Dad remarried, so there was a total of 7 kids at home at one time. I'm not going to say I never got a spanking, but I don't remember getting that many, I can only remember five and they were deserved. I was the type of person who learned the first time around. Of course, every family has it's own way of doing things. They didn't have "time-out" when I was growing up, of course, most kids would prefer to just get a spanking and get it over with and go out and play, then have to set in their room or be grounded.

To say that corporal punishment is a requirement, is a lie. I know parents who don't spank their kids and I personally think their kids could use a good spanking. How a parent disciplines or doesn't discipline their child is their business. Of course, they have to live with the result of a spoiled child.

We are told to follow the bibles council on rearing our children. That does include training and disciplining them when needed. That does not mean to beat your child or to be abusive in anyway.

How your friend was disciplined by her parents, was her parents decision, and had nothing to do with the religion.

Answer 3

Your friend may have been punished in that sort of way, but that is not a "rule" for Jehovah's Witnesses. I know many Witnesses who choose NOT to spank their children at all.

Jehovah's Witnesses believe in discipline, but we also know that discipline means to teach or train. It comes from the same root word as disciple which means taught one.

I have three children ages 15, 9 and 2. I have NEVER used a belt or board to spank them. I believe that my children are gifts from Jehovah God. Why would I damage a gift that was given to me? Jehovah's Witnesses often receive wonderful articles with suggestions on how to train our children.

Answer 4

Oh my goodness. She is not telling you the truth. JW's do not use corporal punishment against their children as this goes against Godly standards and against their beliefs. A child may require a spanking from time to time but not the severe beatings you speak of above. Doing so would go against godly teachings.

There are so many liars in the world and if you have a question like this, go to a kingdom hall and ask to speak with the Service Overseer, or one of JW's. Your so-called friend, is more than likely what is known as an "Aspostate" now and therefore she is going to spew hate and false rumors about the Witnesses. Remember, always ask a witness if you have a question about witnesses. Don't ask ridiculers, apostates, false Christians or atheists. They will always lie to you.

A rebuke works deeper in one having understanding than striking a stupid one a hundred times.” (Proverbs 17:10) Different children may need to be disciplined differently. The temperament and disposition of the individual child must be considered. One child may be very sensitive, and physical punishment, such as spanking, may not always be necessary. With another, spanking may be ineffective. Or a child may be like the servant described at Proverbs 29:19, one who “will not let himself be corrected by mere words, for he understands but he is paying no heed.” In such a case the child would need a spanking but not severe corporal punishment.

Answer 5

I am a Jehovah's witness mom and I don't use corporal punishment on my children. I was also raised a witness and my parents did not use it on me. That is not a JW rule. Parents are admonished to provide discipline for their children however, discipline can be administered in the form of teaching., maybe that was her parents way of parenting and they didn't know any better. The Bible does not condone child abuse of any kind. My heart goes out to your freind.

Answer 6

Sounds like someone that did not check what was said in the bible. The bible says to use the rod on a child this is that the parents should be firm when correcting a child it can required spanking not beatings some times it may be just to correct the thinking of the child by talking showing them where they were wrong.

Answer 7

i was raised a JW and still am one. It is a parents choice. my parents spanked me when i was little, but they didnt OVER do it.
I know other JW's who have really bratty kids because they don't spank. So, no its not a rule.

Answer 8

ABSOLUTELY NOT one of the teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses.

We do not rule out corporal punishment, but do not mandate it by any means.

I think maybe your friend's parents misunderstood the idea about not to spare the "rod" or maybe the person who spoke with her parents about discipline thought that corporal punishment was one of many effective forms of discipline.

Up until recently MOST people in society used corporal punishment - even in school. If these parents elected to use this form of discipline in their upbringing, it was a personal choice not a religious mandate.

Millie, Oreo. . . tell the truth. Don't be hateful.

Answer 9

that is a lie. we do not use corporal punishment on our children. with boards or belts. if they need to be punished, yes we do punish them when needed but not with anything to harm them. so that is a real lie. we love our children and would never harm them that way. oreo, our children don't have to wait for a birthday or holiday, for gifts. we give our children gifts during the year. they don't have to wait for a reason. mother of three who are now grown. also as far as not giving our children or ourselves medical attention, when needed. we sure go to the doctor and get the best care we can. we do not take of blood but even if I was not a witness, I would never take of blood, they can check it all they want, I still would never trust it. I rather trust my Heavenly Father Jehovah. it seems that people who turn there back on Jehovah go around and lie about Jehovah Witnesses when they do know the truth about witnesses.

Answer 10

My Wife and I have been Jehovah's Witnesses since 1996 and this is not true. Before I started studying with Jehovah's Witnesses I also heard alot of weird things about them. But after I studied I learned these things were not true. I searched and searched for the truth and I know for a fact that Jehovah's Witnesses are the true religion.
www.watchtower.org

Answer 11

Jehovah's Witnesses have always taught parents to cherish and protect their children, and have never condoned abuse of any kind. For decades now, Witness publications have carefully reminded readers that "the rod" mentioned in the bible is a metaphor for parental discipline, and is not necessarily a command to perform corporal punishment.

(Proverbs 22:15) Foolishness is tied up with the heart of a boy [or girl]; the rod of discipline is what will remove it far from him.

(Proverbs 23:12-14) Do bring your heart to discipline and your ear to the sayings of knowledge. 13 Do not hold back discipline from the mere boy. In case you beat him with the rod, he will not die. 14 With the rod you yourself should beat him, that you may deliver his very soul


Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/19990522/article_01.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20041022a/article_01.htm