James Dobson: Difference between revisions
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As part of his former role in the organization he produced the daily radio program ''Focus on the Family'', which the organization has said was broadcast in more than a dozen languages and on over 7,000 stations worldwide, and reportedly heard daily by more than 220 million people in 164 countries. ''Focus on the Family'' was also carried by about 60 U.S. television stations daily. In 2010, he launched the radio broadcast ''Family Talk with Dr. James Dobson''. | As part of his former role in the organization he produced the daily radio program ''Focus on the Family'', which the organization has said was broadcast in more than a dozen languages and on over 7,000 stations worldwide, and reportedly heard daily by more than 220 million people in 164 countries. ''Focus on the Family'' was also carried by about 60 U.S. television stations daily. In 2010, he launched the radio broadcast ''Family Talk with Dr. James Dobson''. | ||
Dobson advocated for family values, the instruction of children in | Dobson advocated for family values, the instruction of children in heterosexuality and traditional gender roles, which he believed are mandated by the [[Christian Bible]]. The goal of this was to promote heterosexual marriage, which he viewed as a cornerstone of civilization that was to be protected from his perceived dangers of feminism and the LGBT rights movement. Dobson sought to equip his audience to fight in the American culture war, which he calls the "Civil War of Values". | ||
His writing career started as an assistant to | His writing career started as an assistant to Paul Popenoe. After Dobson's rise to prominence through promoting corporal punishment of disobedient children in the 1970s, he became a founder of purity culture in the 1990s. He promoted his ideas via his various Focus on the Family affiliated organizations, the [[Family Research Council]] which he founded in 1981, [[wikipedia:Family Policy Alliance|Family Policy Alliance]] which he founded in 2004, the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute which he founded in 2010, and a network of US state-based lobbying organizations called "Family Policy Councils". | ||
==Early life and education== | ==Early life and education== | ||
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Dobson studied academic psychology and came to believe that he was being called to become a Christian counselor or perhaps a Christian psychologist.<ref name=sotc /> He attended Pasadena College ([[Point Loma Nazarene University]]) as an undergraduate, where he met his wife, Shirley, and served as captain of the school's tennis team. Dobson graduated in 1958, served in the National Guard for six months, and began working at Children's Hospital of Los Angeles. In 1967, Dobson received his doctorate in psychology from the [[wikipedia:University of Southern California|University of Southern California]]. | Dobson studied academic psychology and came to believe that he was being called to become a Christian counselor or perhaps a Christian psychologist.<ref name=sotc /> He attended Pasadena College ([[Point Loma Nazarene University]]) as an undergraduate, where he met his wife, Shirley, and served as captain of the school's tennis team. Dobson graduated in 1958, served in the National Guard for six months, and began working at Children's Hospital of Los Angeles. In 1967, Dobson received his doctorate in psychology from the [[wikipedia:University of Southern California|University of Southern California]]. | ||
== Dr. James Dobson Family Institute == | |||
In 2010, Dobson founded the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute,<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20131218133156/http://www.drjamesdobson.org/about/history</ref> a non-profit organization that produces his radio program, ''Dr. James Dobson's Family Talk''. On this program, he speaks about his views, such as attributing mass shootings to "the LGBTQ movement" destroying the family. He stepped away from leadership of the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute in 2022, naming Joe Waresak the new president. He continues to broadcast his radio show.<ref>https://churchleaders.com/news/438422-dr-james-dobson-family-institute-names-new-president-to-succeed-dobson.html</ref> | In 2010, Dobson founded the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute,<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20131218133156/http://www.drjamesdobson.org/about/history</ref> a non-profit organization that produces his radio program, ''Dr. James Dobson's Family Talk''. On this program, he speaks about his views, such as attributing mass shootings to "the LGBTQ movement" destroying the family. He stepped away from leadership of the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute in 2022, naming Joe Waresak the new president. He continues to broadcast his radio show.<ref>https://churchleaders.com/news/438422-dr-james-dobson-family-institute-names-new-president-to-succeed-dobson.html</ref> | ||
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==Criticism== | ==Criticism== | ||
U.S. Surgeon General [[C. Everett Koop]], a fellow evangelical Christian who wanted Dobson as an ally in his battle against the | U.S. Surgeon General [[C. Everett Koop]], a fellow evangelical Christian who wanted Dobson as an ally in his battle against the AIDS crisis, was deeply disappointed when Dobson embraced pseudoscientific and homophobic claims about AIDS. "The Christian activity in reference to AIDS of both [[D. James Kennedy]] and Jim Dobson is reprehensible," Koop said in 1989. He viewed the AIDS crisis as "an opportunity for Christian service" that Dobson was squandering.<ref>https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-06-10-me-1321-story.html</ref> | ||
In her 2020 book ''[[Jesus and John Wayne]]'', [[Calvin University]] professor [[Kristin Kobes Du Mez]] criticizes the ideal of Christian masculinity created by Dobson, [[Mark Driscoll]] and others: "It was a vision that promised protection for women but left women without defense, one that worshiped power and turned a blind eye to justice, and one that transformed the Jesus of the Gospels into an image of their own making." | In her 2020 book ''[[Jesus and John Wayne]]'', [[Calvin University]] professor [[Kristin Kobes Du Mez]] criticizes the ideal of Christian masculinity created by Dobson, [[Mark Driscoll]] and others: "It was a vision that promised protection for women but left women without defense, one that worshiped power and turned a blind eye to justice, and one that transformed the Jesus of the Gospels into an image of their own making." | ||
Gil Alexander-Moegerle, a former Focus on the Family executive and radio show co-host, wrote the highly critical book ''James Dobson's War on America'' in 1997. In it, he says that Dobson's loving, caring public persona is a sham; the real Dobson is racist, sexist, homophobic, materialistic, power-hungry, and shameless. He says that the [[Church of the Nazarene|Nazarene]] religious concept of | Gil Alexander-Moegerle, a former Focus on the Family executive and radio show co-host, wrote the highly critical book ''James Dobson's War on America'' in 1997. In it, he says that Dobson's loving, caring public persona is a sham; the real Dobson is racist, sexist, homophobic, materialistic, power-hungry, and shameless. He says that the [[Church of the Nazarene|Nazarene]] religious concept of entire sanctification is key to understanding Dobson's views: "James Dobson believes that he has been entirely sanctified, morally perfected, that he does not and cannot sin. Now you know why he and moralists like him make a life of condemning what he believes to be the sins of others. He is perfect."<ref>https://www.5280.com/and-on-the-eighth-day-dr-dobson-created-himself</ref> | ||
Some fundamentalist Christians consider Dobson a heretic for presenting secular concepts from psychology and self-help literature as though they are justified by the Bible. | Some fundamentalist Christians consider Dobson a heretic for presenting secular concepts from psychology and self-help literature as though they are justified by the Bible. | ||
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===Books as sole author=== | ===Books as sole author=== | ||
===Books with others=== | * Dobson, James C. (1970). Dare to Discipline. Tyndale House. ISBN 0-842-3063-0-7. | ||
Paul C. Reisser (October 1, 1999). Melissa R. Cox; Vinita Hampton Wright (eds.). The Focus on the Family Complete Book of Baby and Child Care. Tyndale House. ISBN 0-8423-3512-9. (Foreword) | * Dobson, James C. (1975). What Wives Wish Their Husbands Knew About Women. Tyndale House. ISBN 0-84237-8960. | ||
Sutherland, Mark I.; William J. Federer; Roy Moore; James Dobson; Alan Keyes; Ed Meese; Phyllis Schlafly; Matthew D. Staver; Alan Sears (July 4, 2005). Judicial Tyranny The New Kings of America. Amerisearch. ISBN 0-9753455-6-7. | * Dobson, James (1980). Preparing for Adolescence. Vision House. ISBN 0-88449-112-9. | ||
Dobson, James C.; Shirley Dobson (April 16, 2007). Marriage Under Fire: Why We Must Win This Battle. Tyndale House. ISBN 978-1-4143-1756-4. | * Dobson, James (1982). Dr. Dobson Answers Your Questions About Raising Children. Tyndale House. ISBN 0-8423-0620-X. | ||
Dobson, James C.; Shirley Dobson (April 16, 2007). Night Light A Devotional for Couples. Tyndale House. ISBN 978-1-4143-1749-6. | * Dobson, James C. (1984). Emotions: Can You Trust Them?. Bantam Books. ISBN 0-553-25751-X. | ||
Dobson, James C.; Shirley Dobson (April 20, 2007). Night Light for Parents A Devotional. Tyndale House. ISBN 978-1-4143-1751-9. | * Dobson, James C. (1986). Dr. Dobson Answers Your Questions about Feelings and Self-Esteem. Tyndale House. ISBN 0-8423-0621-8. | ||
Dobson, James C; Kurt Bruner (January 15, 2013). Fatherless. FaithWords. ISBN 978-1-4555-1311-6. | * Dobson, James C. (1986). Temper Your Child's Tantrums. Tyndale House. ISBN 0-8423-6994-5. | ||
Dobson, James C; Kurt Bruner (October 1, 2013). Childless. FaithWords. ISBN 978-1-4555-1315-4. | * Dobson, James (1987). Parenting Isn't for Cowards: Dealing Confidently With the Frustrations of Child-Rearing. Word. ISBN 0-8499-0630-X. | ||
Dobson, James C; Kurt Bruner (May 6, 2014). Godless. FaithWords. ISBN 978-1-4555-1316-1. | * Dobson, James C. (1992). The Strong-Willed Child. Living Books. ISBN 0-8423-2335-X. | ||
* Dobson, James (1995). Straight Talk: What Men Should Know, What Women Need to Understand —Rev.and exp.ed. Thomas Nelson. ISBN 0-8499-3858-9. | |||
* Dobson, James C. (1996). The New Dare to Discipline. Tyndale House. ISBN 0-8423-0506-8. | |||
* Dobson, James C. (1997). Solid Answers. Tyndale House. ISBN 0-8423-0623-4. | |||
* Dobson, James C. (2000). The Complete Marriage and Family Home Reference Guide. Tyndale House. ISBN 0-8423-5267-8. | |||
* Dobson, James (2000). Straight Talk to Men. Thomas Nelson. ISBN 0-8499-4210-1. | |||
* Dobson, James (2000). Life on the Edge. Thomas Nelson. ISBN 0-8499-0927-9. | |||
* Dobson, James (2001). The New Hide or Seek: Building Confidence in Your Child. Revell. ISBN 0-8007-5680-0. | |||
* Dobson, James C. (2001). When God Doesn't Make Sense. Living Books. ISBN 0-8423-7062-5. | |||
* Dobson, James C. (2002). Bringing Up Boys: Practical Advice and Encouragement for Those Shaping the Next Generation of Men. Tyndale House. ISBN 0-8423-5266-X. | |||
* Dobson, James C. (2003). Parents' Answer Book. Living Books. ISBN 0-8423-8716-1. | |||
* Dobson, James C. (2004). Romantic Love: How to Be Head Over Heels and Still Land on Your Feet. Regal Books. ISBN 0-8307-3238-1. | |||
* Dobson, James (2004). Dr. James Dobson on Parenting. World Publishing. ISBN 0-88486-339-5. | |||
* Dobson, James (2004). Love for a Lifetime: Building a Marriage That Will Go the Distance. Multnomah Books. ISBN 1-59052-087-4. | |||
* Dobson, James C. (2007). Love Must Be Tough: New Hope for Families in Crisis. Tyndale House. ISBN 978-1-4143-1745-8. | |||
* Dobson, James C. (2007). The New Strong-Willed Child. Tyndale House. ISBN 978-1-4143-1363-4. | |||
* Dobson, James C. (2007). Stories of Heart and Home. Tyndale House. ISBN 978-1-4143-1747-2. | |||
* Dobson, James C. (2010). Bringing Up Girls: Practical Advice and Encouragement for Those Shaping the Next Generation of Women. Tyndale House. ISBN 978-1-77036-544-5. | |||
=== Books with others: === | |||
* Paul C. Reisser (October 1, 1999). Melissa R. Cox; Vinita Hampton Wright (eds.). The Focus on the Family Complete Book of Baby and Child Care. Tyndale House. ISBN 0-8423-3512-9. (Foreword) | |||
* Sutherland, Mark I.; William J. Federer; Roy Moore; James Dobson; Alan Keyes; Ed Meese; Phyllis Schlafly; Matthew D. Staver; Alan Sears (July 4, 2005). Judicial Tyranny The New Kings of America. Amerisearch. ISBN 0-9753455-6-7. | |||
* Dobson, James C.; Shirley Dobson (April 16, 2007). Marriage Under Fire: Why We Must Win This Battle. Tyndale House. ISBN 978-1-4143-1756-4. | |||
* Dobson, James C.; Shirley Dobson (April 16, 2007). Night Light A Devotional for Couples. Tyndale House. ISBN 978-1-4143-1749-6. | |||
* Dobson, James C.; Shirley Dobson (April 20, 2007). Night Light for Parents A Devotional. Tyndale House. ISBN 978-1-4143-1751-9. | |||
* Dobson, James C; Kurt Bruner (January 15, 2013). Fatherless. FaithWords. ISBN 978-1-4555-1311-6. | |||
* Dobson, James C; Kurt Bruner (October 1, 2013). Childless. FaithWords. ISBN 978-1-4555-1315-4. | |||
* Dobson, James C; Kurt Bruner (May 6, 2014). Godless. FaithWords. ISBN 978-1-4555-1316-1. | |||
===Notable articles and reports=== | ===Notable articles and reports=== | ||
* Dobson served on the committee that wrote the [[wikipedia:Attorney General's Commission on Pornography|Meese Report]] on | * Dobson served on the committee that wrote the [[wikipedia:Attorney General's Commission on Pornography|Meese Report]] on pornography.<ref>http://www.porn-report.com/101-meese-commissioner-biographies.htm</ref> | ||
* ''Two Mommies Is One Too Many'' <ref>http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1568485,00.html</ref> | * ''Two Mommies Is One Too Many'' <ref>http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1568485,00.html</ref> | ||