Yeah. Our parents hit us if we disobeyed whatever stupid rules they came up with, including taking too long to get ready for church. Staying home was not an option. But they refuse to acknowledge that it was abuse, they think they were divinely entitled to treat their children like slaves.

Personally, I see more harm than good in religion. Superstition is dangerous. I hope more people can start thinking for themselves instead of trying to outsource it to an unreachable authority.

[–] Maeve@kbin.earth 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I and people around me came up similarly. A buddy remarked on a recent neighborhood shooting and said, "If they'd been whipped like we were, these things would stop, wouldn't it?“

I said, "I don't know about that. Whipping never stopped me from a behavior, but it made me slicker. Did it ever stop you?" He acknowledged it surely didn't. It's almost like authoritarianism and overindulgence are both abuse.

[–] SnoopSqueak@lemmy.today 2 points 20 hours ago

"My parents hit me, and I turned out fine." - person advocating for physical child abuse