Changing Minds About Spanking

Samuel Martin looks at who is changing their minds about spanking and who is not. In other news, I have added a bunch of links to my post about the Resignation of Doug Phillips so you might want to take another look at it.

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Hana’s Fund

Maureen tells us about what the Ethiopian Community is working on in regards to Hana Alemu “Williams” in Hana’s Fund, Hana’s Grave Marker. (By the way, can anyone tell me why my traffic has suddenly spiked in the last few days? Not that I mind, of course, I’m just curious.)

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The Resignation of Doug Phillips

You have probably heard by now that Doug Phillips has resigned from his position as president of Vision Forum Ministries and and discontinued his speaking responsibilities. When I first saw this, I did not know what to think.  On one hand, he has done so much damage to so many people and yet he appeared…

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Good Baby?

Grace For My Sheep  considers how much more important it is to meet the needs of her child than to worry about the “parent-judgers” in Not a “Good Baby,” Not a “Pharisee Momma.”

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The Williams Trial: Day 30 – The Sentence

Tuesday October 29, 2013, the Williams were sentenced to prison for a very long time.  Carri has been sentenced for 37 years and Larry for almost 28 years. Maureen was there and shares about it here.  You might also find this older post of interest, she wrote it the day before the sentencing. Cindy Kunsman,…

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Larry Williams’ Lawyers Still Trying

According to recent news stories, Larry Williams’ Lawyers are trying to get him a new trial and/or  a short sentence.  The sentencing is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct 29, 2013. Here is the story in the Skagit Valley Herald which discusses them requesting a new trial. (Clicking on this story will add a cookie to your…

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New Gentle Parenting Blog

There is a brand new blog called, Grace For My Sheep. Her latest post looks at a human’s inherent need for Jesus and how that relates to gentle parenting. Lovely! While we’re on the subject of Gentle Parenting, here is a very helpful post from Hippie Housewife called, Ten alternatives To Time Outs.  The more…

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Not To Worry, Carri Williams Is Being Kept Safe

In case anyone was worried about how Carri Williams is faring in jail, the Skagit Valley Herald reports that she is being kept safe in one of the Work Release pods.  This was an upgrade from the Solitary Confinement cell she was in before, as they are not healthy to use  for long term use.…

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Spanking Debate in South Africa

Yesterday I posted a link to an opinion piece on News 24 from South Africa about where the term “Spare The Rod, Spoil The Child” originated. I now have discovered that there is a rip-roaring spanking debate going on in South Africa over their proposed new law against spanking.  The link I shared was a part…

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Samuel Martin Explains About Biblical Times

Samuel Martin is trying to help people understand the difference in how people thought in Biblical times and now because this is crucial to understanding the Bible. He discusses Michael’s book, To Train Up A Child in Should we preach? publish?, or proclaim the Gospel – Yes? No? Maybe? He also has a post on Dara…

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Analyzing A Problematic Post by Pearl

Sarah at Field of Vision has started a small series of posts looking at the Pearl’s teachings and specifically their attitude towards children.  This series focuses on one particular article by Michael Pearl called, Emotional Manipulators. Part 1: Parenting and the Power of Perspective in which she discusses how Michael Pearl assigns negative intent to…

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How Could They?

Under Much Grace looks at how parents find themselves falling into abusive teachings in A Film that Helps Us Understand Why Pearl Becomes Appealing: How do parents get caught up in extreme practices? Also of interest, she reflects on the Williams Trial in Homeschooling, Hana Williams and the “Rod of Man.”  

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The Williams Trial – Update

The Skagit Valley Herald has an article (Subscriber Content) which states that Prosecutors have dropped the charge of  Homicide By Abuse against Larry Williams.  Those who were following the trial may remember that the jury was deadlocked on that charge and were unable to return a verdict for it.  The charge was officially dropped on Sept…

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How Many Churches Allow and Even Encourage Abuse

Valerie Tarico looks at the problem of  Christian discipline leading to abuse in “Bible-based” discipline has led to child abuse in Salon Magazine.  I am seeing non-believers getting more and more concerned with this issue and rightly so.  It breaks my heart that abusive Christians are giving Christianity a bad name.  Of course, it is only…

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Sparing The Rod And Parental Discipleship

This article,“Sparing the Rod: Biblical Discipline and Parental Discipleship,” by Anne Eggebroten was published in the newsletter,  The Other Side in 1987.  In this long article, she not only explains why she gave up spanking and examines the link between discipline and discipleship, but she looks at the history of attitudes towards children.

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Why Not Regulate Homeschoolers?

I was asked in the comments to my post, The Beast Look At  Homeschooling, why I believe that regulation of homeschooling is a slippery slope and what would be appropriate oversight to prevent abuse. My opinion is that parents are responsible for their children, the state is not. I do not believe that the state…

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Unexpected Dangers: Crossfit and Lime Juice

Those who are familiar with this blog know that it is possible to spank a child until s/he is overcome by Rhabdomyolysis. This is exactly what killed Lydia Schatz and almost killed her sister, Zariah.  Well, it  has come to my attention that adults have been known to inflict themselves with Rhabdomyolysis by excessive exercise.…

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The Beast Looks At Homeschooling

The Daily Beast looks at the problem of certain parents who use homeschooling as a way to hide their abuse  in The Sinister Side of Homeschooling.  This article does make it clear that homeschooling is usually not done as an excuse to abuse and that most homeschooling parents are not abusive.  However, the author of…

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To Break Down A Child – Stories Of Life Under Pearl’s Teachings

Last Week, I mentioned that Homeschoolers Anonymous was collecting stories and testimonies from those who were affected by Pearl’s teachings.   Well, their “Pearl-Style Discipline Week” is over, so I thought I would link to their collection of tragic stories.  This series is not for the sensitive and/or easily triggered.  I especially want to highlight…

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Debi Pearl Thinks It’s A Lie

Poor Debi Pearl, she is so confused.  It is so very sad.  She considers our warnings against her and her husband’s teachings to be a lie, akin to the lies Hitler told.   She states in this article that  the parents who killed their children never read their books and that they were not found…

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Debate with Pearl in The Christian Post

Back in March of 2012, Jan Heimlich debated Michael Pearl in a video which was featured in The Christian Post.  Although, I did mention the debate at the time as well as Samuel Martin’s Rebuttal to one of his statements, I never gave my own rebuttal. I would like to respond to some of Mr.…

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Getting Rid Of Weeds

Dara Stoltzfus compares bad behavior in our children to Weeds in a Garden and comes up with some interesting allegories. This is a little off topic, but I just came across a news story about a family who noticed their very gentle dog acting aggressively towards the baby sitter. They left a device under the…

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A Survivor Speaks

M. Dolon Hickmon shares about the abuse he endured while growing up and how being spanked “The Right Way” almost destroyed him in this (*triggering*) letter he wrote to Michael Pearl.  This post serves to introduce his Opus (a work of fiction)  which apparently needs backers. However, it does seem like it could be of interest to…

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Considering Adoption Reform

Whatcom Mom had an interesting comment which I would like to highlight. I’m hoping the readers here will have some ideas about improving adoption home study practice, based on what we have learned from the deaths of Hana Williams and Lydia Schatz and injuries to their siblings. So you know where I’m coming from. I’m…

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Reflections on the Williams Trial

As I reflect with sorrow and horror at the tragedy which was the Williams Trial, I find myself trying to make sense of what happened and why. What I see as the root problem is pride. The Bible says that God hates pride.  We know that “pride goeth before a fall and a haughty spirit…

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