Atheists: Do you believe in corporal punishment?

Question

No, I'm not talking about killing others, but rather the "spanking" part of corporal punishment.

"Corporal punishment is forced pain intended to change a person's behavior or to punish them."

Source: Wiki

You wish, Uma Thurman wannabe--oops.

How am I belittling anyone? I'm not in favor of it unless it both sides agree upon it.

Answer 1

Edit: Whoopsie, thought you said capital punishment.

I am totally, completely against hitting a child for any reason. What the hell does it teach them? I have memories of my mother slapping me, pulling my hair, or backing me into a wall when I was about nine or ten. Even if I don't remember each circumstance, there's an emotional distance and distrust of other people that remains behind. I don't believe that anyone who shows affection is sincere. Given the right genes and socialization, it's a given. But it's rarely assured, even parental love would be nothing in other circumstances.


As for capital punishment:

I'm not sure on this issue.

I'm leaning on "no," simply because it is the murder of a feeling, conscious human being (deliberate killing of human = murder, in the least sense).

But at the same time, I feel sorry for the victims and their families. If I were murdered by some drug addict with a beef against girls, I would want him to suffer. The Green River Killer murdered dozens of women and felt no remorse. Why should a guy like that have the pleasure of reflection?

Again, I'm undecided. My brain says it is wrong in all cases (unless someone chooses to die -- euthanasia is a different issue). But my gut says that some people deserve to lose it all. I've decided that it's better to side with reason and compassion than the need for revenge.

Answer 2

You're asking a loaded question intended to use a loophole to belittle a group of people. I say this because it is your M.O. here on Y!A. You ask this type of question then shoot off comments intended to be mean or sarcastic. It's typical Christian behavior... and we know this is what you do here.

I don't believe in corporal punishment, no... it rarely solves anything or changes behavior.

Do I spank my son? Yes, on a rare occasion when that is all that is left to get his attention.... and it has worked every time.

Pain for the sake of behavior modification has been shown to rarely work and thus, why bother.

Answer 3

Why just the Corporals?
I think the punishments should go all the way up to the highest levels of command. You would find far fewer problems happening if the Chief Executive Officers knew they were going to suffer if they let their privates cause problems.

I think a good caning is more effective than a fine sometimes.

Answer 4

No, I don't think torturing someone to get them to change solves anything.

Corporal punishment is forced pain intended to change a person's behavior or to punish them. Historically speaking, most punishments, whether in judicial, domestic, or educational settings, were corporal in basis

Answer 5

Personally no, but that has nothing to do with my atheist beliefs, and more to do on how different institutions function within our society. And in general, there really is no universal atheist thought pattern. In fact, since atheists are non-theists, we are less likely to have a group mentality other than the belief in disbelief. Churches tell people how to think, so I would expect religious folk to think a like more than atheists.

Answer 6

No I do not. But it has nothing to do with being an Atheist. However I do believe in capitol punishment.
Kisses Betty B.

Answer 7

No.

What is the connection between the two things?




As a Christian (I assume): do you believe in a little light spanking for purely sexual reasons?
.

Answer 8

No. Inflicting pain on anyone for any reason is inhumane. Unless you're in to S&M. Then I guess it is cool.

Answer 9

Yes. But only for murderers,rapists and pedophiles

Answer 10

I believe in Corporal Klinger, does that count?