James Dobson: Difference between revisions
Created page with "{{Infobox person | image = James Dobson 2noprofile.jpg | birth_name = James Clayton Dobson Jr. | birth_date = April 21, 1936 | birth_place = Shreveport, Louisiana | death_date = August 21, 2025 (aged 89) | death_place = Colorado Springs, Colorado | spouse = Shirley Deere (m. 1960) | children = 2 | education = [..." |
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| spouse = [[Shirley Deere]] (m. 1960) | | spouse = [[Shirley Deere]] (m. 1960) | ||
| children = 2 | | children = 2 | ||
| education = [[Point Loma Nazarene University]] ([[wikipedia:Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br>[[University of Southern California]] ([[wikipedia:Master of Arts|MA]], [[wikipedia:Doctor of Philosophy|PhD]]) | | education = [[wikipedia:Point Loma Nazarene University|Point Loma Nazarene University]] ([[wikipedia:Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br>[[wikipedia:University of Southern California|University of Southern California]] ([[wikipedia:Master of Arts|MA]], [[wikipedia:Doctor of Philosophy|PhD]]) | ||
| works = ''[[Marriage Under Fire]]'' | | works = ''[[Marriage Under Fire]]'' | ||
| theology = [[Evangelicalism|Evangelical Christian]] | | theology = [[Evangelicalism|Evangelical Christian]] | ||
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'''Dr. James (Jim) Clayton Dobson Jr.''' (April 21, 1936 – August 21, 2025) was an American [[ | '''Dr. James (Jim) Clayton Dobson Jr.''' (April 21, 1936 – August 21, 2025) was an American [[Evangelicalism|evangelical Christian]] author, psychologist and founder of [[Focus on the Family]] (FotF), which he led from 1977 until 2010. In the 1980s, he was ranked as one of the most influential spokesmen for [[wikipedia:Social conservatism|conservative social positions]] in American public life. Although never an ordained minister, he was called "the nation's most influential evangelical leader" by ''[[wikipedia:The New York Times|The New York Times]]'' while ''[[wikipedia:Slate (magazine)|Slate]]'' portrayed him as a successor to evangelical leaders [[Jerry Falwell]] and [[Pat Robertson]]. | ||
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''. | ||
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==Early life and education== | ==Early life and education== | ||
James Clayton Dobson Jr. was born to Myrtle Georgia (née Dillingham) and James C. Dobson Sr. on April 21, 1936, in [[Shreveport, Louisiana]].<ref name="LATimes">{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-11-02-ls-63874-story.html |title=A Man of Millions : Broadcaster James Dobson Has Become a Leading Name in Evangelical Circles--and the Politicians Have Noticed |last=Stammer |first=Larry B. |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=November 2, 1995 |access-date=June 24, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sanbenitohistory.com/projects/Famous_San_Benitians_8th/Dobson.html |title=James C Dobson |website=San Benito History |access-date=June 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130320040954/http://www.sanbenitohistory.com/projects/Famous_San_Benitians_8th/Dobson.html |archive-date=March 20, 2013}}</ref><ref name = McFadden>{{cite news |title=James Dobson, Influential Leader of the Religious Right, Dies at 89 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/21/us/politics/james-dobson-dead.html |access-date=August 21, 2025 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=August 21, 2025|last = McFadden|first = Robert D.|authorlink = Robert D. McFadden}}</ref> From his earliest childhood, religion played a central part in his life. He once told a reporter that he learned to pray before he learned to talk, and says he gave his life to | James Clayton Dobson Jr. was born to Myrtle Georgia (née Dillingham) and James C. Dobson Sr. on April 21, 1936, in [[wikipedia:Shreveport, Louisiana|Shreveport, Louisiana]].<ref name="LATimes">{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-11-02-ls-63874-story.html |title=A Man of Millions : Broadcaster James Dobson Has Become a Leading Name in Evangelical Circles--and the Politicians Have Noticed |last=Stammer |first=Larry B. |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=November 2, 1995 |access-date=June 24, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sanbenitohistory.com/projects/Famous_San_Benitians_8th/Dobson.html |title=James C Dobson |website=San Benito History |access-date=June 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130320040954/http://www.sanbenitohistory.com/projects/Famous_San_Benitians_8th/Dobson.html |archive-date=March 20, 2013}}</ref><ref name = McFadden>{{cite news |title=James Dobson, Influential Leader of the Religious Right, Dies at 89 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/21/us/politics/james-dobson-dead.html |access-date=August 21, 2025 |work=[[wikipedia:The New York Times|The New York Times]] |date=August 21, 2025|last = McFadden|first = Robert D.|authorlink = Robert D. McFadden}}</ref> From his earliest childhood, religion played a central part in his life. He once told a reporter that he learned to pray before he learned to talk, and says he gave his life to Jesus at the age of three, in response to an altar call by his father.<ref name="sotc">{{cite book |last=Apostolidis |first=Paul |title=Stations of the Cross Adorno and Christian Right Radio |date=May 2000 |publisher=Duke University Press |isbn=9780822381006 |page=22}}</ref> He was the son, grandson, and great-grandson of [[Church of the Nazarene]] ministers.<ref>{{cite news |first=Michael |last=Gerson |title=A Righteous Indignation |work=[[wikipedia:U.S. News & World Report|U.S. News & World Report]] |date=May 4, 1998 |type=Reprint |url=http://www.skeptictank.org/hs/dobson.htm |via=SkepticTank.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070609085028/http://www.skeptictank.org/hs/dobson.htm |archive-date=June 9, 2007}}</ref> | ||
His parents were traveling evangelists; as a child, Dobson often stayed with family members while his parents were out traveling. | His parents were traveling evangelists; as a child, Dobson often stayed with family members while his parents were out traveling. Like most Nazarenes, they forbade dancing and going to movies. Young Jimmie Lee, as he was called, concentrated on his studies. As a teenager, he was rebellious, though he eventually found a close relationship with his father. | ||
Dobson's mother was intolerant of "sassiness" and would strike her child with whatever object came to hand, including a shoe or belt; she once gave Dobson a "massive blow" with a [[Girdle (undergarment)|girdle]] outfitted with straps and buckles. | Dobson's mother was intolerant of "sassiness" and would strike her child with whatever object came to hand, including a shoe or belt; she once gave Dobson a "massive blow" with a [[wikipedia:Girdle (undergarment)|girdle]] outfitted with straps and buckles. | ||
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. | 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=== | ===Dr. James Dobson Family Institute=== | ||
In 2010, Dobson founded the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute,<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> | ||
Dobson frequently appeared as a guest on the [[wikipedia:Fox News Channel|Fox News Channel]]. | Dobson frequently appeared as a guest on the [[wikipedia:Fox News Channel|Fox News Channel]]. | ||