James Dobson
Overview
James Clayton "Jim" Dobson, Jr. (born April 21, 1936) is an American evangelical
Christian
author, psychologist
, and founder in 1977 of Focus on the Family
(FOTF), which he led until 2003. In the 1980s he was ranked as one of the most influential spokesman for conservative social positions in American public life. Although never an ordained minister, he was called "the nation's most influential evangelical leader" by Time
while Slate
portrayed him as a successor to evangelical leaders Billy Graham, Jerry Falwell
, and Pat Robertson
.
He is no longer affiliated with Focus on the Family.
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
author, psychologist
Psychologist
Psychologist is a professional or academic title used by individuals who are either:* Clinical professionals who work with patients in a variety of therapeutic contexts .* Scientists conducting psychological research or teaching psychology in a college...
, and founder in 1977 of Focus on the Family
Focus on the Family
Focus on the Family is an American evangelical Christian tax-exempt non-profit organization founded in 1977 by psychologist James Dobson, and is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Focus on the Family is one of a number of evangelical parachurch organizations that rose to prominence in the 1980s...
(FOTF), which he led until 2003. In the 1980s he was ranked as one of the most influential spokesman for conservative social positions in American public life. Although never an ordained minister, he was called "the nation's most influential evangelical leader" by Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
while Slate
Slate (magazine)
Slate is a US-based English language online current affairs and culture magazine created in 1996 by former New Republic editor Michael Kinsley, initially under the ownership of Microsoft as part of MSN. On 21 December 2004 it was purchased by the Washington Post Company...
portrayed him as a successor to evangelical leaders Billy Graham, Jerry Falwell
Jerry Falwell
Jerry Lamon Falwell, Sr. was an evangelical fundamentalist Southern Baptist pastor, televangelist, and a conservative commentator from the United States. He was the founding pastor of the Thomas Road Baptist Church, a megachurch in Lynchburg, Virginia...
, and Pat Robertson
Pat Robertson
Marion Gordon "Pat" Robertson is a media mogul, television evangelist, ex-Baptist minister and businessman who is politically aligned with the Christian Right in the United States....
.
He is no longer affiliated with Focus on the Family.
Quotations
"[P]ain is a marvelous purifier. . . It is not necessary to beat the child into submission; a little bit of pain goes a long way for a young child. However, the spanking should be of sufficient magnitude to cause the child to cry genuinely."
From Dare to Discipline, pages 6 and 7
"Homosexuals are not monogamous. They want to destroy the institution of marriage. It will destroy marriage. It will destroy the Earth."
On gay marriage, from The Daily Oklahoman, Oct. 23rd, 2004