Comments on Mark Riddle's Blog: Dobson and Obama

I like your post on Dobson. Also, I wrote a Bill ...

2008-07-08T01:25:00.000-04:00

I like your post on Dobson. Also, I wrote a Bill Mallonee post before seeing him at Convergence in Tulsa. I read a blog that you went with a friend there. The post is at my site

http://the-cuff.com/?p=63

I write about Obama extensively there, too, but I may be a bit more liberal in my interpretation of the bible than your blogs. Anyway, I always enjoy discussions and will continue reading your work.

--JINGLETT

hi heath,when you incorporate and file officially ...

2008-07-03T08:39:00.000-04:00

hi heath,

when you incorporate and file officially as lobby group (as Dobson has done) to speak on behalf of evangelicals, then I think your understand of how this works breaks down a bit.

When I read these kinds of comments from people in...

2008-07-03T00:09:00.000-04:00

When I read these kinds of comments from people in youth ministry about other brothers in ministry, I always have one question come to mind, "I wonder if this person has talked to James Dobson either by calling his ministry or writing him an email before they broadcast their disagreement publicly across the internet for untold thousands to read."

Did you communicate your displeasure with Mr. Dobson before you posted?

I would just hope if you had the same disagreement with another youth minister including myself, you would talk to them first, or try to leave your thoughts personally, before you talked about me publicly.

Just wondering.

markway to stick it to them. you have some great ...

2008-06-27T15:37:00.000-04:00

mark

way to stick it to them.
you have some great one liners in this post.

Dobson needs to not solely focus on the family, but focus on America.

www.jamesdobsondoesntspeakforme.com

2008-06-25T12:52:00.000-04:00

www.jamesdobsondoesntspeakforme.com

Dobson's remarks might have been factually correct...

2008-06-25T11:53:00.000-04:00

Dobson's remarks might have been factually correct, but that's not what was controversial. The controversy was around his conclusions that he drew. For instance, because Obama had the audacity to say that we shouldn't govern directly from the Bible (an idea that even most evangelicals would agree with), Dobson said he didn't read his Bible properly and had a confused theology. Because Obama suggested that it might be helpful for evangelicals to use language that was a little more universal when trying to pass laws restricting abortion, and incorporate logic and reason into their attempts, Dobson concludes that Obama has a "fruitcake interterpretation of the Constitution."

Sorry, but Obama is absolutely correct in the comments that Dobson criticized. Dobson, in the same speech, admits that he's not a Biblical or Constitutional scholar. My conclusion, based on that fact, is that he needs to stick to child and adolescent psychology. As Abraham Lincoln said, "It's better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt." You characterized it properly, Mark. It's gas.

the world of labels and naming others other than h...

2008-06-25T11:00:00.000-04:00

the world of labels and naming others other than human grows tiresome...

the world of objectifying and belittling another to something less than fully human is also not how I want the world to see "evangelicals."

this idea that one KNOWS and has a complete grasp on all truth about something and is able to judge and pigeon hole another is something I would love to see be less our concern. that we would come to a place of being able to see each other as humans worthy of hearing, worthy of dialogue, and worthy of allowing for difference and diversity and still worthy of dignity.

I wish we could stop fighting wars and waging against things and start sowing seeds of love, mercy, hope and justice that we might better reveal the kingdom in our culture.

I don't know what Obama said, or the context of wh...

2008-06-25T07:13:00.000-04:00

I don't know what Obama said, or the context of what he said...

But, for the first time since I've encountered you, you are willing to say that you "know" something--in this case about Dobson.

...I know smoke when i see it blowing.

FWIW, I do know what Obama said, and the substance of Dobson's remarks were factually correct.

If people weren't afraid they would have no reason...

2008-06-25T07:05:00.000-04:00

If people weren't afraid they would have no reason to listen to or buy Dobson's material. Dobson is one step away from those conspiracy theory people.