Spanking is not a biblical mandate

According to surveys, most Americans spank their children. I don't think they are necessarily bad parents. Nor can I demonstrate that spanking is always wrong. While there is some research and data, it is not conclusive. In fact, most arguments for and against spanking are based either on theory or anecdotes. So I won't try to settle the great spanking debate here.

Instead I want to dispel the myth that spanking is a mandate from God. Many people seem to believe that the bible commands parents to spank their disobedient children. But this is simply not true. Here are some facts to help clear up this misconception.