Punishment vs. Discipline: Perceptual Control Theory, the Responsible Thinking Process, and the Bible

By Dr. James Alfred Brettell

The thesis of this booklet is as follows: There is no scriptural authority to employ any form of punishment, including corporal punishment, to bring about a change in a person's behavior, including a child's behavior, during the New Testament Christian era. This booklet is divided into three sections: 1) PCT and the Bible; 2) RTP and the Bible; and 3) Punishment vs. Discipline. In section 1, the connection between PCT and the Bible will be developed, followed by a listing of several principles related to PCT. In section 2, the connection between RTP and the Bible will be developed, followed by a listing of several principles related to RTP. Section 3 will support the notion that punishment was never biblically authorized as a method to change disruptive behavior. In fact, this author believes that PCT and RTP are both biblically based concepts, and that RTP based upon PCT is the method of choice when dealing with disruptive behavior in any environment. Throughout Church history, major doctrines have become lost from church practice only to be rediscovered at some later date. It is this author's opinion that discipline as the biblical method of dealing with disruptive behavior has been lost from both secular and church practice throughout his lifetime, dating back seven decades, but has been rediscovered by Mr. Ed Ford who was encouraged by the work of William T. Powers who developed PCT that became the foundation from which RTP was launched. Rediscover God's plan for changing disruptive behavior, a plan that does not include punishment as its means.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1463690851
• ISBN13: 9781463690854
• Release Date: July 2011
• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• Length: 58 Pages
• Weight: 0.31 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.1" x 6.0"