God doesn't make anyone do anything. We've got free will, folks, and we decide exactly how to use it. As to whether God spoke to the lady in question, well, there's no way of determining that, is there? But I suspect that in her case there was some degree of self-created delusion at work...though I cannot say for sure.

I'll say this. I despise the practice of beating children, having suffered it some myself as a youngster. It is a contemptible act, and it does not teach the child anything useful, but may do lifelong psychological damage...and may lead to the child becoming violent toward others, and using violence to settle issues.

I find it sad that archaic holy books from a primitive tribal people whose customs were often brutal in the extreme should still be directing people's behaviour in this world. It's also ironical that various practitioners of brutal treatment call themselves "Christians", because Jesus never counseled anyone toward violent behaviour, as far as I know. Quite the contrary. Violence is a demonstration of failure to communicate and failure to cope on a sensible human level with a situation. It's also a demonstration of weakness...and fear. If you cannot win children's respect by a positive example and by your own strength of character, you've got no business messing with their minds and trying to control them through fear.

- LH