It is absolutely unbelievable! While apologetics for the WTBS may claim that these individuals were already unstable or off balance, the simple fact is that for the last 80 years the WTBS has been admonishing, recommending, advising, counseling, educating, condoning, and educating its followers that the word "rod" in the bible is a physical thing.
For years, fundamentalists from many faiths continue the madness of using the word "rod" as a basis for coporal punishment, which usually ends in child abuse and family breakdown during the teen years.
Rods in the bible are used as measuring guides, tools for examination, like a ruler or magnifying glass, depending on the subject of study. Where discipline is concerned, the rod is for MEASURING the results and friutage of the EDUCATION previously inculcated by the child's parents.
If the parents did not input any education and training (discipline) then the rod would reveal negative results. It has always been a tool for double-checking the parent's efforts, and not meant to be a tool for blaming and punishing the child.
It's the bible way of telling parents "garbage in, garbage out". And the rod of discipline if the collection of tools used to measure those results.
It is amazing how many miss this simple point and are quickly caught up in authority struggles with simple children. Even a small child can understand this logic. Yet, all of these so-called spiritual men cannot see past their "spiritual badge of enforcement" issued by the WTBS under the guise of rods and discipline. It is pathetic.
