What is a criminal?: Understanding the harm in punishing children

Many parents believe that punishing children will keep them from becoming a criminal. Most people don't understand that punishment is exactly why children grow up to become criminals. One needs to understand the law enforcement definition of a criminal, and where that defined concept arises from.

What is a criminal? A person who cannot function in society without punishment. This means most all people, under the right conditions, in the United States, are capable of becoming criminals, because most Americans have had a punitive upbringing that makes them dependent on punishment to know what is acceptable in society. A pure criminal would do the wrong thing when nobody is looking. A criminal is an opportunist. Most criminals enjoy prison and feel safe there, and that is because there is structure in prison, and the reason they crave structure is that they were never given freedom as children.

Punishment of children is what causes criminality, meaning the need for punishment as a boost, to various degrees in most of society. Punishment begets the necessity of most punishment, as punishment causes brain damage that leads to lack of moral internalization. A criminal has not internalized the morals of our society, and that is due to punishment, and these days, a lack of structure alongside it.

What is the answer? No structure in parenting, meaning as little structure as possible. The more structured the upbringing, the less structure the child internalizes on their own. The idea is to model discipline to a child, not punish them for not having it. See Ephesians 6:1-4 KJV:

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor thy father and mother, for this is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long upon the earth. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

The Greek root word translated "nurture" is παιδεία (Latin: paideia) and refers to a Christian standard of discipline in a parent in relation to their child, namely one that exemplifies Christ by being entitled to nothing, and grateful for everything in life, including from children. Children owe nothing in relation to parents, and parents owe everything to children, expecting absolutely nothing in return, leading to a chastened up example for children to follow, backed up by a rare warning that certain wants or behaviors are unattainable or unsafe, as a righteous test, as denoted by the Greek root word νουθεσία (Latin: nouthesia). This Greek root word refers to the righteous test of saying "no" or a variant of that word to see if a child is ready to follow directions, and when they aren't, they are simply supervised and kept safe. The Greek root word translated "provoke...to wrath" is παροργίζο (Latin: parorgizo) refers to provocations to anger imposed upon children, as defined as the slightest of personal offense perceived by the child, namely the slightest of unwanted touch perceived by the child. The Apostle Paul, as well as the surrounding legal context, intended this commandment as a prohibition on all punitive parenting, including corporal punishment, with Paul here rebuking Greek Christians for bringing their pagan ritual of spanking children into the church, with the Greek Christians justifying their custom using the book of Proverbs. The seven rod verses in Proverbs are repealed verses, as they refer to a dated form of judicial corporal punishment unique culturally and legally to the Old Testament - the 40 minus 1 lashes with the rod of correction administered when a death sentence was handed down by a criminal court of law. Only ADULT children of Hebrew parents were whipped, as minor children could not stand trial for crimes they committed before the age of majority.

Children have to want to honor the example of parents. The Greek root word translated "obey" is υπακουο (Latin: hupakouo) and refers to secure, vulnerable rest in the love and grace of parents, with this love for children being defined as prioritizing children above oneself to the point of submission. Attachment parenting was the norm in biblical times, with mothers holding their children close and wrapping them up in swaddling blankets, breastfeeding children until age 3. Children went in the nude in the Early Church and in the Old Testament until adulthood, and their nudity was seen as vulnerability, with children not straying ever from the line of sight of parents. Closeness was the normative short-term goal of parents, with independence being the long-term goal that secure attachment meets. Children are to be allowed to develop on their own, with minimal interference from parents, but with a strong Christian example in parents. Most childish behaviors are a phase, and should either be left go or treated as a petition for needs or a redress of grievances. Children should be allowed to disagree, perhaps sharply, with parents. The hope is that the example of parents leads to an adult who knows right and wrong, and will not do the wrong thing even when they have a 100% chance of evading punishment. Attachment parenting is what sells your good example to your child, and makes them want to be like you as the parent.

Criminals do care about punishment. They simply don't want to get caught. Antisocial personality disorder involves an individual who is dependent on punishment as a guide as to right and wrong. This is because punishment is addicting, meaning dependence-forming in the brain. The more a child is punished, the more they need it, as they are used to being heavily monitored and supervised, and cannot think for themselves. Criminality is a disease, a cognitive impairment that is bred by childhood trauma, and most Americans have it to some degree. Children need an example to go by, not spelled out limits and boundaries that form a policing grid that keeps them reliant on constant instruction.

The depraved and entitled parents will not inherit the Kingdom of God! Let them burn and suffer in the lake of fire and burning sulfur, which is the second death prepared for Satan and his accomplices! Let them descend into the fire of Hell and torment, suffering God's Wrath forever and ever! Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!