James Dobson, Focus on the Family founder and key leader on the Christian right, dies at 89
apnews.com
James Dobson, a child psychologist who founded the conservative ministry Focus on the Family and was a politically influential campaigner against abortion and LGBTQ+ rights, has died at age 89.

  • neuracnu@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
    95·
    1 day ago

    In case you weren’t sure how to feel about reading this obit, here’s a handful of this guy’s impact on the world…

    • Dobson viewed marriage as a transaction in which women exchange sex for protection: “The natural sex appeal of girls serves as their primary source of bargaining power in the game of life. In exchange for feminine affection and love, a man accepts a girl as his lifetime responsibility-supplying her needs and caring for her welfare. This sexual aspect of the marital agreement can hardly be denied.” — James Dobson, Dare to Discipline (1970)
    • Dobson opposed sex education curricula that were not abstinence-only and supported private school vouchers (taking funding away from public schools) and tax credits for religious schools.
    • Dobson contended that tolerance and diversity are “buzzwords” that were being misused as part of a “hidden agenda” to promote homosexuality. (citation)
    • In 2012, Dobson said that the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary (killing 26 people including 20 children) was a judgement by God because of American acceptance of gay marriage and legal abortion. (citation)
    • Dobson flip-flopped on his views on abortion, opting for silent support early in his career before changing course to be obstinately anti-abortion, insisting that abortion invites women to reject God, diverts women from their natural role as mothers, and prevents more Christians from coming into the world. (citation)
    • Dobson encouraged “daddy–daughter dating” in which fathers and daughters set aside time for special activities together. Because he believed heterosexuality must be cultivated, Dobson intended these romanticized attachments to model proper heterosexual partnership to girls age six or younger. (citation)
    • He viewed the gender binary as fundamental to humanity and waxed lovingly about historical periods where being transgender in a bathroom could get you killed. (citation)

    I could go on, but I’m feeling the sudden urge to go dance in the street.

    Update: for further reading, please have a look at the obituary written by Erik Loomis on the Lawyers Guns & Money blog. It’s outstanding.