Focus on the Family Pulls Interview With Mormon Glenn Beck
By Dan Gilgoff, God & Country
The Mormon Times reports that Focus on the Family has pulled an interview with conservative radio and TV personality Glenn Beck from one of its websites because supporters of the evangelical group complained that it appeared to endorse Mormonism, Beck's religious tradition.
Reading the interview—occasioned by Beck's new book, The Christmas Sweater—I'm surprised that Focus didn't see this controversy coming. In its introduction to the interview, Focus notes that "Beck spent several years addicted to drugs and alcohol, coming to the verge of suicide, before turning his life over to God at the age of 35."
Using such language, Focus appears to be legitimizing Mormonism, which many evangelicals consider to be a cult, by validating Beck's born-again experience.
In the interview, Beck tells how he was saved by God. Without any kind of editor's note, the piece creates the impression that being saved within the context of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is fine by Focus.
What makes this oversight all the more stunning is that Focus has a very specific definition in mind for who qualifies as a Christian, as I discovered last year when I interviewed Focus founder James Dobson about Fred Thompson, who was a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination. "I don't think he's a Christian; at least that's my impression," Dobson said of Thompson.
And yet I can't help but be disappointed by the blow that Focus dealt to religious tolerance and interfaith dialogue by scrubbing the interview from its site.
Dobson deserves credit for helping the evangelical movement build political alliances with other faith traditions, including the Mormons, or Church of Latter-day Saints. In the 2007 election cycle, Dobson repeatedly praised Republican presidential candidate and LDS member Mitt Romney, even as many evangelical activists coalesced behind White House hopeful Mike Huckabee, an ordained Baptist minister.
Focus could have used the Beck episode as another opportunity for interfaith bridge-building, perhaps by leaving the interview up, even if it meant adding a clarification that the organization doesn't endorse Mormonism. Another setback for interfaith dialogue, which seems to be all too rare these days.
Glenn Beck has posted a statement on his website.
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Tags: religion | Christianity | James Dobson
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Reader Comments
Bigots....
FOTF and Mr. Dobson are obviously bigots. Whay agree and then disagree to run the story? Responding to complaints I would presume. This country is full of religious intolerance. It is dishartening. Oh well, Mr. Obama will repeal any sort of religious tolerance we have left, so what does it matter, right? Mr. Dobson started it, Mr. Obama will finish it. WHat is wrong with Mormon Doctrine? The Baptists, Methodists, and Luterans, all who profess to be "Christian," cannot even agree on doctrine of the atonement. Why are the Mormons any different? I say again....bigots.
there is such thing as TRUTH
I'm an evangelical and I'm insulted (not that anyone cares, I'm sure). The only intolerance I see are in all you people. Anytime someone speaks about their Christian beliefs as fact, they are verbally stoned. "Religious tolerance" is impossible. We can agree to disagree and live side by side in peace which is great. I'm glad we can do that here in the USA. But, in the end, someone is going to be right and someone is going to be wrong. Evangelicals believe that Jesus is God and the only way to heaven is to trust in and believe that Jesus will save you. So, we try our best to tell you that, not because we are arrogant, but because we care and don't want to you miss out on His glory. I understand that there are many other beliefs and fully expect them to try to convince me that they are right. That brings religious debate. I welcome that and I believe Glenn Beck and Dr. Dobson welcomes it too. Instead, you all brand us as liars, bigots, racists, sexists, hate-mongers, and any other mean thing you can think of. Now I understand why FOTF removed it and I also think it would have been good to put a disclaimer on it, but to dismiss either view as intolerant and call either side those hateful names simply because you don't agree with one side or both is the very definition of intolerance. With tolerance comes respect, a permissive attitude, and the willingness to endure another's reasoning. Even if we were all truly tolerant there still is the fact: someone is going to be wrong and someone will be right. We can't get around it. It seems that's what people truly can't tolerate.
Focus on the Family is a very important organization.
I don't know what the issue is. Dobson is an important person and he has a big thing going with the Focus On The Family. He has the obligation to do whatever it takes protect it. To imply that he needs to be kind to Glenn Beck just because they have become friends or to stand behind him as a fellow Christian is rediculous. He doesn't owe Beck anything! Mr. Dobson has a responsibility to FOTF and his supporters that supercedes any other connection. Any of you who think I am wrong are showing your ignorance of how true Christianity works! Mr Beck has this coming. If he wants to get along, he needs to mainstream his opinions. I mean, this is America for goodness sakes! Majority rules!
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