End of an Era: Focus's James Dobson to Leave Radio

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I've listened to Dr. Dobson regularly over the past few years and for the most part appreciate his kindness, gentleness and sincerity.

However, despite the praise he is receiving right now on his FOTF radio show for his sensitivity, understanding and compassion, he is clueless when it comes to homosexuality, his other bugaboo besides abortion. His organization has been at the forefront in blaming homosexuality for the imagined downfall of the family, instead of addiction, infidelity, and a cultural de-emphasis on marriage. Never mind that there is no discernable connection between the divorce rate and homosexuality. In this area, his beliefs seem to run counter to those of Jesus, who, if He had been as obsessed over anyone being gay, He certainly would have mentioned it. Oh, well, none of us is perfect.

As for his "retirement", fear not: according to his broadcast this morning, Dr. Dobson is simply moving on to another project, with a radio program similar to FOTF, with the same focus and topics. Somewhat forgotten, perhaps, but apparently not gone.

Keith Felt of AZ 10:20AM February 26, 2010

How interesting - I just listened to him this morning. It was hard to tell if he was teaching Jesus principles. His message has become one of politics like so many other Christian right of today. When you deconstruct their reasoning - it appears they have reduced Christianity to nothing more than a political vote – vote republican and somehow you are a Christian – vote democrat and you somehow are responsible for all the abortions, even those under the republican presidents. Their main driver is the abortion subject and a deceptive pro-life republican vote getter campaign. Where the hec was Dobson when we were killing innocent people in Iraq – oh I forgot that is not America. Once I realized their deceptive tactics I stopped playing their game. I converted to voting Democrat.

It is funny how I have watched James Dobson and host of others spend the last 21 years waiting for the Republican Party to legislate their doctrine. It is sad to see them leaven the loaf of Christianity with worldly politics and then put their faith in a political party that has been deceiving them for so many years. To me, Dobson is a just another Christian right talking-head that has lost its savor.

Markieboy of MO 4:26PM November 23, 2009

I was raised on Dr. Dobson, and have just sent him seeking his help to help me stop loosing faith in the Christian Church. My Mom respects Dr. Dobson as much or more than any other Christian leader, and she is interested to see his response. I only started learning the truth about the 9/11 attacks last fall. It took me an entire year to get my parents to listen to me, and begin reviewing the evidence for themselves. Now that they have thoroughly and objectively taken a fresh look into all the evidence, they too are now aware of how badly we have been deceived. They now fully support my mission to find out what really happened to 2,993 of our fellow citizens that fateful September morning. My mom is very interested to see how/if Dr. Dobson will respond. Please read my open letter to Dr. Dobson and share your thoughts at.........

http://blandyland.com/?p=459

Does Christ's Church really stand for TRUTH & JUSTICE? That is the question!

Daniel Edd Bland III

www.BlandyLand.com

Daniel Edd Bland III of GA 9:33PM November 10, 2009

Though I never met him, Dr. Dobson was my father, my mentor, my teacher. I will miss him dearly. We raised three children on his principals. They are all in their 20's and are all serving the Lord in a mighty way. All of my friends feel the same. Think of all the 20 somethings who are living Christ-like lives because of their parents listening to Dr. Dobson every day.

KLH of MN 4:00PM November 08, 2009

I think it's fair to suggest that the reason for the waning interest in so-called evangelists like Falwell, Dobson, Pat Robertson or Ted Haggard is that an increasing number of Americans view them as shallow, hypocritical and fundamenally unimportant.

I think it is also part of the overall package that an

increasing number of Americans view Christianity as burden. Think about it. More research and scholarship is showing that credibility in the writing and redacting of the NT could be spurious and that Jesus (possibly a composite) was initialized by Paul (no one knows the real author) and then later developed by writers who never even knew the person of Jesus (and yet they quote him) but yet had an agenda where they wanted to show that a believer could come back from the dead and go to Heaven.

Another important facet Christianity's track record: seven-hundred years before the beginning of the Crusades, unspeakable violence has been the mainstay of Christians. Who wants to join up for that?

There are so many arguments that one can make today against the existence of a God or Heaven or Satan (that they are instead simply metaphors) that if one were to appeal to rationalizing rather than using blind, unreasoning, faith then things don't hold up very well for apologists. Have you seen anyone raised from the dead lately?

When you factor in zelots on the far right who are showing mainstream Americans that they are anything but stable you are going to get a palpable disinterest in religion.

And when one observes that there are so many people of faith (so-called) who do so many very bad things and then contrast that with so many people that are good and raise their families in a proper way with good values, and help others, but who are not believers in a Mohammed or God or Jesus then you have to ask yourself, as an apologist, if your cause is valid and be able to prove it.

If right-wing Christians, just as right-wing politicians, are in bad form today (and it's pretty obvious that they are) then they have no one to blame except themselves for what is happening to them.

Paul of MI 4:33PM November 05, 2009

Dr. Dobson will always have the legacy of influencing people to stand for what is right, good, moral and Biblical. He is an inspirational man of God who has dedicated his life to fighting the good fight. I thank him for his faithfulness to the cause of Christ. He has inspired many ministries that will affect 100,000's of lives for years to come. Thank you, Dr. Dobson for caring and reaching out to many with the love of Christ. God bless you, your family and ministry.

Ms. Kelly of SC 4:59AM November 04, 2009

Please tell me why Jim Dobson is Leaving.

Please tell him to stay and fight. He is a fighter. What is it that we do not know?

God Bless Jim Dobson and his family.

Darlene K. Racker of IL 12:15PM November 03, 2009

Being a listener of Dr. Dobson's radio shows,a reader of his books, a guest on his show and having talked with him face-to-face I can, with all honesty, state that he is, in my estimation, a man of consumate character and integrity.To state or even imply anything less is simply wrong.

But, notwithstanding what I say, the consistent and long-standing positive influence of FOTF and it's staff on the lives of individuals and families around the world cannot be ignored, dismissed or even overstated. They stand firmly on their own merit.I have met man and women across North America as well as in Eastern Europe and Russia whose lives and families have been strengthened by Dr. Dobson either directly through his radio program and writing or indirectly through the leadership he has given to FOTF as well as the world-wide evangelical community.

I would, therefore, suggest that those who choose to pronounce their own unsubstantiated judgements do an effective critique of there own character and integrity first.Their efforts to diminish true character and integrity serve only to expose their own lack of both.

Scott A. Weidner, President & CEO, Transport For Christ of PA 11:53AM November 03, 2009

You may criticize James Dobson, that is your right, but I will strongly disagree with your description of his daily broadcasts at "hate-filled propaganda." I honor him for his unremitting efforts to protect the unborn. Unfortunately, such efforts pushed him into the political sphere and others followed with vengeance, turning the gospel of Christ into a political football and adjunct of the GOP. This association led to pro-lifers electing George Bush who was owned by the military industrial complex and in particularly the energy sector. Bush/Cheney’s efforts to annex the Iraqi oil fields led to the deaths of over 600,000 innocent Iraqis and turned more than 2 million into refugees. The Christian Right did not dissociate with such action. Instead, they endorsed another warmonger and thereby harmed the cause of Christ and their pro-life campaigns. Dobson’s inability to broaden his pro-life perspective to include innocent women and children on the streets of Bagdad, perhaps for fears of losing financial support

Albert Meyer of TX 11:32AM November 03, 2009

Truth is hate to those who hate the truth, says it all.

Kathleen Jones of MN 11:22AM November 03, 2009

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Dan Gilgoff covers religion for U.S. News & World Report. He is the author of The Jesus Machine: How James Dobson, Focus on the Family, and Evangelical America are Winning the Culture War, and is a former politics editor at beliefnet. E-mail Dan at godandcountry@usnews.com.

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