In view of the tweeted responses to the Daily Mail article, I
thought it might be helpful to reproduce what I actually said in 2006.
Incidentally, I was myself sexually abused by a teacher when I was about
nine or ten years old. It was a very unpleasant and embarrassing
experience, but the mental trauma was soon exorcised by comparing notes
with my contemporaries who had suffered it previously at the hands of
the same master.
Thank goodness, I have never personally experienced what it is like to believe – really and truly and deeply believe – in hell. But I think it can be plausibly argued that such a deeply held belief might cause a child more long-lasting mental trauma than the temporary embarrassment of mild physical abuse.
https://richarddawkins.net/2013/01/physical-versus-mental-child-abuse/
Thank goodness, I have never personally experienced what it is like to believe – really and truly and deeply believe – in hell. But I think it can be plausibly argued that such a deeply held belief might cause a child more long-lasting mental trauma than the temporary embarrassment of mild physical abuse.
https://richarddawkins.net/2013/01/physical-versus-mental-child-abuse/