James Dobson's War on America

Rating:
Summary: Confirmed some uneasiness I had about Dobson
Review: Because Dr. James Dobson is such a prominent Christian leader, it is hard to provide a critique of his ministry without getting into hot water in some circles. But Gil Alexander-Moeggerle has done his critique, and I found that this book has answered some uneasy feelings I had for a long time -- especially after Dobson became so deeply entrenched into right wing politics.

I will not re-hash the book here. Previous reviews have shown the outline of the book, the topics covered, etc., as well as being able to look inside parts of the book here on Amazon.

However, I will share some problems I began having as I followed his ministry more. When I first started reading Dobson's books, I appreciated his views on the development of children and some of his practical psychological wisdom. However, my misgivings began to crystalize into two categories.

1. Political involvement. Now please understand -- I have no problem with Christians being involved in politics. But I do have serious issues with the following:

a. Legislating so-called "Christian principles." As a religion, Christianity is to be accepted by individuals, not by imposing its principles into law by decree. The Christian faith cannot be spread by imposing it onto others.

b. Although I am pro-family, pro-business and pro-life, I don't believe that the "conservative" camp exclusively owns these issues.

c. Furthermore, you don't have to be politically conservative to be a Christian.

d. I am a straight married woman, but I don't think I have a right to interfere in the lives of the gay community. I don't see them as messengers of evil, and I have no vendetta against them, either political or religious.

d. I get the impression that Dobson doesn't have a clue as to how the poor live and the challenges they face.

2. His attitude towards women. Many women see Dobson as their friend, but he clearly upholds a hierarchical view of the male as the "head." While this doesn't necessarily need to be a problem (though it often ends up that way) he also puts women into a "Catch 22" situation:

a. He wants women to make their homes and families the center of their lives.

b. But then, he has critiqued the fact that women don't seem to talk about topics from as broad a base as men do -- and has even had programs that impress on women that they need to have something in their lives besides home and family. But he forgets that MANY women have made the home and family the center of their lives by listening to HIM.

I worked at a religious radio station for a while where Dobson's program was aired, and one time I had the poor judgment to express some of my problems with Dobson's ideas -- and I was treated like I had attacked God Himself!

I think that Dobson is trying to amass too much power (if it hasn't already happened) and is trying to speak for the Christian community as a whole. Well, Dobson does not represent all Christians.

The best way to "Christianize" a country is for Christians to non-coercively share Jesus Christ with their family, friends, colleagues, etc., and let them accept Christ on their own. If enough Christians will simply live their lives as Christ would have them live it and practice GENUINE Christian love (I Corinthians 13) then I believe that more people will become Christians than through any kinds of laws made by any kind of government.

Rating:
Summary: Could have been better
Review: For some time, I have watched with dismay as James Dobson has ascended to the role of "respected" religious leader solely due to the fact that Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell are much more bizarre than he is. This book does a good job in pointing out that Dobson certainly has many faults and is a questionable "front man" for social conservatives. But the book, especially when read in the gay break-thru year of 2000, isn't apt to dissaude anyone from supporting Focus on the Family. The book's criticism focuses on the wrong things.

It details personal lapses in Dobson's character that aren't apt to outrage people in the post-Monica Lewinsky world - Dobson meddled with the author's marriage and made an inappropriate remark about black people. So what? I doubt there are many white people who have never made the same remark about blacks. And I doubt very strongly that there are ANY blacks who haven't made similar comments about whites.

It's pretty silly to say that Dobson attacks gays, when the first several months of 2000 have brought severe attacks by gays against evangelical Christians. Besides Vermont's civil union bill and the Boy Scouts case, numerous Christian clubs are being expelled from college campuses simply because they won't elect gay leaders. This trend is bound to affect Mormons, Muslims, Catholics, Jews, and other religious groups, to boot. I find it hard to believe that gays are a powerless minority being assaulted by the big, bad Dr. Dobson, not when gays appear poised to restrict the freedom of speech and assembly for adherents of all the world's major religions.

Dobson has real flaws - his stand against all forms of environmentalism, his unwillingness to consider the economic pressures that modern families face (instead, he chalks everything up to the influence of feminist ideologies), his blaming working women for working rather than campaigning for just wages so families can live on one income, etc. Unfortunately, the author spends little time on these issues.

Also, this book was published by Promethesus Press. The company's mission to provide secular humanist (i.e., militant atheists with an elitist attitude toward culture) materials. That in itself casts a lot of doubt on the fairness of book.

Rating:
Summary: Hocus-Pocus On The Family
Review: I can't believe some of the nutty reviews posted for this book. Some of the vitriol directed towards this book & its author reminds me of the remark Disraeli made about the Jewish fear of Christianity: Jews were terrified of Christians due to ages & ages of "Christian love," i.e. pogroms, demonization, persistent persecution, etc. That same "loving" spirit has saturated many of these reviews posted on Amazon.com.

Whether you like it or not, this nation was formed on secular principles, not on the Christian religion. Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, Madison and Paine were deists. John Adams had Unitarian views. The Founding Fathers based their experiment on rationalism, not on any transcendental foundation. They drew their inspiration from a wide variety of sources, including atheists (like Voltaire & David Hume). You certainly have a right to believe whatever you want, but don't rewrite history.

Gil Alexander-Moegerle was an insider in the weird world of Christian fundamentalism. In fact, he was the right-hand man to the Religious Right's most powerful (and clandestine) leader, Dr. James Dobson. Although it may be easy to dismiss it as "sour grapes" and a hatchet job, War On America actually has a balanced tone. Alexander-Moegerle never resorts to trash talk; frankly, I kind of wished that he would have hit Dobson a little harder. Alexander-Moegerle's relationship with Dobson is of minor interest, however, compared to the tell-all on the inner workings of Dobson's operation.

Taking refuge in the tax-exempt status of religious organizations, Dobson's Focus On The Family has played unfair hardball with other religious publishers, such as Word, Inc. According to the author, Dobson also has a penchant for meddling in his employees' personal lives. This is entirely believable, considering Dobson's self-appointed status as America's moral guardian.

Like many a successful multimedia preacher (Graham, Falwell, Robertson, Colson), Dobson makes it a point to lavish support on the Republican party, both secretly through lobbying, and openly. This itself should be enough to revoke the "tax-exempt" status of these men. Dobson's dubious lack of salary is also given an interesting twist, as is his boorish treatment of those he disagrees with. In this light, Dobson seems more of a wrathful Jehovah than a gentle Jesus.

One of the author's most interesting observations is his view on the political development of the Religious Right. It was initially a sleeping giant, awoke to become destructive, and now this giant has to decide as to which path it will take: dialogue or destruction.

The only quibble I have is that Alexander-Moegerle seems to imply that he never would have altered his ultra right-wing views except for the fact that he was fired by Dobson. If that is indeed the case, I'm glad he got canned. Unlike the vast majority of the Religious Right, Gil understands the need for compromise in a pluralistic society. For that, I salute him.

Rating:
Summary: A warranted public rebuke
Review: I found this book to be a wise, carefully thought-out analysis of the Religious Right's uncompromising agenda. More specifically, it's an insider's assessment of James Dobson's central role in that movement. Alexander-Moegerle pulls no punches in describing this religious hero's character flaws. However, it's hard to believe he still recommends the folksy Dobson as a radio family counselor. It's like saying you can trust Dr. Jekyll -- but watch out for Mr. Hyde.

While Christ's aim was (and still is) to change people from the inside-out, the Religious Right's aim is to change people from the outside-in, through legislation. Jesus' statement, "My kingdom is not of this world," is ignored, disrespected. Millions of dollars in Christian PAC money goes down a rat hole, as conservative vs. liberal PACs cancel each other out.

Alexander-Moegerle also admires (perhaps facetiously) the marketing and business acumen of Dobson, who became a millionaire via Focus on the Family. The Christian sub-culture is a marketing bonanza for booksellers and religious broadcasters. Gee, how did previous generations of families raise their kids without Dobson's daily program and books for sale? ("Send us a gift of $18 and we'll send you this wonderful book" is a questionable sales tactic, in my opinion). How did most of us turn out okay with parents who didn't mentally consume an endless diet of parental/Christian information? It's overkill, and it makes money for Dobson and his ilk.

Dobson's heroic stature in the evangelical community reminds me of the Armstrong cult (Worldwide Church of God), which I was in for five years. Members critical of the Armstrongs were suspect, blacklisted, and expelled. Tales of impropriety were treated with skepticism and charges of "bitterness." Alexander-Moegerle tells of a similar cold shoulder from Christian broadcasting after his ouster from Focus.

(I should add a personal experience with James Dobson. When I was single, years ago, I wrote to him and asked for his advice on a personal issue. He personally wrote back with an encouraging and compassionate response.)

By writing this book, Alexander-Moegerle has planted seeds of reform for religious businesses, which can now abuse employees (as in his well-documented case) because of Federal laws which protect religious enterprises from legitimate employee complaints and litigation.

Rating:
Summary: A must read.
Review: James Dobson's War on America is a timely message for U.S. citizens--Christians and non-Christians alike--who want to create a diverse national community characterized by mutual respect and understanding. Those interested in the separation of Church and State and who resist the determination on the part of the religious right to turn America into a theocracy will find valuable insight into the most influential man leading the charge up Capitol Hill for the Christians. Gil Alexander-Moegerle offers the unique perspective of a ten-year insider, and brings to light the hidden political agenda of Focus on the Family and its Washington lobby, the Family Research Council, to impose their extremist religious dogma on the rest of society.Those committed to authentic Christian living will be deeply disturbed by the Dobson the public doesn't see. The disparity between the crafted public persona of this self-proclaimed moral leader and the real goings-on behind the scene of a megalomaniac drunk with temporal power should stun the evangelical/fundamentalist camp of Christendom. He is, after all, their super-hero.James Dobson's War on America demands a response.Gil Alexander-Moegerle writes a fast-paced account that reads like journalism: well documented, carefully recounted and fundamentally credible. He courageously bucks the tide of religious and social political correctness, giving Americans in general and Protestant Christians in particular a clear picture of where we do not want to go if we value our civil liberty.As Americans look for political and religious leadership, Gil Alexander-Moegerle makes the compelling case that James Dobson is not the one to emulate.A must read for anyone who cares about the future of our country.