I think this notion of Cosmic Child Abuse is confusing unrelated ideas of punishment possibly equating a spanking with a crucifixion.

1.) Whatever one may think of corporal punishment of children as an element of child raising, there is a distinct difference between what is sometimes referred to as a “spanking” and child abuse. I have worked with abused children and know of a child cut with razors and nailed in a closet for weeks. This, and worse, is child abuse and, as such, is not a term to be thrown around lightly even if only to enliven debate.

2.) Dispensing with child abuse, corporal punishment remains and I do not see in the scriptures God giving Jesus a good spanking, or beating to reconcile sinners to himself.

3.) I see in the scriptures that Jesus died to reconcile sinners to God. This makes the sinner not simply a wayward, errant child in need of a simple swat to the hindparts, but rather a person guilty of a hanging offense in need of mercy, forgiveness and someone or something to die in his place.

“Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world." (John 1:29)

“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly… For God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.” (Romans 5:6-11)

“And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconcilled to God.” (II Corinthians 5:18-20)

Are these the scriptures relevant to the theory of the penal substitution view of the Atonement?

Alario