Dobson

My thoughts on James Dobson are mixed.

On the one hand he's basically been lambasted in a mass media version of whisper down the lane. Dobson made some prominent comments about a cartoon special on tolerance which included tolerance of sexual orientation. The Spongebob Squarepants cartoon was one of many involved in this special. Somehow his statements were conflated with Spongebob's status as something of a gay icon. Now many people believe he said that Spongebob himself was gay and the Spongebob show was promoting that lifestyle. He didn't say that at all, he said that this tolerance special was promoting things we ought not be tolerant of. I would think that is a statement that should develop a lot of controversy on its lonesome without bringing Bikini Bottom pineapple dwellers into it.

But unfortunately the media, large and small, has not bothered to check any original sources. It's not uncommon. So its "Evangelical Leader Dobson attacks Spongebob". Besides over the top accusations get a lot more ratings and page hits right? Who wants to shed light when heat is just as good?

So I do sort of feel for the guy. I own one of his book Life on the Edge which is about transitioning to adulthood. I received it as a high school graduation gift. But honestly Dobson is bringing this on himself and bears responsibility. Why do I say this?

When I was at Jiffy Lube getting my oil changed Saturday, I read his bio in Time's "25 Most Important Evangelicals" cover story. I hadn't realized that he stepped down as head of Focus on the Family (which is admittedly something of a political organization) to instead focus on lobbying for the Cause full time. Don't ask me what he thinks the Cause is. It certainly seems only peripherally related to the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

This is why you heard some quotes by Dobson after Bush won the election. He effectively said that the president owed evangelicals for his reelection and needed to pay up. This is why you hear quotes by Dobson now about children's cartoons. He's thrown his hat in the political arena and frankly he's doing a piss poor job of it. I expect him to say more stupid things in the future and to get more bad press, not just for himself but for Evangelicals like me too.

Thanks a lot Jim. Why is this happening? Because he's fighting the wrong damn battle. Christ deliberately stayed out of politics for a reason. He knew it would only confuse the issue. Dobson should think and follow his example. Focus on Christ and communicating him to a world that is forgetting Him, not social issues and definitely not politics.