Your hogwash boils down to this:
"A parent has ultimate authority over the child. Unless I say different."
Your exceptions being:
This does not protect mere whimsy or overt lack of care for the wellbeing of the child.
What is "whimsy" and what is neglect?
What is "overt lack of care" and what is homicide?
As the arbiter of all things proper, please enlighten me:
Where do you draw the line?
Where does the authority of the parent end and the government's authority begin? And who gets to decide? And what rules do they use to decide?
Is parental intent the sole criteria?
Is physical child abuse OK simply because a fundie decides to follow the Bible?
Example (1)
... church members systematically held down their children while beating them with belts and other objects -- allegedly under the direction of the past, the Rev. Arthur Allen ... The youngsters were tied up and suspended by their arms and hands, and "beaten with switches, sticks or belts."
Page not found - American Atheists
Example (2)
... it is the Twelve Tribes' attitude towards children that has proved most controversial. Harsh discipline is one of the group's central tenets, as detailed in its 267-page Child Training Manual, copies of which have been handed out to parents at Picton. Written by Spriggs, the manual codifies when, why and how to hit children, saying "you must make it hurt enough to produce the desired result" and that "stripes or marks from loving discipline show love by the parent".
Religion and Child Abuse News
Please keep in mind:
The Bible mandates death by stoning for rebellious teenagers, according to a Pennsylvania preacher and Religious Right activist.
The Rev. William O. Einwechter's article, "Stoning Disobedient Children," appeared in the January issue of Chalcedon Report, a monthly journal published by the Chalcedon Foundation in Vallecito, Calif.
In the article, Einwechter cites Deuteronomy 21:18-21, which advises parents to take "a stubborn and rebellious son" before city elders to be stoned to death if he will not change his ways.
Einwechter says the death penalty should be applied to "a grown son (and by extension to a daughter as well) who, for whatever reason, has rebelled against the authority of his parents and will not profit from any of their discipline nor obey their voice in any thing."
Writes Einwechter, "[T]he execution of the rebel in view is just, merciful, and preventive. Just, in that the transgressor deserves to die; merciful, in that his quick death prevents the destruction of the family, society, and others; preventive, in that it strikes fear in the heart of other would-be rebels and restrains them from taking a similar ruinous course."
The Chalcedon Report is the leading publication of the "Christian Reconstructionist" movement, the most extreme contingent of the Religious Right. Reconstructionists reject democracy and believe Christians should take "dominion" over American society. Under their version of "biblical law," the death penalty would be required for over a dozen offenses, including adultery, homosexuality, witchcraft and spreading "false" religions.
http://www.positiveatheism.org/mail/eml9673.htm
Is homicide OK simply because some fundie wanted to drive the "demon" from a child?
A jury found minister Ray Hemphill guilty of felony child abuse Friday after he suffocated an 8-year-old child during an exorcism at his strip mall-based church.
Page not found - Court TV
Is homicide OK simply because some fundie chose prayer over antibiotics?
In Oregon City, four-year-old Alex Dale Morris received prayers for 46 days before he died. His parents, members of the Followers of Christ church denied the boy medical attention. His autopsy revealed that massive infection in his chest had filled one entire side of his chest with pus.
http://www.positiveatheism.org/mail/eml9074.htm
Is homicide OK simply because some fundie chose prayer over surgery?
In Boston, two-year-old Robyn Twitchell died of peritonitis and a twisted bowel after a five-day illness that began with his screaming and vomiting. His parents, members of Christian Science, refused to get medical treatment for their son.
Is homicide OK simply because some fundie chose prayer over insulin?
Bo Phillips, 11, died Feb. 23 of diabetes after suffering painful symptoms for a week. His death could have been prevented with medical care. His eyes were sunken and his face was yellow. His parents were members of the Followers of Christ Church. When his father was asked why he let the boy die, the father said it was his choice (Van Biema, David "Faith Or Healing" Time Aug. 311998 vol. 152 No9).
http://www.positiveatheism.org/mail/eml9074.htm
Is homicide OK simply because some fundie chose prayer over antibiotics for an inner ear infection?
Sixteen-year-old Shannon Nixon died of treatable diabetes complications. Five years before, her younger brother Clayton died of an inner-ear infection. Their parents, Lori and Dennis Nixon, were members of the Faith tabernacle Church and refused to let their children have medical attention (Blair, Jeffroy "Faith-Healing Convictions Upheld" Deloit Daily News Apr. 30, 1997).
http://www.positiveatheism.org/mail/eml9074.htm
Is homicide OK simply because some JW doesn't want his newborn sextuplets to receive blood transfusions?
Medical opinion, the government's duty to protect children, parental rights and freedom of religion clashed in a B.C. courtroom Friday over the seizure of three premature sextuplets.
Three of the four surviving sextuplets were taken from their home last year and given blood transfusions, contrary to the beliefs of their Jehovah's Witness parents.
Religion and Child Abuse News: endangerment
Is child sex abuse OK simply because some Mormon thinks a 14 year old makes a fine bride?
The recent conviction of Warren Jeffs, leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, on two felony counts of rape by accomplice in the arranged marriage of a 14-year-old girl to her 19-year-old cousin hopefully drove home to the U.S. public that child marriage is a crime.
Building Awareness of Child Marriage - Rewire News Group
Is genital mutilation OK simply because some fundie wants to circumcise at home?
Now the self-admitted polygamist father faces allegations that he used a utility knife to circumcise two of his sons.
Investigators in Caldwell County plan to serve Johnny Marlowe, 32, felony child abuse warrants. The alleged circumcisions occurred in 2005 and 2006 when Marlowe lived in Lenoir.
Religion and Child Abuse News: endangerment
Is child labor OK simply because some fundie thinks so?
Up to 40 House of Yahweh children allegedly spent their days working in the religious sect's fields, canning operation, cafeteria and butter-making process, according to a new charge filed against Yisrayl Bill Hawkins, the group's leader.
Religion and Child Abuse News: child labour
Is incest OK simply because god told some wingnut it is?
David Berg, deceased founder and prophetic leader of The Family International, practiced and condoned incest, seeing "man's laws" as a nuisance. Following are excerpts from a number of Family publications where Berg dealt specifically with incest.
Berg on Incest - XFamily - Children of God
I could go on. There's plenty of sexual/physical/emotional abuse in the name of religion.
I'll let you get started with these.
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