Does the Jehovah's Witness religion advocate corporal punishment for children?

Question

There's a debate going on in another forum about whether corporal punishment is "normal" among JWs. Would appreciate your comments.

Answer 1

In the September 8, 1992 Awake there is an article that talks about the Bible's viewpoint regarding the rod of discipline and what that really means. I remember this because my oldest son was born the last part of June in 1992 and that magazine came out right after he was born.

I will include some of the interesting things that I remember about that article: The article spoke about the need for balance. Proverbs 8:33 says, “Listen to discipline” not, ‘Feel discipline. Deuteronomy 11:19 recommends preventive discipline, taking advantage of casual moments to instill moral values in our children.

The Hebrew word used for "rod" is the same word used for a shepherd's staff. This context indicates the rod of authority and suggests loving guidance, not harsh brutality. A shepherd doesn't use his staff to beat his sheep, he uses it to direct and lead the sheep. We need to direct our children in the same way.

My husband and I rarely spank our children. Punishment is always a last resort. However, if we feel physical discipline is necessary, we explain to our children why they going to have to get a swat. Proverbs 29:15 says that “the rod and reproof are what give wisdom.” They need to understand that the behavior was unacceptable. Also, discipline is not an emotional outlet for parents. It is supposed to be a method of instruction.

Something else I always try to remember is discipline comes from the same root word as disciple (taught ones) . Discipline is meant to teach. It may at times need to include a spanking, but it doesn't have to.

Training children takes a lot of hard work and a lot of time and effort. Our ultimate goal is to teach them values, morals and 'self discipline' so that they can grow to be loyal, honest, hardworking adults.

Here is an example of an article that will discuss raising children. Please read the series and see if it seems unreasonable.
http://www.watchtower.org/e/20040615/article_01.htm
http://www.watchtower.org/e/20040615/article_02.htm

Answer 2

No, Corporal Punishment is NOT discipline...

On Discipline:

Dr. James Dobson wrote in The Strong-Willed Child (1978): “Corporal punishment in the hands of a loving parent is a teaching tool by which harmful behavior is inhibited.” On the other hand, in an article adapted from the seventh edition of the popular book Baby and Child Care (1998), Dr. Benjamin Spock said: “Spanking teaches children that the larger, stronger person has the power to get his way, whether or not he is in the right.”

With regard to discipline, the Bible states: “The rod and reproof are what give wisdom.” (Proverbs 29:15) However, not all children need physical punishment. Proverbs 17:10 tells us: “A rebuke works deeper in one having understanding than striking a stupid one a hundred times.”

Answer 3

Jehovah's Witnesses believe it is important to train and discipline their children. That does not always mean actual corporal punishment, there are many ways to discipline, as long as it is done in a loving manner. The following is from a article on raising children.

Discipline Based on Love Is Essential
"You, fathers, do not be irritating your children, but go on bringing them up in the discipline and mental-regulating of Jehovah."—Ephesians 6:4.

To get good results, your manner of giving loving discipline is important. How is it that parents can 'irritate their children'? If the discipline does not fit the seriousness of the mistake or if it is given in a highly critical way, children will resist. Discipline should in all cases be given with love. (Proverbs 13:24) If you reason with your children, they will realize that you discipline them out of love.—Proverbs 22:15; 29:19.


On the other hand, it is good for children to feel the undesirable consequences of wrong behavior. For instance, if the child wrongs another person, you can insist that he apologize. When he breaks family rules, you may place restrictions on certain privileges in order to emphasize the importance of keeping rules.

It is good to administer discipline at the right time. Ecclesiastes 8:11 points out: "Because sentence against a bad work has not been executed speedily, that is why the heart of the sons of men has become fully set in them to do bad." Similarly, many children will test whether they can escape without punishment after misbehaving. So once you have warned that punishment will follow a specific wrongdoing, be sure to follow through."

www.watchtower.org

Answer 4

No, corporal punishment is certainly not "advocated" by Jehovah's Witnesses.

Ironically, in lands where it is illegal, a baptized Jehovah's Witness could be congregationally reproved or even disfellowshipped for using corporal punishment. For decades, the publications of Jehovah's Witnesses have explained the bible term "the rod" to be a metaphor for any discipline.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/20040615/article_02.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20000622/

Answer 5

We as Christians advocate, getting to the child's heart and helping them to both see the error they are commiting and to turn away from it. At times this does mean making use of the "literal rod" whether it be palm or wooden spoon.

My parents strived to teach us through words first and foremost. At times a spanking happened, other times corner time, or restriction was used.

Answer 6

I believe they take the bible literally where it says, in effect, 'spare the rod, spoil the child.'

I too was brought up as a J-W, I eventually fell away. I have since looked with interest at a lot of religions, not for joining, but for academic interest.

There are biblical reasons why Christians might see it as acceptable to punish a child by hitting, but I believe they would see it it as being a controlled action, not done in rage.

This was how it was in my day when I was with the Jehovah's witnesses, they might have changed their rues since.
It was allowed. I'm going back a bit.

Personally, being hit as a child (pre J-W days), didn't do me any harm, I think.
That's not to say I'm fully in agreement with it.

I wouldn't stone someone for adultery either.
I wouldn't restrict their conversation with other religions in the name of eduction and learning.
I wouldn't assume that God is going to kill everyone but my own people, that seems very unforgiving.
I wouldn't ignore the evidence of hard science, and come up with answers based on a pseudo science.

But the answer is yes, they do advocate hitting a child under certain circumstances.
They also see woman as less than men, the weaker vessel (bit like another Abrahamic religion from a little more east)

Sorry if I seem bitter, I have no problems with J-W's personally, in fact they are nice people.

I just don't agree with the internal politics of their organisation.

Answer 7

Corporal punishment?

It is a parents' responsibility to train their children isn't it? Ultimately it is each parents decision just how the do so. Having raised three children I can tell you that no one approach is right in every case.

One child only took a look and she knew she was doing something wrong. The second child was more difficult, it took a lot of effort to maintain discipline. She HATED sitting in the chair however.

Our third child is somewhere in between the older two.

Is it "normal" to spank one's child? In what time frame? It certainly was "normal" when I was growing up. It was "normal" on the street I lived on, in the town I lived in.

Speaking from personal experience,spanking is sometimes needed. I got my share and to be honest I deserved every one of them.

In our home it was rarely used, but it was used.


Dave, from the site you provided:

"J. Edgar Hoover has investigated the causes of juvenile delinquency and claims ninety per cent of it is traceable to
lack of parental discipline. A Brooklyn court judge contributes this caustic comment: "I think we need the woodshed
for some young folks. But that is not considered fashionable now. Now we are told you must not strike a child; you
may be stunting a genius."

"It is an act of love, not hatred or ill will toward the child, for the parents to administer corrective discipline."

"The one holding back his rod is hating his son, but the one loving him is he that does look for him with discipline."-
Eph. 6:4; Prov. 29:15, 17; 13:24.


"At times, then, a parent will need to speak to the child by the administration of pain. This pain, God's Word assures us,
is not going to kill the child; but it will have beneficial effects, protective benefits for the child, protecting "his very soul from Sheol."



You need to look closer. In the first quote it is a judge saying, "I think we need the woodshed for some young folks.", not Jehovah's Witnesses.

There is no mention of any corporal punishment in the other quotes.

"a parent will need to speak to the child by the administration of pain." sounds like it might be encouraging physical punishment, but I can tell you it was painful for my daughter to be made to sit in a chair for her discipline. Remember no discipline is pleasant or enjoyable; It wouldn't be discipline if it was enjoyable would it?

Answer 8

We DO discipline our children if they need it, but NO, we don't beat them. There are happy mediums. There is other ways to punish your children than spanking them. But sometimes if children need spankig, that too is acceptable. But not beating them, there's a difference between beating and spanking. I am one of Jehovah's Witnesses, the other people who answered - I'm not sure are JW's.

Answer 9

Spanking is not corporal punishment. Hanging them in the church would be.

Not JW, but believe a spanking is merited on occasions.

Answer 10

Yes they do...the children come to 5 meetings a week and sit quietly next to the parents, and do not make so much as a sound...If the do, they are taken outside and spanked and brought inside to learn to sit quietly while indoctrinated.....

When I was in, all children were treated like this..things may have changed over the years..all can do is relate my experience.