Obedience from children should be unquestioned. A parent's directive does not have to be reasonable to the child in order to be obeyed.
39 comments
Yeah, it kind of does need to be a reasonable request. Whether the child sees the rational isn't entirely necessary, but if a sane adult thinks it's unreasonable then it is. Also probably unethical and immoral!
You should read the Amazon reviews of his book. So perverted, really.
I also read somewhere that this book is in the top 3 of books sold at BDSM-Sadism sex shops.
So you're all for parents killing their kids because they heard a voice in their head that claimed to be Jebus? I mean, if it needn't be reasonable:
"OK Johnny, just lie down and let Mummy slit your throat. Good boy, that's a well-trained son. Don't scream now. Good dead boy."
Die in a ditch. I grew up with "because I say so" a mantra that was regularly read to me. It is loathsome, and so is anyone who expects blind obedience from their children.
I hope your kids put you in a discount nursing home.
@dpareja, Detrs, Axver: Wasteful move, just killing the kid. A Modest Proposal , anyone?
There seems to be a fundamental confusion here. Obedience is owed not to man, but to God. Obedience to man is a virue if and only if it is aligned completely with obedience to God. A child may in good conscience obey orders that are not inconsistent with obedience to God. A parent has a right o enforce bedience to prevent or discourage transgression's of God's moral law - but beating children for disobedience per se woould not seem to be founded well even in Protestant Christian theology. God has ordered that you may not steal or murder, but says nothing about a whipping for dirtying your toom.
I conclude Lessin does not correctly describe the connection between obedience to God and obedience to man. His psychological model is consequently flawed, as teaching children only obedience is contrary to God's law. Obedience is instrumental, a means to an end, but not an end in itself. Thus, what he proposes must be, from a Christian point of view, heresy, and a kind of spiritual machtpolitik.
Even for 'sola scriptura' believers, this would seem to be so obvious and evident an error, that I wonder he and his ideas have gained any traction. But, ignorance has such inertia.
My mom used to tell me to go play in traffic when I pissed her off. Should I have listened? It's funny how they take their beliefs (don't question god, just do what he says) and apply that to the family unit. "Don't question me, goddamnit, just do what I say." That's bullshit.
GigaGuess: "I hope your kids put you in a discount nursing home."
Don't worry, they will. If they don't kill him in his sleep first.
Confused?
So were we! You can find all of this, and more, on Fundies Say the Darndest Things!
To post a comment, you'll need to Sign in or Register . Making an account also allows you to claim credit for submitting quotes, and to vote on quotes and comments. You don't even need to give us your email address.