"There is a robust Christian case against corporal punishment. I want Christian parents to know that spanking is not particularly biblical (don’t come at me with the Proverbs or Hebrews 12), ethical or effective." ~ @mburtwrites.bsky.social

"The first step in nurturing a child’s spirituality isn’t instruction; it’s simply noticing." ~ @floparisoakes.bsky.social

Pressured to Smile for the Cameras @rlstollar.bsky.social discusses a side of homeschooling that rarely comes into the public eye: a lack of mental-health education & intense pressure on kids to present a “perfect” family image, so that no one will question what’s happening at home.

"For evangelical homeschooling families, there is a whole culture of fear around child protection, like any sort of helping professionals." I spoke with @cultexpert.freedomofmind.com about evangelical homeschooling and child liberation theology. More here: open.substack.com/pub/stevenha....

"Since the 1970s, Assemblies of God churches have repeatedly reinstated ministers and volunteer leaders accused of sexual misconduct, returning them to pulpits and youth groups."

"Ezekiel 20:18-19 points us to an important reality: that parents are not the owners of their children and children owe their parents neither unquestioning nor immediate obedience."

In the 3rd edition of their 1990 book "Preparation for Parenting," the Ezzos justify letting an infant "cry it out" by referencing the bloody crucifixion of Jesus.

We must wrestle with the biblical texts, questioning and challenging them when they ignore the children they contain or justify violence against the children barely visible at their margins.

Respecting the tears of other people—and the emotions underlying them—is a key part of empowering and liberating children.

Respecting children’s autonomy must include their mind: both their thoughts and feelings. We need spiritual child protection, not just physical child protection.

"Evangelicals are being mean to kids and there’s no good benefit in doing so—unless, of course, you are an authoritarian like the Ezzos or a Nazi like Haarer who wants children to lose empathy and sympathy."

As I research similarities between evangelical parenting teachings and Nazi parenting teachings, I have noticed authoritarians find crying to be a threat—a form of defiance rather than honest feedback about something important.

"I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink... When you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me." ~Matthew 25:42, 45

Want to learn more about protecting and empowering children in Christian families, faith communities, and religious organizations? I wrote a book about it! More info and order it here: www.eerdmans.com/978080288283....

"If you are interested in learning more about how Christians have thought about and treated children throughout history and current Christian efforts to think about and treat children better, Aasgard’s bibliography is invaluable."

"There is a profound and significant connection between how we treat children in small, local contexts like church and how we as a society have created a world that discriminates against and abuses children in systemic fashion."

Children are not mere creatures of parents. They are not projects or weapons. They are inheritors of God’s Kingdom, images of that God, and they are capable of prophecy, leadership, teaching, and theology.

Hey, here's an idea: don't hit your kids! I call it the "don't hit your kids, you fucking ghoul" style of parenting!

Authoritative parenting is often seen as a pro-child alternative to authoritarian parenting. But research by "parenting styles" creator Diana Baumrind found that "on average, authoritative parents spanked just as much as the average of all other parents."

Disappointing.

"Talking about peace without being prepared to see the roots of violence in childhood is like wanting to heal a person by covering up and ignoring a giant abscess." ~Alice Miller, "For Your Own Good"

Treating children like human beings with human rights does not require studying fancy theologies or philosophies or learning parenting kung fu. It really comes down to something quite simple: the Golden Rule.

A society that truly values families must see and value children as individuals with their own perspectives, vulnerabilities, and rights. Seeing Children: Why the Family Frame Isn’t Enough open.substack.com/pub/bruceles...

"To center children is not to oppose families; it is to ensure that family policy begins with the child’s well-being as the irreducible unit of concern." ~ @brucelesley.bsky.social

“The uncomfortable sexual dimensions of spanking have, until this point, been politely left unspoken in much of the dialogue about corporal punishment, but I appreciate the authors of Myth drawing them out into the open.”

Got my copy on audible today and already well into it. Really fascinating insights into the vast literature on evangelical parenting and its consequences. I’m sure this will resonate with many evangelicals and exvangelicals. Well done, @mburtwrites.bsky.social & @kkramermcginnis.bsky.social.

It is not sufficient to critique how “other” Christian parents parent, namely, conservative and/or fundamentalist Christians. Deconstruction has a place and is an act of love; however, constructing alternative visions is also vital.

Never forget... "At least 3,104 Native American children died in boarding schools in the United States, taken from their families to be forcibly assimilated."

"We can do better by centering Indigenous voices and stories all year, even with our littlest learners."

Child protection and child liberation are for all of God's children. If you're either actively excluding queer children or simply not including them, children will suffer. Queer children are made in the image of God. Speak up for queer children. Ensure they know how beautifully they reflect Jesus.

I want the Church to understand, confess, and repent for how it has used the Bible for centuries for evil against children. And not only must that stop, but there is also a better way.

"The big picture myth is, this is God’s way to parent, and from that come little myths about what will happen to children who aren’t raised this way, versus what will happen to these chosen ones who follow the correct path." ~ @kkramermcginnis.bsky.social

Watching so many in the U.S. choose to obey in advance, one wonders if we’re now (in part) reaping the rotten fruit of “first time obedience.”

Yes and amen. It’s not easy to raise children this way but it’s best for them, for society, and ultimately for us too. All flourishing is mutual, y’all (HT: Robin Wall Kimmerer). Thank you for this, @rlstollar.bsky.social.

Corporal punishment of children is evil. Paddling a child is objectively worse in every possible way than paddling an adult and if you did the latter to an unwilling participant you would be thrown in prison and put on a sex offender registry.

Violence against women, children, and other marginalized groups are not “pet” issues that only activists should care about; they are central to the human experience and central to many Biblical stories.

💔💔💔

"Sometimes disobedience is godly. Sometimes disobedience is holy."

"If child liberation theology is only intellectual to its advocates and adherents, then it is an idol and a false gospel."

"Jesus used very specific imagery and emphases when talking about children — imagery and emphases that directly contradict those employed by evangelical child training experts."

“[Former] Trump Faith Adviser Finally Admits He Molested 12-Year-Old” 10/2/25 (“In 2016, the Trump campaign included him on its evangelical executive advisory board. After Trump won…, Morris served on the president’s faith advisory council. And in June 2020, Morris hosted Trump at his church…) 1/

According to the late Catholic theologian Joseph A. Grassi’s book "Children’s Liberation," the Kingdom of God belonging to children is no mere metaphor. Children are literally "the first actual owners of the kingdom," imbued with "power and authority."

"If we can experience the possibility of peace—nonviolent conflict resolution—at the family level, then our faith in the possibility of peace and our willingness to work for it at the other levels grows." ~Kathleen and James McGinnis, "Parenting for Peace and Justice"

Hauling children naked from their homes isn't what good, moral people do. "Several South Shore residents reported witnessing federal immigration agents forcibly removing unclothed children from apartments during the pre-dawn raid in Chicago."

Children are humans, they don‘t belong to nor own something to anyone. They need guidence, care and help.

If child liberation theology is only intellectual to its advocates and adherents, then it is an idol and a false gospel.

This article claims non-violent parenting "has become the defining philosophy of millennial parents." This is false. 74% of millennials believe a “good, hard spanking is sometimes necessary to discipline a child": www.local3news.com/study-shows-....

Frankly, I don't care if parenting without violence is more difficult than parenting "gently" or "peacefully." We don't treat children like human beings with human rights because it is easy. We do it because violence against children is evil.

Children, right now, are being abused and killed because of the choices adults are making. If the child liberation theology I am promoting does not help address this problem, it’s not worth my energy or time.

I recently had the opportunity to speak to @rickpidcock.bsky.social about the abusive legacies of John MacArthur, James Dobson, and Voddie Baucham—and how child liberation theology contrasts with evangelical parenting teachings.