ONTD Original: Great Scandals of the Evangelical Church
With the slate of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation happening across the country (banning of trans-girls in sports, DeSatan's 'Don't Say Gay' and a dozen other bullshit edicts) and considering what's coming up in May, I thought this jackass was a good one to focus on for this month's sermon, since the organizations he founded and headed have sunk inordinate amounts of money into the campaigns of the politicians who are only 'thinking of the children'.
Remember, the basis of this series are my own experiences with living in a Fundamental Christian/Born-Again household until I was in my 30s (when I escaped--I'm not even lying about that), I pulled many of these off the top of my head and then filled in memory with research that sent me down a path of recollections I would much rather forget, BELIEVE ME.
Warning: THERE IS READING INVOLVED. Go get you a drinky-drink. You gonna need it.
Welcome to the
Buckle up sistren, there's fuckery to uncover
Chapter 2: James Dobson/Focus on the Family/Family Research Council/Family Talk
Denomination: Interdenominational (I will get into this in another sermon, it's a doozy)
The Background: James Dobson was born in Colorado, son of a traveling evangelical preacher. To be fair, he actually tried to do something different with his life. Psychology wasn't seen in a favorable light in the 50s and 60s by evangelicals, but he went to college as a psych major with the hopes of helping people. He taught at his alma mater USC for 14 years. He started Focus on the Family in 1977, a group that was designed to help Christian parents raise their children but with using psychological theories. According to the Wikipedia entry, its goals were "nurturing and defending the God-ordained institution of the family and promoting biblical truths worldwide".
He is best known for his 1970 book, Dare to Discipline, which encouraged parents to use corporal punishment to 'overcome a child's will' including using a switch on a two-year old--or really whatever else is handy. Spare the rod, spoil the child. It's MUCH BETTER to emotionally scar the little fucker.
Surprisingly, he was also the last person to interview serial killer Ted Bundy the day before he was executed in 1989. After the interview (which gave Bundy a platform to justify and explain his reasoning behind the rape and torture of dozens of young women across the US) was released and Bundy executed, Dobson went on television with Florida prosecutor John Tanner asking for Bundy to be forgiven by the general public. He sold copies of the interview to the tune of $1,000,000, $600,000 of which FotF donated to anti-pornography groups.
Dobson was also associated with eugenics proponent Dr. Paul Popenoe, a founder of marriage counseling, who stated that since 60% of babies die before or directly after birth, those babies should be kept from existing by sterilizing the feeble-minded who produce them. So abortion NO, selective sterilization OKEY DOKE. Dr. Popenoe founded the American Institute of Family Relations to more covertly continue his commitment to the Eugenics movement and Dobson worked for him at this institution for many years.
The Scandal: Again, which one would you like?
The one where they actively advocate conversion therapy for LGBTQ+ children and adults?
How about their blatant manipulation of legit child psychology studies?
Stating that groups who espouse diversity are brainwashing our children to be homosexual?
Buying ad time during a Super Bowl to celebrate that Tim Tebow's mother didn't abort him?
Sending money to the politicians of varied African nations in support of their legislatures passing laws increasing the punishments for same-sex relationships, up to and including the death penalty?
Covering up a child sex scandal of its Spanish broadcasters?
Supporting known sexual predator Roy Moore?
No really, take your pick. There are thousands of conservative/fundamental Christian families who live on the doctrine put forward by FotF through Dobson's radio broadcasts and books, and generations of wounded children left in their wake. (Including me. I LOATHE this fucker with the fire of ten million suns.)
But one of the most controversial things Dobson has done was found the Family Research Council. The group, set up in 1981, was at one point in time the political arm of the Focus on the Family organization, and the group set up a 503 Super PAC called FRC Action to fund political campaigns for ultra-conservative candidates and other organizations who support their views. The FRC was part of the FotF umbrella until 1992, when the amount of money brought in threatened the main organization's non-for-profit status with the IRS and it became its own separate organization, though it still maintains affiliation with FotF. The Southern Poverty Law Council named the FRC an anti-gay hate group in 2010.
Co-founder and board member George Rekers stepped down in 2010 when he was discovered taking his favorite male prostitute to Europe with him on a symposium on family values. The gentleman in question reported to CNN that he gave Rekers "sexual massages" during their two-week trip.
On June 18, 2013, Josh Duggar, eldest son of James Robert and Michelle Duggar and reality show 'personality', was named the executive director of FRC Action (most likely because of the family's connection to former Arkansas Republican POS--ahem--governor Mike Huckabee). On May 21 2015, Josh Duggar stepped down after it was revealed that Smuggar molested five girls (4 of his sisters and another girl) in his teens and that behavior was covered up on multiple levels. Then it turns out he was actively attempting to cheat on his wife by joining AshleyMadison.com. There has even been proof given from one of the women he cheated with that he is a 'sexual deviant' and generally not a nice guy. Duggar is currently awaiting sentencing on his recent conviction on two counts of possessing child pornography.
Current Ministry: In 2003, Dobson stepped down from the day to day operations of FotF to concentrate on the daily radio shows, television broadcasts, counseling and conferences. Dobson left Focus on the Family in 2009 due to a disagreement with then president Jim Daly over the operations of the group (mostly that Daly was trying to combat bloat and debt in the organization by cutting jobs and lowering salaries).
Dobson started Family Talk, which is a copy of Focus on the Family that still broadcasts its Family Talk Minutes on Family Radio (subject of an upcoming sermon) as well as having webcasts on its website, drjamesdobson.org. Though Dobson no longer publicly campaigns for 'conservative values', he is a frequent contributor on FoxNews broadcasts and a known Trump and Mike Pence supporter.
Focus on the Family itself still espouses homophobic rhetoric, is anti-reproductive rights, creationism only, abstinence-only sex education and adoptions only to cis heterosexual couples.
Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
disclaimer: I do believe in a higher power out there in the cosmos (I choose to call it 'God', you good sistren can call it whatever it is you want to). Be a good person. Treat others how you want to be treated. DO NOT LET SOME FLASHY ASS GUY ON THE RADIO TELL YOU WHAT TO BELIEVE. Or one who stands in front of you in a pulpit on Sundays either. The best lesson I got out of my years of Christian captivity (oop, education) was the one that my mother really didn't want me to have: QUESTION EVERYTHING. The Bible is a book, claiming to be the Word of God but written by FALLIBLE HUMAN MEN. It has been messed with multiple times and fashioned to fit what a small group of people (white men) WANTED it to say. You're allowed to challenge it. As a matter of fact, it's your duty to.
tl;dr: Matthew 7: 3-5
Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye...
Remember, the basis of this series are my own experiences with living in a Fundamental Christian/Born-Again household until I was in my 30s (when I escaped--I'm not even lying about that), I pulled many of these off the top of my head and then filled in memory with research that sent me down a path of recollections I would much rather forget, BELIEVE ME.
Warning: THERE IS READING INVOLVED. Go get you a drinky-drink. You gonna need it.
Welcome to the
Buckle up sistren, there's fuckery to uncover
Chapter 2: James Dobson/Focus on the Family/Family Research Council/Family Talk
Denomination: Interdenominational (I will get into this in another sermon, it's a doozy)
The Background: James Dobson was born in Colorado, son of a traveling evangelical preacher. To be fair, he actually tried to do something different with his life. Psychology wasn't seen in a favorable light in the 50s and 60s by evangelicals, but he went to college as a psych major with the hopes of helping people. He taught at his alma mater USC for 14 years. He started Focus on the Family in 1977, a group that was designed to help Christian parents raise their children but with using psychological theories. According to the Wikipedia entry, its goals were "nurturing and defending the God-ordained institution of the family and promoting biblical truths worldwide".
He is best known for his 1970 book, Dare to Discipline, which encouraged parents to use corporal punishment to 'overcome a child's will' including using a switch on a two-year old--or really whatever else is handy. Spare the rod, spoil the child. It's MUCH BETTER to emotionally scar the little fucker.
Surprisingly, he was also the last person to interview serial killer Ted Bundy the day before he was executed in 1989. After the interview (which gave Bundy a platform to justify and explain his reasoning behind the rape and torture of dozens of young women across the US) was released and Bundy executed, Dobson went on television with Florida prosecutor John Tanner asking for Bundy to be forgiven by the general public. He sold copies of the interview to the tune of $1,000,000, $600,000 of which FotF donated to anti-pornography groups.
Dobson was also associated with eugenics proponent Dr. Paul Popenoe, a founder of marriage counseling, who stated that since 60% of babies die before or directly after birth, those babies should be kept from existing by sterilizing the feeble-minded who produce them. So abortion NO, selective sterilization OKEY DOKE. Dr. Popenoe founded the American Institute of Family Relations to more covertly continue his commitment to the Eugenics movement and Dobson worked for him at this institution for many years.
The Scandal: Again, which one would you like?
No really, take your pick. There are thousands of conservative/fundamental Christian families who live on the doctrine put forward by FotF through Dobson's radio broadcasts and books, and generations of wounded children left in their wake. (Including me. I LOATHE this fucker with the fire of ten million suns.)
But one of the most controversial things Dobson has done was found the Family Research Council. The group, set up in 1981, was at one point in time the political arm of the Focus on the Family organization, and the group set up a 503 Super PAC called FRC Action to fund political campaigns for ultra-conservative candidates and other organizations who support their views. The FRC was part of the FotF umbrella until 1992, when the amount of money brought in threatened the main organization's non-for-profit status with the IRS and it became its own separate organization, though it still maintains affiliation with FotF. The Southern Poverty Law Council named the FRC an anti-gay hate group in 2010.
Co-founder and board member George Rekers stepped down in 2010 when he was discovered taking his favorite male prostitute to Europe with him on a symposium on family values. The gentleman in question reported to CNN that he gave Rekers "sexual massages" during their two-week trip.
On June 18, 2013, Josh Duggar, eldest son of James Robert and Michelle Duggar and reality show 'personality', was named the executive director of FRC Action (most likely because of the family's connection to former Arkansas Republican POS--ahem--governor Mike Huckabee). On May 21 2015, Josh Duggar stepped down after it was revealed that Smuggar molested five girls (4 of his sisters and another girl) in his teens and that behavior was covered up on multiple levels. Then it turns out he was actively attempting to cheat on his wife by joining AshleyMadison.com. There has even been proof given from one of the women he cheated with that he is a 'sexual deviant' and generally not a nice guy. Duggar is currently awaiting sentencing on his recent conviction on two counts of possessing child pornography.
Current Ministry: In 2003, Dobson stepped down from the day to day operations of FotF to concentrate on the daily radio shows, television broadcasts, counseling and conferences. Dobson left Focus on the Family in 2009 due to a disagreement with then president Jim Daly over the operations of the group (mostly that Daly was trying to combat bloat and debt in the organization by cutting jobs and lowering salaries).
Dobson started Family Talk, which is a copy of Focus on the Family that still broadcasts its Family Talk Minutes on Family Radio (subject of an upcoming sermon) as well as having webcasts on its website, drjamesdobson.org. Though Dobson no longer publicly campaigns for 'conservative values', he is a frequent contributor on FoxNews broadcasts and a known Trump and Mike Pence supporter.
Focus on the Family itself still espouses homophobic rhetoric, is anti-reproductive rights, creationism only, abstinence-only sex education and adoptions only to cis heterosexual couples.
Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
disclaimer: I do believe in a higher power out there in the cosmos (I choose to call it 'God', you good sistren can call it whatever it is you want to). Be a good person. Treat others how you want to be treated. DO NOT LET SOME FLASHY ASS GUY ON THE RADIO TELL YOU WHAT TO BELIEVE. Or one who stands in front of you in a pulpit on Sundays either. The best lesson I got out of my years of Christian captivity (oop, education) was the one that my mother really didn't want me to have: QUESTION EVERYTHING. The Bible is a book, claiming to be the Word of God but written by FALLIBLE HUMAN MEN. It has been messed with multiple times and fashioned to fit what a small group of people (white men) WANTED it to say. You're allowed to challenge it. As a matter of fact, it's your duty to.
tl;dr: Matthew 7: 3-5
Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye...