Is spanking sin?

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I personally don’t think so. I certainly don’t condone beatings or massive practice of spanking kids, but a couple of spankings in a life time is not a problem. I remember two well deserved spankings as a kid, and I learned from them. No damage done. Now we find humor in the incidents. And the last one I was 13.

I got to sassing my mother about chores and my dad let me have it. I was more embarrassed than anything, but I never sassed my mother again! I think a lot of kids today would be better off if when they were 2 or three they got a couple of good swats on the fanny. Just my opinion.

Now, however there is more to be careful about. A 13 year old might respond better to having pivilages taken away. Some ideas: Having to spend a weekend at home doing chores, like mopping and waxing floors, instead of playing with friends. Loss of allowance if that is a family practice. (I don’t believe in allowances myself but for those who do this might make a point.) Making a public apology if warranted.

Each family will have things specific that they do that could be used as a means of taking a privelage away due to misbehavior. It just depends on the case.
 
Is hitting another person a sin?

I think there lies your answer.
 
Spanking is such a controversial subject. Sometimes it depends on which country you are from, what area of the country, whether you are using just your hands, etc. I do not believe that most priests consider spanking a sin, so long as you are not using excessive force, spanking constantly for any little reason, and using something to spank the child with.

That being said, in my humble opinion, a thirteen year old is much too old for spankings. There are other, more effective tools for disciplining a teenager. You are veering into humiliating a child instead of teaching him. Just my two cents.
 
I hope not - I am always asking my wife for one 😊 just kidding. 🙂

But as one person stated depends on how hard and if it is on the back-side I do not think so. Some people say that a timeout works just as well or that having a child stand in a corner works better. But I truly believe that it depends on the child as to what works best, and only a parent would know what would work with their kid. Placing a child in a room alone for a lengthy period of time may cause feelings of isolation or rejection, placing in a corner could do the same thing. And of course some will say that would not cause those feelings, just as those that say spanking would not cause a child to be violent.

So as most parents will say - children need discipline (regardless of the way that it is applied) of some forum or they will be out of control. So do discipline a child for their own good I believe would not be a sin. But if you are really concerned a Priest that you value the opinion of would be best to ask.

May God grant you peace and happiness.

Winter
 
Personally, I think by the time a child is 13 spankings are no longer appropriate. Not because it could be a sin, or considered child abuse, but because I don’t think the desired effect of spanking works on a child that old. To me, spankings are for young children.
 
Is hitting another person a sin?
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Sometimes yes, other times no. It is circumstantial, hence the question.

I personally think 13 might be too old to be very effective, but I would not presume to know more then the parent of the teen.
 
Well, I am not sure that any age is really too old…

There is a story in my family, how my aunt, when she was 18, brought home a married man to present to her parents (my grandparents) as her boyfriend. This “boyfriend”, so it was said, was intending to leave his wife for my aunt.

My grandfather, I am proud to say, would not stand for his daughter becoming a homewrecker, nor would he tolerate having an adulterer for a son-in-law. He threw the man out of the house, and threatened him to stay away from his daughter. Then, he took my aunt and bent her over his lap, and gave her the spanking of her life. She was also forbidden from ever speaking to the man again, and warned of the shame she was about to bring upon the family.

His method worked. She came to her senses and never spoke to the man again. And it became part of family history.

Spanking is not a sin, when used judiciously under specific circumstances. But one must take into account the nature of the infraction, the temperament of the child, and the overall context.

I see both sides. I don’t like the concept of spanking, but I know that some children will respond to that when nothing else will work with them. And I like the advice given us by Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen:
Any youth will respond well to pats on the back, provided it is often enough, hard enough, and low enough. 😃
 
Dr. James Dobson, author of Dare To Discipline, which advocates spanking, says that a child should receive their last spanking sometime around age 5-6. The method is not an effective way to discipline children older than this.
 
Yes 13 is too old. Spanking works on animals and children too young to make properly reasoned decisions. The Church says that 7 is the age a person is capable of being morally responsible. It follows that for the person to begin developing his moral conscience, he should be subjected to reasoning and consequences that he will need to develop to be a morally upright and responsible person in life. Spanking is more like violence than discipline when the reasoning is up and working.
 
In my humble opinion 13 is way too old to be spanking a child. If your child can’t understand the reasoning behind your punishment (other than spanking) you have other issues. Spanking is mostly reserved for young children who can’t always comprehend or make a connection between behavior and consequences. A spanking is usually used in immediate response to something you don’t want your child to do and it’s never done in anger. I know some people spank for different reasons then this but in my opinion after the age of 4- 6 spanking isn’t necessary. I was spanked up until forever lol I don’t think it did any damage…I’m not scarred or anything I just think there are better ways and I know for a fact my parents were pissed off when they spanked me too lol
 
HoneyBea said:
In my humble opinion 13 is way too old to be spanking a child. If your child can’t understand the reasoning behind your punishment (other than spanking) you have other issues. Spanking is mostly reserved for young children who can’t always comprehend or make a connection between behavior and consequences. A spanking is usually used in immediate response to something you don’t want your child to do and it’s never done in anger. I know some people spank for different reasons then this but in my opinion after the age of 4- 6 spanking isn’t necessary. I was spanked up until forever lol I don’t think it did any damage…I’m not scarred or anything I just think there are better ways and I know for a fact my parents were pissed off when they spanked me too lol
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As I stated elsewhere I was 13 the last time I got a spanking, and I earned it. I was acting like a 2 year old, rather than a young adult, and I was treated accordingly. So I don’t think 13 is too old. However, I do think that other punishments or restrictions can be just as effective.

Once when my sister was 15 she wanted to go to a rock-n-roll concert that my father absolutely would not hear of . She was arguing with him and pointing to her own chin in defiance, telling him to “go ahead and hit her.” After three such requests, he obliged. She lifted off the floor, flew about 5 feet through the air and landed on her bed. He used what he later called “a love tap.”

She begged for what she got, and she did not go to the concert. Sometimes we get treated like a small child or brat because that is exactly what we are acting like. My sister laughs about this incident to this day. We all do. Still my dad made his point. There were somethings that we simply were not going to do while living in his house.
 
Cricket2 said:
As I stated elsewhere I was 13 the last time I got a spanking, and I earned it. I was acting like a 2 year old, rather than a young adult, and I was treated accordingly. So I don’t think 13 is too old. However, I do think that other punishments or restrictions can be just as effective.

Once when my sister was 15 she wanted to go to a rock-n-roll concert that my father absolutely would not hear of . She was arguing with him and pointing to her own chin in defiance, telling him to “go ahead and hit her.” After three such requests, he obliged. She lifted off the floor, flew about 5 feet through the air and landed on her bed. He used what he later called “a love tap.”

She begged for what she got, and she did not go to the concert. Sometimes we get treated like a small child or brat because that is exactly what we are acting like. My sister laughs about this incident to this day. We all do. Still my dad made his point. There were somethings that we simply were not going to do while living in his house.
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I think all my spankings were very well deserved maybe that’s why I don’t feel traumatized or victimized etc…we also look back and laugh and I often joke with my parents I don’t know howthey tolerated me because I was such a brat! Very definiant and plain cruel. I always thank them for still loving me when anyone else would have not been able to ( yes I made it that hard). I will never forget the time I called my mother a Bit** to her face. She smacked me right in the mouth as bratty as I was in that moment as soon as the words left my mouth I knew it deserved to get smacked. I wasn’t even mad I remember thinking " I totally deserve that but I’m not going to admit that to her" lol

But going back to the point I also think there are better ways to discipline than spanking but I won’t condemn another parents for whatever method they choose so long as it does not cross the line of abuse.

Many children cry abuse over spanking and many adults try to convict parents over it…what did Jesus say about using spanking to punish? I honestly don’t know…so if someone could share that please.
 
Cricket2 said:
As I stated elsewhere I was 13 the last time I got a spanking, and I earned it. I was acting like a 2 year old, rather than a young adult, and I was treated accordingly. So I don’t think 13 is too old. However, I do think that other punishments or restrictions can be just as effective.

Once when my sister was 15 she wanted to go to a rock-n-roll concert that my father absolutely would not hear of . She was arguing with him and pointing to her own chin in defiance, telling him to “go ahead and hit her.” After three such requests, he obliged. She lifted off the floor, flew about 5 feet through the air and landed on her bed. He used what he later called “a love tap.”

She begged for what she got, and she did not go to the concert. Sometimes we get treated like a small child or brat because that is exactly what we are acting like. My sister laughs about this incident to this day. We all do. Still my dad made his point. There were somethings that we simply were not going to do while living in his house.
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That should never be done to anyone!
 
Cricket2 said:
As I stated elsewhere I was 13 the last time I got a spanking, and I earned it. I was acting like a 2 year old, rather than a young adult, and I was treated accordingly. So I don’t think 13 is too old. However, I do think that other punishments or restrictions can be just as effective.

Once when my sister was 15 she wanted to go to a rock-n-roll concert that my father absolutely would not hear of . She was arguing with him and pointing to her own chin in defiance, telling him to “go ahead and hit her.” After three such requests, he obliged. She lifted off the floor, flew about 5 feet through the air and landed on her bed. He used what he later called "a love tap."

She begged for what she got, and she did not go to the concert. Sometimes we get treated like a small child or brat because that is exactly what we are acting like. My sister laughs about this incident to this day. We all do. Still my dad made his point. There were somethings that we simply were not going to do while living in his house.
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:eek::eek::eek:
 
If someone can discipline their children effectively without spanking, I am all for it. Sometimes I think a quick wack on the back side can help too though. Not done out of anger… ONLY out of discipline. That is the difference between Sin and not sin in my opinion. But show me a Church teaching that says different and I will change my view.

Spanking… :rolleyes: Like that is such a big deal. If a belt is not involved, like when I got it, the kid has it easy 😃

(BTW I am not a parent so I have not tested any of my theories)
 
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