Are children more disobedient to parents now than ever in history?

Question

I just would like to know. Since the Bible states this as one of the signs of the "the last days." 2 Timothy 3:1-5

I am in my 30's so I don't know how kids or teenagers where like 20 or 50 or 100 years ago.

Answer 1

Yes. Most kids don't learn respect for authority or receive the discipline that they used to receive. I am 40 and when I was young..... if a child didn't receive discipline at home, they received it from a 300 pound vice principle at school. So, everyone had limits being enforced somewhere.

My kids are very well behaved and luckily I don't have to use corporal punishment on my kids since time outs and toys being taken away have become very effective. However, I am not opposed to spanking when necessary, it sure worked on me. Kids have to have limits and have those limits consistently enforced.

Answer 2

No they are not more disobedient to their parents, but parents don't know or won't do what they should do, in order to handle it. In most cultures, children were raised by their older relatives, Grandmothers, Aunties, ect., people who had years of experience in children, while the younger parents had to go back into the fields and back to work. They knew and understood that children needed total unconditional love and attention. They also understood that sometimes they need verbal and physical discipline. Having someone whom you look up to be disappointed in you for your actions is a very motivating thing. Most children would have NEVER wanted to let their Grandmother think they did something wrong. And believe me it was not a problem to have the neighbor tell your parents you did something bad. EVERYONE knew it if you did. Where do you think the saying "It takes a village to raise a child," came from? There were clearly defined standards of behavior for both boys and girls, and they were rigidly enforced. Modern mobility (esp in the US) has seperated us from alot of this abilitiy.

Of course, people have always thought teenagers were the worst in their times. :)

Answer 3

I think that since the 60's the lines of right and wrong have become so blurred that parents and teachers aren't sure what is right and what is wrong. This is being passed on to the children and they will argue that anything goes because there doesn't seem to be any limits set. I always told my kids when in doubt don't do it. But then they knew what I considered right and wrong and since they were the children they were expected to go by the rules set down for them. Now there is too much choice and not enough responsibility for actions.

Answer 4

I think that is true, having raised 2 myself who are now parents. I was able to stay home with my kids for several years before reentering the workforce. However, my kids were latchkey kids for many years. I was a tenacious and strict mother. I talked to my kids many times on the phone between the time they reached home after school until I got home 1.5 hours later. If I had to leave work for the kids, I did. I was 5 minutes away from home. Also, my husband was equally involved.

My theory is that when the baby boom generation was raising their children, both parents worked from the time the kid was old enough to go to daycare. These kids mostly grew up with no parental guidance as a constant in their lives. The parents were tired from working all week and didn't become involved in their children's lives. It became easier to hand over some money and let them go wherever with their friends. Kids began taking control of their lives because their parents couldn't muster the energy to do so, a complete breakdown in the family occurred. It's a real shame, because these kids are going to be our future. The respect they should have learned at home is nonexistent. My kids were very good kids because even though I worked I kept very close tabs on them and spent evenings and weekends with them always. We talked a lot, had family night and took them camping and hiking, etc.. They had responsibilities at home and until those were met they didn't go anywhere. We grounded them and spanked them as needed. We tried to stay one step ahead of them, which takes a lot of energy, let me tell you. I just think parents are getting more and more lax in keeping a tight rein on their kids and kids are becoming more and more in control, so to speak, because parents let them. Parents are taking the easy way out. You can never give up. You have to hang in there and not be afraid to have your kids mad at you.

Answer 5

I think this would have to apply to the entire world as a whole--not just the US, the UK, or Uganda. I'm talking all of the countries combined. Unless someone has been around for hundreds of years, visited a whole bunch of countries, and has a lot of knowledge about behavior across the globe we'll never know the answer.

I can say that I believe in the US children aren't as disciplined as before as well as many Western European countries. I also believe the entire statement to be true....

2 Timothy 3:1-5 "But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them." [New International Version]

Most people are only lovers of themselves and only care about themselves. Questions go through our heads [and how many times have you heard them] about ourselves such as:

The wedding is all about YOU so YOUR opinion is all that matters.

If your husband/wife wants more of YOU it doesn't matter because all that matters is that YOU are happy.

I don't want to spend MY money supporting people on welfare. [..greed]

Then look at the paparazzi, so much murder, and abuse going on in the world today that was not around in such great numbers back in Jesus’ time. It’s shocking to realize how far we have come from where He wanted us to be.

My grandfather-in-law is a former pastor. He lives his life for God and constantly studies scripture. It's been very interesting to get the chance to speak with him about prodigy developed in the bible. He has been able to track when ‘the end’ probably started as far as God’s word and where we are at now. According to him [and many other scholars of the Christian religion] the ‘beginning of the end’ started a long time ago yet we are still in the beginning stages. Hopefully, we should all try to make it right with Him not because the end is coming [people have been saying that one for years] but because our hearts are there with Him.

I hope this helps. While, I can’t say how much more disobedient children of the entire world have become I can say from personal experience that in the western world children are more disobedient then just 50 year ago. […and people want to blame it on spanking! Sheesh, I don’t care many people do not do ANYTHING to stop their kids from misbehaving.]

Best of Luck!!

Answer 6

l don't know if it's anything to do with the Bible, but yeah, l think a lot of kids are more out of control now. Really though, that is up to the parents, if children are taken in hand and loved and disciplined enough, they generally do behave!

Answer 7

I do believe so....
I consider myself to have been a pretty good kid (I am 24 now).
Nowdays, kids cuss out their parents, and pretty much do whatever they want, it's sad really. I would NEVER, EVER disrespect my mother by cursing at her or getting in her face. This woman gave me life and took care of me.
Now days, it seems as though parents just don't discipline as much or children just don't seem to want to listen or they just don't care....it's disgusting and sad.
Yes, I'd have to agree with you...
And how many juvenile detention centers, teen pregnancies, or crime involving young people did we have 20,50 or 100 years ago?...just food for thought.

Answer 8

yes!!! i have 3 kids 6,5,2 and they are well behaved why? because they are terrified of me!! I know alot of people will say its not healthy to have your child be afraid of you but hey when my kids are perfect angels in the store not asking not touching anything and i look over to a parent with ONE CHILD ONLY trying to control him its worth it!! Parents brib thier kids now a days and its so sick when you hear "you better stop or your not going to get candy" WHAT!!! How bout "you better stopif you want to live!" I also play with my kids alot they have respect for me and im proud of that.

Answer 9

yes,but even now it is world wide. Not just the children but adults too.When I was younger we had fear of our parents wondering what would they think,how would they feel. People today don't care, they have no fear.But those who know better have Godly fear. And show respect to all.

Answer 10

Well Romeo and Juliet were both disobedient. That was a while ago. Kids were just as disobedient in the years past as they are now.