Child Abuse
Helen is 31 years old. She is addicted to a drug which she calls Old Faithful. The drug is illegal for recreational use and is therefore costly. Fortunately, for Helen, she is wealthy enough to easily afford it and avoid any significant legal risk.
She uses Old Faithful at least once a day and never fails to experience euphoria, comfort, and freedom from care and anxiety. Helen cannot imagine a life without the solace that this drug provides. Coping with the tribulations of daily living is so much easier with the prospect of relief always at hand.
Helen is very aware that her values and choices are not shared by many others. That others would consider her life a waste and Helen herself lost, and perhaps even evil. This does not concern Helen as she has found that people, in general, do not think clearly about anything very much. From her perspective, the pursuit of pleasure, avoiding suffering, and not causing harm to others makes as much sense as anything can in this brief privilege of existence.
Helen has a son, slightly over a year old, for which she has unbounded love. In a few years he will begin school and be exposed to the attitudes of the general population. This is a growing concern for Helen as she fears he may be influenced or persuaded to view drug use as an evil to be avoided. His position on this matter may be induced before he has reached the age of reason and is able to think critically about it. She resolves to help her son circumvent this danger.
Minute doses of Old Faithful will be introduced in gradually increasing quantity and frequency with the intent to create a profound dependency by the time adulthood is on the horizon. In this way Helen is assured her son will not be deprived of the comfort she herself enjoys. This activity is not covertly performed but done openly and honestly discussed at all times.
How should Helen’s resolution be judged?
As always, judgement is dependent on one’s perspective. If you believe a drug-free life is preferable to a drug addicted life, Helen is clearly guilty of robbing her child of a better life.
But this is not Helen’s view at all. She has the conviction, through personal experience, that this particular drug has improved her life and should do the same for her child. Her actions are not only righteous but duty driven. She is, after all, responsible for the welfare of her child.
There is another important perspective that is entirely independent of one’s viewpoint toward drug use. That perspective is the respect of individual freedom of action and thought. Helen’s son has a right to make choices that affect the quality of his life. Helen is violating that right in her resolution. The idea that she knows better than her son what is best for him is rooted in certainty, certainty in things nobody has any business being certain about.
If Helen had the good sense to realize that, no matter how unlikely, she could be mistaken, undertaking the deliberate introduction of an addictive substance would be unthinkable.
***
Sandra (Sandy to her friends) is 29. She was born again at 16 when she walked down the aisle of her church and gave her life to Jesus. As she describes it, she could feel the Holy Spirit enter her soul, and her experience of life was totally transformed.
No longer confused or uncertain, she is filled with God’s truth and finds joy and intense feelings of euphoria with His perfect love. Sandra cannot imagine a life without God and His daily blessings.
Sandra has become aware that, in her society, the fastest growing demographic is the people who are turning away from organized religion. She has toddlers not yet in school and worries that exposure to this society could corrupt the children and prevent them from accepting the true purpose of their lives.
She consults with her pastor who confirms the trend is distressing but points out her fears are somewhat premature. He assures her that, prior to the children entering a university, there is much beneficial effort she can exploit to save them.
Secular universities, he explains, are apparently where Satan has set up office and it is here that most dangerous ideas and immoral principles are promoted. If she prepares her offspring to survive the temptations experienced while pursuing a college education they can stay pure and Godly.
He then outlines the specific efforts Sandra should resolve to undertake. You cannot begin too early to teach the doctrines of faith. Daily prayers and repetition are essential. Attendance at church Sunday School must be at least weekly and preferably more often. Do not miss the opportunity to enroll the children in Bible study programs, Bible camps or retreats. At home, do not avoid opportunities for family prayer and spiritual reinforcement.
While it is best to use Christian schools, public schools are acceptable, but it would be prudent to ensure a Good News Club or equivalent is active at that school.
Be alert to entertainment, literature and other intellectual stimulants that could corrupt a Godly outlook and prevent exposure to them as much as possible.
Keep in mind that, as a parent, you know much more than your children and are responsible for guiding them to the correct path in righteousness. Sandra agrees and resolves to do her best in this endeavor.
How should Sandra’s resolution be judged?