Posted by Helen on: 07.02.2008 /
After James Dobson criticized Barack Obama last week, Pastor Kirbyjon Caldwell responded by setting up the website James Dobson Doesn’t Speak for Me.
The site compares Dobson’s criticisms with quotes from Obama on the same topics. It gives people the option to sign this statement
James Dobson doesn’t speak for me.
He doesn’t speak for me when he uses religion as a wedge to divide;
He doesn’t speak for me when he speaks as the final arbiter on the meaning of the Bible;
James Dobson doesn’t speak for me when he uses the beliefs of others as a line of attack;
He doesn’t speak for me when he denigrates his neighbor’s views when they don’t line up with his;
He doesn’t speak for me when he seeks to confine the values of my faith to two or three issues alone;
What does speak for me is David’s psalm celebrating how good and pleasant it is when we come together in unity;
Micah speaks for me in reminding us that the Lord requires us to act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with Him;
The prophet Isaiah speaks for me in his call for all to come and reason together and also to seek justice, encourage the oppressed and to defend the cause of the vulnerable;
The book of Nehemiah speaks for me in its example to work with our neighbors, not against them, to restore what was broken in our communities;
The book of Matthew speaks for me in saying to bless those that curse you and pray for those who persecute you;
The words of the apostle Paul speak for me in saying that words spoken and deeds done without love amount to nothing.
The apostle John speaks for me in reminding us of Jesus’ command to love one another. The world will know His disciples by that love.
These words speak for me. But when James Dobson attacks Barack Obama, James Dobson doesn’t speak for me.
The site also includes a testimonials page of photos and personal statements from those who have signed.
Comment by: benjamin ady
1 07/2/08 5:58 AM | Comment Link |See–people like Kirbyjon Caldwell create a space in which I could be a Christian. Who is he?
Comment by: Stephan
2 07/2/08 6:26 AM | Comment Link |I already signed the petition.
Comment by: joe
3 07/2/08 7:55 AM | Comment Link |Benjamin - according to wikipedia
He has a great name as well.
Comment by: Jim Henderson
4 07/2/08 7:56 AM | Comment Link |He is George Bushs pastor - for real
Comment by: joe
5 07/2/08 11:57 AM | Comment Link |I think I might set up georgewbushdoesntspeakforme.com
Comment by: karen
6 07/2/08 1:32 PM | Comment Link |Long, long overdue! Kudos to Kirby.
Comment by: Aaron G
7 07/2/08 8:23 PM | Comment Link |I still respect all that Dobson has to say about the importance of strong Christian families. Its sad that anymore he seems to focus more on pushing his political views than on the family
Comment by: Elaine
8 07/3/08 7:33 AM | Comment Link |Proverbs 18:21
Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
For too long now, when I hear Dobson - I hear him speaking death to others. He is beginning to reap the fruit of that.
It is sad because he has the opportunity, and ear of millions, to speak life.
Comment by: Amy Black
9 07/6/08 9:06 PM | Comment Link |John the Baptist might have stayed alive longer had he stayed out of the king’s business about who he married. (Matthew 14)
Likewise, I think it would be wise for preachers to publicly remain neutral in regards to politics.
Comment by: joe
10 07/7/08 3:50 AM | Comment Link |The issue for me is not that any particular religious group should stay out (or stay neutral) on political issues.
If poverty, housing, schools, healthcare etc are not spiritual and religious issues, I’m not sure what is.
What gets under my skin is when big (ego-ed) Christian ’superstars’ claim to speak on behalf of everyone else in the community, as if their statement is the last word on the subject.
Also, these people seem to be rather more inclined to pontificate about ‘traditional biblical family values’ (whatever that means - have they actually read the bible?) than the rights and needs of the poorest in society.
Comment by: joe
11 07/7/08 4:42 AM | Comment Link |Which ties in a bit with some reading I’ve been doing about how easy it is to claim that certain groups are unfit to hold a political opinion and vote.
Comment by: Helen
12 07/8/08 6:29 AM | Comment Link |Joe wrote:
Exactly.
That’s rather unnerving.
Comment by: Doreen A Mannion
13 07/8/08 11:42 AM | Comment Link |Of course, Focus on the Family (Dobson’s group) immediately sent an email to all its people asking them to go to Pastor Caldwell’s site and “send a respectful e-mail to the anti-Dobson Web site”. They refer to the site as a “coalition of pastors and other Christians”. They like to put phrases in quotes to indicate they don’t believe them.
When you go to their site to send your “respectful” email, it prepopulates the subject line with “Dr. Dobson stands for truth”.
Comment by: marion
14 09/23/08 6:46 AM | Comment Link |I was initially angry at J.D,’s silly misinterpretation of Barack Obama’s ‘06 speech.
But lately I am realising the guy is getting older [no offence to other older people...I know a wonderful thinking 81 year old who blogs on politics].
Maybe he genuinely misunderstood…
but if I remember correctly, even some associated with him suggested this, or perhaps it was Jim Wallis who generously suggested this.
He should admit it, if so, now he’s had longer to mull it over.
I never agreed with his teaching on breaking the will or the spirit, [of a strong willed child] or whatever it was [which I saw in about '83]