Dobson: Obama is “Dragging Biblical Understanding Through the Gutter”
- Posted by: Todd
- Posted on: Tue, June 24, 2008
- Viewed 207
- (38) comments so far
Dobson took aim at examples Obama cited in asking which Biblical passages should guide public policy - chapters like Leviticus, which Obama said suggests slavery is OK and eating shellfish is an abomination, or Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, “a passage that is so radical that it’s doubtful that our own Defense Department would survive its application.”
“Folks haven’t been reading their Bibles,” Obama said.
Dobson and Minnery accused Obama of wrongly equating Old Testament texts and dietary codes that no longer apply to Jesus’ teachings in the New Testament.
“I think he’s deliberately distorting the traditional understanding of the Bible to fit his own worldview, his own confused theology,” Dobson said.
“… He is dragging biblical understanding through the gutter.”
Here’s a link to the whole article from the AP...
What do you think? First of all, is Dobson right? And secondly, are you comfortable with him speaking for you as a Christian?
The AP reports that James Dobson, is accusing Barak Obama of distorting the Bible and pushing a "fruitcake interpretation" of the Constitution.
According to the article, "the criticism, to be aired Tuesday on Dobson's Focus on the Family radio program, comes shortly after an Obama aide suggested a meeting at the organization's headquarters here, said Tom Minnery, senior vice president for government and public policy at Focus on the Family.
The conservative Christian group provided The Associated Press with an advance copy of the pre-taped radio segment, which runs 18 minutes and highlights excerpts of a speech Obama gave in June 2006 to the liberal Christian group Call to Renewal. Obama mentions Dobson in the speech.
"Even if we did have only Christians in our midst, if we expelled every non-Christian from the United States of America, whose Christianity would we teach in the schools?" Obama said. "Would we go with James Dobson's or Al Sharpton's?" referring to the civil rights leader.
Comments
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JHPW on Wed, June 25, 2008
I’m not at all comfortable with Dobson speaking for me. As Wendi said, Obama’s comment is correct. If we had only Christians in this country, we would still have terrible fighting over various interpretations of the Bible as it relates to public policy. I’m not concerned about Obama’s comment because I’m not electing a theologian, I’m electing a president, who has to make policy decisions that affect both Christian and non-Christian citizens.
Donnie Miller on Wed, June 25, 2008
“I think he’s deliberately distorting the traditional understanding of the Bible to fit his own worldview, his own confused theology,” Dobson said.
Wow, if that’s not the pot calling the kettle black!
This is from the same James Dobson who tries to enforce morality in a very Pharisee-like way (that enraged Jesus) while saying that taking care of the planet isn’t a moral issue.
Whew. When will we learn to appreciate the wonderful family-enrichment ministry of Dobson while ignoring his incredibly un-Christlike political involvement?
Travis on Wed, June 25, 2008
Dave, you might want to backtrack that URL for the Jesus test. Looks like a bunch of New Age junk to me. My magic word to send this is return99. Go figure.
Jim on Wed, June 25, 2008
I am utterly amazed at the lack of awareness of the founding of this nation. When I read some of the posts, I’m amazed at the venom that is aimed at Dobson, because he engages in the political arena for his moral beliefs. Yet, Obama, who will embrace every immoral position and attack the moral positions gets not only a pass, but defended. The quote, “I’m not voting for a theologian, but for a President who represents the whole country” assounds me.
If you are aware that the Founders of the nation were Christian men who broke away from England because of moral issues-the issue to self-governance, which is a theological position of Luther, then you will begin to understand that most all of our Constitional guarantees, and especially the first 10 of our Bill of Rights, were based on Scriptural principals.
For example, the freedom of speech, which Obama’s hate crimes legislation and fairness doctrine will destory, was based on the Biblical principle that all men are created equal, and that was not found in any other view of man, except for the Bible. If we are created equally, then we all have the right to speak our positions in public. Why? Because we are equally created. In fact, the U. S. Supreme Court in 1803, I believe it was, upheld the conviction of a man in New York for taking the Lord’s name in vain. John Jay,the first Supreme Court Chief Justice, wrote that by taking Jesus’ name in vain, the man was attacking the very foundation of the Constitution. Sounds pretty theologically based to me.
If you want to know what the schools never taught you about the founding of this country, pick-up David Barton’s books, or Peter Marshall’s books on the Founders. Plus, David Barton has a website called: Wallbuilders, where he discusses in great depth the Founders writings and our Christian heritage. You will learn things you have never heard of before, and it comes directly from the Founders writings.
When I first started reading the Founding Fathers writings about ten years ago, I was absolutely amazed at what ten years of Seminary education had neglected in Christian History, especially our own.
JHPW on Wed, June 25, 2008
Jim - What if, hypothetically, over the course of the next few decades the demographics of this country changed so that the majority were now Buddhist. Would you want your president to enact laws and make policies based upon Buddhist doctrine, or in a way that was fair and protected everyone under the law, regardless of whether or not they shared the religious conviction of the majority? That’s why I made the statement regarding not electing a theologian.
DanielR on Wed, June 25, 2008
I’ve never been impressed with Obama as a theologian.
Oh, wait, he’s not a theologian. He’s a politician. Riiiight, so I shouldn’t listen to Obama for my theological guidance. OK, got it.
He is, at least theoretically, a Christian and that is something I like in a candidate. Although according to Jim he’s apparently really a Muslim and no one in his church has noticed. And James Dobson doesn’t seem to like him much, which is a plus for Obama in my book.
But, then again, George Bush is theorectically a Christian and that hasn’t worked out so well. He’s cut programs to care for the widows and orphans (the poor), started an unwarranted war, and failed to be a good steward of the earth. But, of course, that’s just my opinion. http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/grin.gif
Leonard on Wed, June 25, 2008
I don’t think dobson is wrong here. It is not about Obamas theology but about his pandering to different groups. My problem with Obama is he is all over the map and comes across as a guy who will say whatever to whomever to get elected. If I wanted that I would just have another clinton in the office.
I also think some of you are unduly harsh on Dobson. I think he is a genuine man who has done so much good. He does not speak for me but he represents my thoughts better than obama does.
He is not just a 2 issue guy, he is a guy who feels very strongly about the family and those 2 issues (abortion and homosexuality) are in his field.
Obama says… I am a Christian. Does his voting record and his politics reflect a blending of his faith and of his life? I find him to be inconsistent with biblical Christianity. I am not asking him to be a theologian, I am asking him to be consistent with his beliefs and politics. If he is being that then I would need to hear his definition of Christian.
You do not have to legislate morality but at least be who you claim to be. if that is a measurment at all, I think dobson is more like he claims to be than obama
Daniel on Wed, June 25, 2008
Jim.
Don’t make wild claims without backing them up. Lying has never been Christian.
Obama has never said anything of the sort about Israel.
Neville Chamberlain was an ‘appeaser’ because HE GAVE LAND to Hitler. It had nothing to do with MERELY TALKING. Talk about guilt by association! Sheesh!
“McKain” is spelled with a ‘C’ (as in, McCain).
Many of the founders weren’t Christian. They were Deists. But that’s beside the point. Ever notice that that whole thing about ‘God’ endowing ‘man’ with rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness includes neither women nor nonwhite men? Hmm… real ‘Christian’ thinkin’ you got there.
Please don’t repeat alarmist nonsense. There are plenty of cogent arguments not to vote for Obama. Use those instead of the nonfactual fear-fueling nonsense you’ve given us so far.
For my two cents, evangelicals care far too much about the U.S. of A., and far too little about the Church. I’d rather vote for a non-Christian, because at least then the rest of the world wouldn’t be tempted to think that whatever the U.S. does is what ‘Christians’ are doing. Talk about dishonoring the name of God!!
Peace,
-Daniel-
Jim on Wed, June 25, 2008
Daniel, actually Obama did say that, and it was shown on Fox New just within the last few months. In addition, there is a video of him saying something very similar re. Israel in 2006, as he was beginning his run for the White House.
In addition, I know you and I were taught that the Founding Fathers were Deists, but that isn’t true. Go the website: http://www.adherents.com/gov/Founding-Fathers-Religion.html, and you will discover that of the 204 Founding Fathers, 88 were Anglicans/Episcopalians; 30-Presbyterians; 27-Congregationalists; 7-Quakers; 6-Dutch Reformed or German Reformed; 5-Lutheran; 3-Catholics; 3-Hugenots-French Protestants; 3-Unitarians or Deists; 2-Methodists; and 1-Calvanist. There were only three proclaimed Deists in the Founders, and the rest were members of Christian Congregations. Of the original signers of the Declaration of Independence, only Jefferson and Franklin were Deists, the rest were Christians. If you doubt me, go the the website: The American Colonial Library, and their original writings are there to read. George Washington’s diary is also at this sight, and he wrote some of the most beautiful prayers I’ve ever read, and all to his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Pretty interesting that a Deist would write Christian prayers. Also, pick-up Peter Marshall’s book, The Light and the Glory. Peter allows the Founders to speak for themselves, and the real story of the nation is absolutely fascinating. Daniel, most of what we’ve been taught about our own history in the schools has been altered, and is untrue.
My wife is a history teacher, and once she began reading Peter Marshall’s books, and the Founders own writings, she was furious at how the true history of our nation has been altered beyond recognition.
DanielR on Wed, June 25, 2008
Jim, I’ve searched Fox’s archives and can’t find where Obama said that.
What I did find that Obama said is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a “sore” that is affecting the entire Middle East and our foreign policy. Not that Israel is a stain and should not exist.
Get your facts straight, I have to agree with Daniel that you’re pegging way up there on the ignorance/fear-monger meters.
I’m not all-in for Obama, but I do think electing a black president would at least cause people in the US to take a harder look at the race problems that still exist here.
Not that I give him much of a chance. Once the political machines get going they’ll smear him every which way. As one GOP operative said to Time Magazine, “It’ll be Swiftboat times five.”
Between being labeled an anti-Semite and enemy of Israel, being black, having a foreign/Muslim sounding name, and having the GOP ramp up their smear machine, I don’t think there are enough people in this country who will actually listen to what he has to say to make it much of a contest. There are just too many blocks of voters he won’t have any chance of reaching.
As for James Dobson, he doesn’t speak for me but I would like some real examples of things Obama has said indicating flawed theology. I think political candidates need to be very careful when they start making statements based on a certain theology.
Jana on Wed, June 25, 2008
For the sake of argument, let’s say that all of the founding fathers were Christians. What is it that you think they were trying to do? If they wanted to establish a Christian nation, then why is Jesus not mentioned in the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution? Why did they not require those who would hold public office to be Christians? They didn’t feel the need to require leaders of the country to be Christians, but we sure do make an issue of it! Just because someone is a Christian doesn’t mean they’ll make a great president (as is the current situation, imho), and just because someone is not a Christian doesn’t mean they can’t be a great president.
Facts on Wed, June 25, 2008
Here are the remarks in question, verbatim:
http://www.jamesdobsondoesntspeakforme.com/
Wendi on Wed, June 25, 2008
Jim - comparing Obama to Hitler is unkind, uncalled for and “unchristian”. Please check your behavior against your bible.
For those of you who persist in the fantasy that American history is completely “Christian” – I’d encourage you to remember that these Christian forefathers built our country on the backs of men and women who had been ripped from their families in Africa and enslaved. We possess this land largely because we committed genocide on the native people, with whom we broke every treaty we signed. As late as the 50’s and 60’s, Christian pastors and government officials held leadership posts in the KKK.
I wish this wasn’t part of my heritage, but it simply is. Our constitution was signed by men whose “Christian” behavior was far more “unbiblical” than anything we see today in either party’s leader. Nevertheless, these men were wise enough to craft a constitution that prevented our government from imposing any religion onto her people, including Christianity. For this I am grateful.
Wendi
DanielR on Thu, June 26, 2008
Facts, I’m not sure the website you reference is exactly unbiased.
That being said, I do agree the James Dobson does not speak for me. One example:
Obama said, “Democracy demands that the religiously motivated translate their concerns into universal, rather than religion-specific, values. It requires that their proposals be subject to argument, and amenable to reason. I may be opposed to abortion for religious reasons, but if I seek to pass a law banning the practice, I cannot simply point to the teachings of my church or evoke God’s will. I have to explain why abortion violates some principle that is accessible to people of all faiths, including those with no faith at all”
Dobson responded that Obama is trying to govern by the “lowest common denominator of morality,” labeling it “a fruitcake interpretation of the Constitution.”
“Am I required in a democracy to conform my efforts in the political arena to his bloody notion of what is right with regard to the lives of tiny babies?” Dobson said. “What he’s trying to say here is unless everybody agrees, we have no right to fight for what we believe.”
Dobson also accused Obama of “deliberately distorting the traditional understanding of the Bible to fit his own worldview, his own confused theology.”
Maybe his understanding of theology is flawed or confused but to accuse him of deliberate distortion makes Dobson seem like the fruitcake.
Obama’s statement sounds reasonable, Dobson’s response does not. I can’t demand we outlaw abortion if my only argument is that the Bible says it’s wrong, I need to frame my objection in broader terms that apply to the majority of the democracy. He’s not saying that scriptural arguments are not valid, just not enough by themselves. From a political standpoint he’s right.
Wendi on Thu, June 26, 2008
DanielR – you are so correct. I too read the link from Facts. It’s not unbiased, but are there any unbiased sites out there (except MMI of course)?
The statement from Obama which DanielR pasted into his comment is not only correct politically, it is correct constitutionally and (IMO) biblically. Jesus never gave us any indication that He wanted us to bring about universal biblical morality by creating “Christian” governments or Christian laws which everyone in the land, Christian and non-Christian must follow. Rather, He wanted us to be living the kind of compelling lives that people watching want to learn more about, even when our sin (like unplanned pregnancy) leaves us with difficult decisions.
And I decided Dobson was a fruitcake when he came out against Sponge Bob Squarepants.
Wendi
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