Obama: Dobson "Making Stuff Up"

LOS ANGELES — Barack Obama said Tuesday that evangelical leader James Dobson was "making stuff up" when he accused the presumed Democratic presidential nominee of distorting the Bible.

Dobson used his Focus on the Family radio program to highlight excerpts of a speech Obama gave in June 2006 to the liberal Christian group Call to Renewal.

Speaking to reporters on his campaign plane before landing in Los Angeles, Obama said the speech made the argument that people of faith, like himself, "try to translate some of our concerns in a universal language so that we can have an open and vigorous debate rather than having religion divide us."

Obama added, "I think you'll see that he was just making stuff up, maybe for his own purposes."

In his program, Dobson focused on examples Obama cited in asking which Biblical passages should guide public policy. For instance, Obama said Leviticus suggests slavery is OK and eating shellfish is an abomination. Obama also cited 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 in the speech.

"I think he's deliberately distorting the traditional understanding of the Bible to fit his own worldview, his own confused theology," Dobson said.

Asked about Dobson's assessment, Obama said "somebody would be pretty hard-pressed to make that argument" that he was distorting the Bible.

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Obama supporters also responded to Dobson.

The Rev. Kirbyjon Caldwell, a Methodist pastor from Texas and longtime supporter of President Bush who has endorsed Obama, said Tuesday he belongs to a group of religious leaders who, working independently of Obama's campaign, launched a Web site to counter Dobson at . The site highlights statements from Obama and Dobson and asks visitors to compare them. http://www.jamesdobsondoesntspeakforme.com

Caldwell said he has great respect for Dobson's advocacy for families, but said the criticism of Obama was "a bit over the top" and "crossed the line."

"There has been a call for a higher level of politics and politicking," Caldwell said. "So to attack at this level is inappropriate and I think unacceptable and we at least want to hold everybody accountable."

Tom Minnery, a senior vice president at Focus on the Family, responded: "Without question, Dr. Dobson is speaking for millions of evangelicals because his understanding of the Bible is thoroughly evangelical."

___

AP Religion Writer Eric Gorski in Denver contributed to this report.

Comments

[NewArtz]

Obama's point is well taken that people don't read their Bibles. What they do is listen to their evangelists and take what they say as the voice of God. They have abandoned their own intellect for the sake of obedience to the teachings of their "better connected" teachers. This is religion: in the name of faith, we lose reason, and put our faith in the perspective of those "anointed" to reason for us. Without faith in our own understanding, we yield to the viewpoint of others.

Obama is merely suggesting we exercise our freedom to think, believe and act as Americans while Dobson wants to undermine our freedoms as Americans in order to create his own theocratic authority. Americans don't need these evangelical cult leaders. We need freedom of conscience and enough faith to question the mysteries of the universe without the Pharisees telling us who to crucify.

[cathye]

There are very few evangelical ministers I respect out there, but those that I do advocate reading the Bible for yourself above all else. Some of them suggest even learning Greek or Hebrew in order to understand it in the original languages it was written.

The ones I don't, like Dobson, are terrified that if people actually read the Bible from top to bottom they'll realize that Jesus was a liberal.

[MissKaren]

John Wycliff, who started the Reformation off in some ways, risked his life to translate the Bible into English so that people could actually read it for themselves.

[drblack]

Which version is Dobson referring to? How about all the books that were not included?
I have found that the more extreme someone is in their professed religious belief the less they understand about their religion. This is a general rule.
Faith should NEVER take the place of Facts and reason in determining Public Policy anyway so Dobson should shut up and focus on the spiritual.
Self proclaimed Spiritual leaders who are involved in politics aren't spiritual leaders at all.

[daddydamon]

I don't agree with that. Moses, Jesus, Muhammad, Buddha, and even Guru Nanak were all heavily involved in politics. Spiritual leaders must needs be involved in politics. To expect them to not be is like expecting a politician to not weigh in on spiritual matters. We are all spiritual as well as political beings. What needs to be kept out of the dialogue is religion as a weapon, especially when a Christian goes about judging other Christians. Like Obama said, some people haven't been reading their bibles. Shellfish is prohibited, so is pork. Any Christian who eats pork is going against the bible. Any Christian who plays football with a leather ball is going against God's will. The bible says that you cannot touch the skin of a dead pig. Hmmmmm. But, how many of these Christians who cite the Old Testament's prohibition of homosexuality would follow the letter of the text and stop eating/touching pork? Or agree that fathers are able to have sex with their daughters? The bible is rife with horrible social faux pas (by today's standards). As was the case throughout history, these Christian fanatics are counting on your never having read the bible. Read it.

[meanguy]

how many of these critics on this site know the difference between the laws of israel and the new covenant of Christ? how many can cite Christ's two commandments?

[Lautenberg]

Do you think stoning a woman to death for cheating should be brought back also, that's in the bible

[bigfro]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't the bible written by the followers of Christ after he was dead. Then in about 327 AD Constantine rewrote the bible to help in his conquests of Europe. He added the passage about only going to Jesus through Christ, Which Christ never said, and sadly is why many chritians thinks Jews will birn in hell even if they never sin and live good lives turning salvation into name dropping. It was only written to justify conversion, which was outlawed by the jews. Christ was a Jew, A rabbi in fact. I don't believe he ever asked for a bible to be written or to be worshiped.

[GBartrem]

This is a debate about Dobson and not the bible... I have my own views about being christian, and they might take up too much space. Let alone ruffel some feathers..... I will say that when I want to listen to a pastor other than the one in my own church I choose Chuck Swindoll.

[DenaSilver]

Dobson misconstrued the point of Obama's speech. And Dobson knows it. Dobson is not so dense as to misunderstand what Obama articulately conveyed. Dobson understands that his followers prefer his soundbites to the task of reading or watching, in entirety, Obama's speech.
Well, Obama will win, anyway. This country is sick of fundamenta­list-liter­alism!

[Koa]

No offense to practicing Christians, but anyone who would give credence to someone who vigorously promotes the idea that Spngebob Squarepants and the Teletubbies are promoting homosexuality is, in my opinion, a taco short of a combo plate.

[whizkid]

Dobson
Hear the word of the Godz.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-t4hU3hhc8

[Kahawa]

The "traditional" undertanding of the Bible is only traditional to those who take it literally as the word of God. The educated view of the Bible is that it was written by real human beings, translated by real human beings, affected deeply by politics at every point along the way, and rife with mistakes imposed by those who transcribed it incorrectly, and interpreted in the light of political views of the time in which it is read.

Dobson should not be given any credence whatsoever.

[booksnmore4you]

Not really true. Educated views of the Bible are very diverse.

[antaeus]

Good point; there are all kinds of "educational" institutions out there. Kahawa probably meant "intelligent" view.

[MSB]

A stinging indictment regarding the intelligence of the American public = Dobson getting coverage.

How a person this stupid gets a national voice is beyond me.

[1differentdrummer]

Why does what a child psychologist has to say about religion merit any press, anyway?

[Lautenberg]

Every corporate KingPin knows that all they have to do to STEAL from the midwest and south and to affect a redneck drawl and praise Jesus.

[brighterside]

There has been a quite a bit of people slamming Christians here on this forum because of what Mr. Dobson has said. Please note that the majority of christians in the US are not these evangelical types that will vote for a candidate just because we are told to do so. We are smarter than that. In actuality, to be grouped with the kind of christian faith that Dobson believes in is an insult to most Christians as myself.

The majority of christians in the United States have other values that trump over abortion and gay issues. Most of the issues such as helping the poor and fighting poverty, fighting oppression and racism, providing health insurance to all, environmental issues, etc. are very central to what the Bible teaches and has everything to do with being christian. Yet, we have these so called evangelicals telling us that we are not christian and don't deserve to be called christians because we support abortion or gay rights or belong to another party besides the republican. Most of us are sick and tired of that rhetoric and want to put an end to it.

Lets not make it harder for christians to join the democratic party. Lets stand up for them too despite our difference or lack of our beliefs in faith. They need a voice too just like everyone else.

[booksnmore4you]

Co-signing this post.

[Katboy]

I don't think your claim about 'most' American christians stands up.

Most Americans self-identify as christians.

But then there's this bit:
"Most of the issues such as helping the poor and fighting poverty, fighting oppression and racism, providing health insurance to all, environmental issues, etc. are very central to what the Bible teaches and has everything to do with being christian"

Which is the polar opposite of what the US has done for the last 10, 20, 50 years.

Even if most American christians aren't evil pricks like Dobson,. they make up the majority in a country that runs according to what can only be described as ANTI-christian principles.

[1differentdrummer]

Agreed.

[Counterglow]

It would be nice if you guys spoke up a bit more often. The Christian agenda has been hijacked by the Dobsons of the world, and the parts about charity and love and acceptance and stewardship of the planet seem to have been forgotten.

Jesus chased the moneylenders out of the temple. Dobson and his ilk sit them down and give them a good ol' home-cooked meal.

[wyomingrev]

We are trying. It's a lot harder to get media attention as a liberal Christian. As the pastor of a "green" church, I can vouch for the existence of passionate Christians doing their utmost to save the planet, feed the hungry, change unjust laws, etc. But that's not what gets media attention. Folks like Dobson get that.

[antaeus]

The socially conscious Christian you claim forms the bulk of observers in the US is more rare than you would have us believe. In the face of statistics that show membership in traditional denominations has dropped markedly over the last century, with evangelicalism on the rise in the same period, how can you believe the Christian you describe is in the majority?

[whizkid]

Will someone just bring the troops home?
Jesus.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-jZgg6xhcs

[lakephillip]

Dobson is A Cult leader . Theyr'e so, so far away from the teachings of Jesus Christ.
He proves for that the religious right isn't

[lakephillip]

Dobson is Cultist, and so far away from the teachings of Jesus Christ. It is to be pitied how sad the religious right isn't.

[meanguy]

and the obamanites AREN'T cultists?

[fuzzwald]

As a general rule, no.

[cathye]

From Dictionary.com, a cult is:

1. a particular system of religious worship, esp. with reference to its rites and ceremonies.

Obama supporters don't worship him, and we don't have rites or ceremonies.

2. an instance of great veneration of a person, ideal, or thing, esp. as manifested by a body of admirers: the physical fitness cult.

We respect Obama, but veneration is probably a step too far. He's human.

3. the object of such devotion.

Nope.

4. a group or sect bound together by veneration of the same thing, person, ideal, etc.

Again, we don't venerate Obama.

5. Sociology. a group having a sacred ideology and a set of rites centering around their sacred symbols.

No sacred rites here.

6. a religion or sect considered to be false, unorthodox, or extremist, with members often living outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader.

Most Obama supporters are living in mainstream America. We range from the latte drinkers to the every day Joe Democrat that's tired of getting ignored in Washington.

7. the members of such a religion or sect.

Not a religion, not a sect.

8. any system for treating human sickness that originated by a person usually claiming to have sole insight into the nature of disease, and that employs methods regarded as unorthodox or unscientific.

No one has ever claimed that by being touched by Obama, their illness was healed. On the other hand, plenty of evangelical ministers have claimed that kind of power.

[cimwright]

Religious leaders should refrain from making any political comments. They should refrain from endorsing or condemning political officials. I fell upon a video on YouTube that says it better:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RM4TbJJ_h94

[MikeMidCity]

Dobson doesn't speak for anyone. He is some sort of sociologist isn't he? He's not a preacher or an Ordained Pastor for the Church of the Nazarene. If he is still a Nazarene that is.

Seems the Point Loma Nazarene University, Dr. Dobson's old school, teaches evolution in it's biology department. What with wanting to be taken seriously as a university and all what else is an institution of higher learning to do?

Dobson is now a sideshow to the conservative Republican implosion.

[ClydeSloppers]

Ah, Matthew, Mark, Luke and HumeSkeptic. I kinda like the King James Version of Barack Obama!

[NoMercy]

The Bible is mostly made-up anyway.

[DiegoUK]

Mostly? Did your invisable friend tell you that? Maybe a talking snake?

[YellowPanties]

Talking snakes are cool! Don't hate.

[lizr]

At best highly edited for political purposes and extremely excised.

[torrrep]

You can tell that to God when you meet him. I'm sure He'll understand that it was just a big misunderstanding.

[ChimpsWithNukes]

I talked to god last night. She said it's all BS.

[1differentdrummer]

Lay off people's faith, that's a personal matter. Stick to their politics.

[Pete Ross]

"Lay off people's faith, that's a personal matter. Stick to their politics."

It should be a personal matter but it becomes fair game when they make it the basis of their politics and insist on government legislating their religious beliefs into the public sphere.

“I am satisfied that I have come to the knowledge of the truth about the Christian religion: It is falsehood.

I would ignore the Christian religion altogether were it not for the fact that several manifestations of the Christian religion are extremely intrusive.

Because this intrusiveness is so dangerous to the society in which I live, it is a moral imperative for me to challenge the patently false claims of these intrusive Christians and to oppose the policies they wish to enact -- which policies are based upon the falsehood that is the Christian religion.”- Cliff Walker

[cathye]

The Bible is 100% true. The problem is, it was written by tribes during the Iron age, without any of the knowledge of the natural world that we have today. Lightning strikes a bush and starts a forest fire, and someone takes it as a sign that God is talking to them.

So, it was true, completely true, and completely believed, by those who wrote it, according to their world view. What we know today about the world does not invalidate that truth, but merely means that we have to be careful how much we apply it to the modern world.

[WIpatriot]

Time to take away somebody's tax exempt status....

[torrrep]

That's funny. Wright just "speaks what is on other people's minds" and that is ok. But you want to pull tax exempt status from Dobson? How conveniently hypocritical.

[1differentdrummer]

Wright? Is he in the article? Must have missed that. But, but, but, Wright....Maybe all churches should lose tax exempt status. Maybe all not-for-profits should be taxed as for-profits. That's a big scam. Make taxation fair.

[Titonwan]

I got your tax exempt status hanging.

[Pete Ross]

Tax exempt status for religious entities should be eliminated altogether.
Why should organizations that promote mythology over reason be granted tax exemption?