Is Spanking an Acceptable Form of Discipline?

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Now, to the Bible. In preparation for writing my most recent book, Parenting by The Book, I did considerable scholarship into the meaning of the word "rod" as used in scripture in passages referring to the discipline of children. The word "rod" is used throughout the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament). It is used both as a metaphor and in reference to concrete objects. There is no mystery as to when it is metaphor and when it refers to an object. The difference is readily distinguishable. Every use of the term "rod" in the context of the discipline of children is a metaphor alluding to authority, leadership, consistency, reliability, and the like. This does not disallow spanking, but it certainly does not command it. The problem is that most of the people who interpret the Bible to fundamentalist audiences are not Biblical scholars. They read "rod" and they think a stick. So, they believe, with good intention, that God commands spanking with hard objects. They say things that are as ridiculous as things said by the No Spankers. For example, "Spanking with the hand causes the child confusion as to whether a parent's hand encourages and expresses affection or causes pain." No it doesn't. I spanked my kids with my hand. They did not shrink away in fear when I went to embrace them. There’s no research on this, but I’ve asked lots of people who spank with their hands if their kids clearly know the difference between when they are about to receive a pop on the rear and when they are about to receive an embrace or a pat on the back. Do I need to tell you what they’ve all told me? I didn’t think so.