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Christianity Today, August (Web-Only), 2008 |

Dobson and the God-o-Meter

Beliefnet editor Dan Gilgoff on the Religious Right's continuing role in this election.

Interview by Sarah Pulliam | posted 8/01/2008 09:55AM

Focus on the Family founder James Dobson is keeping religion-and-politics observers on their toes this election. Back in February, Dobson told his radio listeners that he would not vote for Sen. John ...

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Keith

Posted: August 07, 2008 5:42 AM

The dirty little secret of Evangelicals is race and class. This was the case as far back as the Ronald Reagan days. Reagan was no more a Christian as the Pope is Jewish. Yet, Evangelicals chose him over a dedicated, Sunday School teaching Jimmy Carter. Lets face it, White Evangelicals can sing "Oh, How I Love Jesus" and at the same time hate an African American and loathe a poor person. They can express their right to life belief and at the same time, salivate at the prospect of the death penalty. Call it what it is. Stop being fake! And know that God is not pleased!

A McClain

Posted: August 06, 2008 2:30 PM

To N Eckert: "obama purports to be a Christian but doesn't believe the basics of Christianity." Since when did John McCain believe the basics of Christianity! His lifestyle doesn't show what he mouthes! I believe in Jesus Christ first, in ALL things, and ALWAYS before family and everything else in all creation! Therefore i'm voting for Barack Obama for President, Obama isn't a perfect candidate but, he is more honorable and mature in conducting his campaign, and i agree with him on a majority of issues. First of all im DEFINITELY PRO-LIFE! I am outraged by SOME evangelicals as to the use of the terms of homosexuality and pro-life issues as a coverup of the misdeeds of themselves,their friends, and family members. GOD is not a Democrat, but he is NOT a Republican either!

John	Posted: August 04, 2008 2:10 PM

The problem in this country is our system (as opposed to a parlimentary system) lends itself to two-party elections, so you generally have to chose the Democrat or the Republican. The Democratic Party has shown much more of an observance of the Bible's suggestions to take care of "the least of these" and feed hungry and tend to sick people. The Republican record on social justice is horrific, and John McCain seems aching for more war. However, the Republicans tend to be better on morality issues like abortion, pervasive sexuality, gambling, and marriage. So neither party is perfect. On balance Obama is the better choice this time around, but it's a close call.

Paula

Posted: August 04, 2008 11:10 AM

I am very concerned that Christians will be swayed by Obama's profession of faith. As Christians we need to look at the actions of Obama, what are his policies? Do they follow the Bible, the truth? As Christians and Born Again Christians, we need to be sure to get involved in this election, to look at the policies of both candidates. We know what the truth is and need to vote according to that truth. Polls have shown that when Christians vote that we can create a shift. It is our responsibility. May God Bless America Again.

Jack	Posted: August 04, 2008 10:19 AM


People should know about Mr. Dobson's connections with Eric Prince of Blackwater security fame (the private contracting firm in Iraq that is apparently above the law). He is in bed with war profiteers-ofcourse he's going to endorse McCain....

mashmouth

Posted: August 03, 2008 12:34 AM


Dobson has clearly marginalized himself, and unfortunately, so have many Christians. The problems are many:namely, for example, we have moved out of culture, and yell and judge from the outside. Rather, why don't we move into culture, and change it from the inside, since changing culture politically won't and can't work? Only the Gospel can change people from the inside out.

Louis

Posted: August 02, 2008 1:11 PM


I am saddened by both candidates. What ever happened to separation of church/state? According to our Constitution, NO RELIGIOUS test is required for office. I could care less whether a candidate is Christian, atheist or whatever. It should be a non-issue. I want our Constituion back!!!!!

Richard B

Posted: August 02, 2008 12:40 PM

What annoys me the most how individual and the democrats who want to sell book, raise money or bash conservative bring up the dead carcass of the religious right. As a former member I have to say the Religious conservative died as a political force in the late 1990’s. Dobson has very little power over the electorate. Most conservative churches moved center right for pragmatic reason a la church growth movement or purpose drive dribble while other churches dropped the political label and went back to old fashion revivalism. At the same time people like me who realized God work cannot be fit into a political slogan and reject the moralism of the Christian right and Marxism dressed up in social justice of the hypocritical religious left. Instead realize the God work is he will bring sinners unto himself though Jesus sacrifice on the cross by the Gospel rightfully preached and the sacrament rightfully ministered.

H. D. Schmidt

Posted: August 02, 2008 9:26 AM

In my book, Dobson is actually making Christianity look bad, the more furious he gets, as he mixes Religion with Politics. Yes, the man that runs on: Focus on the Family, I urge him to find out why McCain divorced his wife and only a month after he married the present chick, as the story has it? Was this present lady perhaps dropped into McCain's lap after the divorce was final; no previous immoral connection with this billionaire lady? Yes, presently America under George W. the one who claims Jesus as his hero, is making Christianity look like evil. Yes, America is all over the world with its ever more inhumane and horrendous war machinery and forcing nations to bow low, while America is now the most despicable mass grave of unborn American babies the world has ever knonw. Yes, this mass grave is only of unborn American babies, murdered in the even maybe Christian mothers, for no other reason than convenience and making money. Where oh where are the American pulpits more and more?

N. Eckert

Posted: August 02, 2008 7:38 AM

Obama purports to be a Christian but doesn't believe the basics of Christianity. Therefore, he appears to be supporting a social gospel and isn't born-again. Beliefnet editor Dan Gilgoff doesn't evaluate Obama's Christianity well. I wouldn't bother to read his blog. In a Chicago Sun-Times article in 2004, Obama said this 16 years after he says he "walked the aisle." Obama doesn't believe in eternal judgment (if there were no eternal judgment, God would not have had to come down to earth as Jesus, the Son). Obama doesn't know if he's going to heaven. Obama disputes John 14:6 where Jesus asserted that no one comes to the Father but through Him. Obama says he has an internal discourse, which is not the same as praying to the Father. Obama also stayed in a church for 20 years which promoted anger, not forgiveness.

Wendell Franklin Wentz

Posted: August 01, 2008 8:06 PM


James Dobson is a far right, Republican politician, but he is not a conservative. He is a radically confused man attacking others who do not agree with him. Dr. Steve hit the nail on the head -- Dobson is indeed a Pharisee. He doesn't know the Constitution of the United States, and his sense of American History is nil. Dobson is a small side show in our land. Amen! -Wendell Franklin Wentz

Dr Steve

Posted: August 01, 2008 7:32 PM

Some would say Dr Dobson was a good child/family psychologist. The book title "Jesus Machine" is really a more accurae description of Dr Dobson's credentials and work. The Jesus who loves us all - and especially those we have trouble loving would find in Dobson's willingness to exclude those whose sins as being greater than his or whose repentance is less than his own - to be the classic Pharisee. Dr Dobson is a dinosaur relic of the day when science and faith were enemies. There will be lots of us evangelicals voting for Obama because he sounds like a Christ-ian a 'little Christ' when he speaks. McCain sounds a lot like Caesar. Dobson sounds a lot like the Pharisee in the Temple "I thank you, God, that I am not like other men.... I don't believe in abortion. I'm not gay. And especiallly I'm not like that tax collector over there... The upcoming generation of evangelicals recognize that Jesus' evangel is good news to EVERYONE except those who think they are superior to anyone!

R Hampton

Posted: August 01, 2008 7:12 PM


Jesus could not be compelled to choose between "the lesser of two evils" even if you threatened to whip, humiliate, stab and crucify him. Simply stated, Jesus would elect evil even in the smallest amounts. That is God's honest Truth.

Walter

Posted: August 01, 2008 4:55 PM

It is obvious that Roberto has no idea what abortion is about, I don't care how many books he reads. His cavalier attitude towards abortion shows that he badly needs to go back to read the Bible. The Word of God clearly indicates that life starts in the mother's womb. Abortion kills this life. It is actually quite simple: Christians are passionately against abortion to protect innocent lives. Unfortunately, I don't see this passion in Obama...neither in Roberto for that matter. You two are entitled to your beliefs, but, please, don't call yourselves Christians. Bad testimony...

Leroy

Posted: August 01, 2008 3:55 PM

George and Roberto pretty much summed it up. Dobson's books on parenting were helpful and timely, but he has gone off the deep end with his plunging into politics, which I have to say does not appear as reluctant as the Dan Gilgoff would like you to believe. He was getting into realms of which he was ignorant since he lead the boycot against he Last Temptation of Christ way back in 1988. Dobson has become the mean face of Evangelicalism and is driving off would be seekers of the Jesus of the NT in the droves. And this is not opinion, but what dozens of people have told me personally - "If you are a Christian like that James Dobson guy, I don't want to hear about it. He obviously worships a different Jesus than the one written of in the Bible [NT]." What more needs to be said. He wants to be the Evangelical Pope; Let him!

George

Posted: August 01, 2008 3:12 PM

Dobson has pretty much jumped the shark, at least in terms of influence and impact. While his reputation was justly built on parenting advice and cultural awareness from a traditional evangelical perspective, his current activities come across as more crotchety than Christian. While this continues to play well with many, lots of others are simply turned off when Dobson presents his cultural preferences as, well, gospel.

Roberto

Posted: August 01, 2008 2:31 PM

I just finished reading The Audacity of Hope, which I'm confident Dobson has not read. If he had, he would understand that the comments Obama made last year, for which Dobson recently criticized him, come right out of the pages of this book, which was published in 2006. Had Dobson taken the time to read them and in their context without the neo-fundamentalist blinders that seemed to be strapped to his head, that cause him to focus solely on the twin evils of abortion and homosexuality, he would see that Obama is a man of deep religious (Christian) conviction, who is fluent with matters of faith in a manner McCain is not, and never will be. His recent faith based concept is not new, its also in the book. As a Christian, I found Dobson's comments about Obama offensive, unChristian (in every sense), and most importantly uninformed. Dobson opened his mouth without doing his home work. I have found Dobson's "reluctant" foray into the political area to be quite unfortunate.

Bob	Posted: August 01, 2008 2:05 PM


I think the message is quite clear for us evangelicals. McCain is still out there searching!

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