Tennessee pastor Michael Pearl is being censured for his views on raising children by never "sparing the rod."

Critics have attributed several children's deaths to his self-published book, "To Train Up A Child," which condones and even advocates the use of corporal punishment in child rearing. In the book, Pearl and his wife recommend the methodical use of punishing children in order for them to learn about authority.

Also found in Pearl's book are different implements that may be use to hit a child, starting from a light switch at six months graduating to belts and willow springs as they grow older. The book, which gained much of its popularity in the Christian market, has about 670,000 copies in circulation.

Among the 66-year-old pastor's readers are Larry and Carri Williams of Sedro-Woolley, Wash. The two, who are devout Christian home-schoolers, were charged with homicide when their adopted daughter, Hana, was found bone thin and naked in their backyard.

The Ethiopian-born Hana died from extreme starvation and hypothermia caused by the Williams' insistence that she fast and was made to sleep in an unheated barn, police said. Last year, 7-year-old Lydia Schatz died after being whipped for hours with no interruptions except for prayer. Both Kevin and Elizabeth Schatz, who have also read "To Train Up A Child," are in prison for second-degree murder and torture.

Meanwhile, Pearl is denying connections culled from these children's death and his book.

"If you find a 12-step book in an alcoholic's house, you wouldn't blame the book," the pastor replied in a statement to the Times.

Christian Lutton, though, is of a different opinion.

Lutton, who runs a Christian blog denouncing corporal punishment, says the method described in the book is problematic at best -- the only way to get results is to hit harder and harder. In addition, some Christian groups are working to get Pearl's book out of publication and circulation through retailers such as Amazon.com.

Tennessee