I refuse to accept the Bible as a moral guide because its teachings respecting the treatment of children are cruel and unjust.
It advocates the use of corporal punishment for children.
“Thou shalt beat him with the rod” (Prov. xxiii, 14).
“Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod he shall not die” (Ibid xxiii, 13).
“Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him” (Ibid xxii, 15).
“The rod and reproof give wisdom” (Ibid xxix, 15).
It advocates capital punishment for children:
“If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his mother, and that when they have chastened him will not hearken unto them; then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place.... And all the men of the city shall stone him with stones that he die” (Deut. xxi, 18, 19, 21).
It advocates the indiscriminate and merciless slaughter of little children:
“Their children also shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes” (Isa. xiii, 16).