JOhn Leland, ok ok uncle, no my conservatism is not just limited to economics, but I have been a long time family advocate, one spouse, and guess what, you don’t need to beat your kids and dogs to be a Christian. True I don’t believe in spanking oh and guess what again, my kids are all in high school or older and they are not in prison or on drugs. They ski, drive, all have legal driver licenses, the voting ones voted Romney, they scuba dive, aren’t in sexual relationships..............all without spanking. Wow! How did I do it? Was it always sweetness and light? No. But I was a stay at home mom until my youngest was in 6th grade and then worked only part time so I could do the pick up after school, dinner at 6. I don’t drink, or galavant around at night and guess what? Somehow it all worked out.
So, no, I don’t think it is a literal rod in the Bible, oh, by the way, I pray and fast and pray scriptures for my children. I think the “rod” is a metaphor for a structured life and life is hard enough without intentionally hurting the kids.
Put that in your pipe and smoke it.
I'm trying to find out what danger we might face from "conservatives" who have no regard for the literal nature of the Scriptures, and who might think that the epitome of success in Christian child-rearing is sports and voting for the Republican candidate.
Christianity . . . BEING a Christian most certainly does entail obedience to the Scriptures in all areas of life.