Does James Dobson believe in executing children?

[Rick336]

This is a direct quote from James Dobson from his Focus on the Family website regarding the Bible and homosexuality.

"Scriptures against homosexual behavior – including Leviticus 18:22 ….are so clear and specific that they defy reinterpretation." - James Dobson 2008

He also says: "All authors of Scripture were inspired by God's Holy Spirit." - James Dobson - 2008

And he says: "Scripture teaches that Jesus kept all the Law and affirmed all that the Law and the Prophets taught (Matt. 5:17-19) - James Dobson - 2008

“The law” Dobson refers to is the Old Testament.

So James Dobson makes it very clear from his own words on his website that he firmly believes that:

1. The Bible was inspired by the Holy Spirit.

1. The Old Testament is a legitimate source of rule because Jesus said so.

2. Leviticus is a legitimate book from the Old Testament.

We know that this is what James Dobson believes because he clearly says so on his website. Anybody can go to his website and read it. Dobson believes that the Bible clearly condemns homosexuality and constantly urges Americans to do the same.

So if James Dobson clearly believes that the Old Testament should be used as God’s written laws then he must also believe that punishment for a child cursing their parents is execution. How do I know this? Because it says so in Leviticus.


Leviticus 20:9 New Living Translation - Anyone who dishonors his father or mother must be put to death. Such a person is guilty of a capital offense.


Dobson must believe this is the correct punishment for this “crime”. He clearly says that the Bible is God’s word and Leviticus is a legitimate source for guidance. So he must believe that execution is the correct punishment for young people who curse their parents because he says that Leviticus “……defies reinterpretation.” There’s absolutely no way that James Dobson can say otherwise without being a liar.

For James Dobson to be against child executions is for him to admit that this particular verse in Leviticus needs reinterpretation. But then he would also have to admit that other (or all ) verses in the Bible are subject to question or reinterpretation including Leviticus 18:22 condemning homosexuality.

Just to make sure Leviticus actually says this, here are other translations:

King James Version - Leviticus 20:9 - For every one that curseth his father or his mother shall be surely put to death: he hath cursed his father or his mother; his blood shall be upon him.

American Standard Translation - Leviticus 20:9 -If there is anyone who curses his father or his mother, he shall surely be put to death; he has cursed his father or his mother, his blood guiltiness is upon him.

New Century Version - Leviticus 20:9 - Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death. He has cursed his father or mother, so he has brought his own death on himself.

Holman Christian Standard Bible - Leviticus 20:9 - If anyone curses his father or mother, he must be put to death. He has cursed his father or mother; his blood is on his own hands.

Today’s New International Version - Leviticus 20:9 - Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death. Because they have cursed their father or mother, their blood will be on their own head.


Maybe the word “curse” doesn’t actually mean talking disrespectful to your parents. Could it mean something else? Are there any other words in the Bible that addresses this subject? Check out what it says in Deuteronomy:

Deuteronomy 21:18-21 - If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who does not obey his father and mother and will not listen to them when they discipline him, his father and mother shall take hold of him and bring him to the elders at the gate of his town. They shall say to the elders, "This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious. He will not obey us. He is a profligate and a drunkard." Then all the men of his town shall stone him to death.”

So that clears it up. The Bible clearly states that rebellious children should be executed. There’s absolutely no question about it.

So then, if the Bible is God’s word like James Dobson says it is and not up for reinterpretation, also like he says, how then does James Dobson answer this? How can he say that verses in Leviticus that condemn homosexuality "defy reinterpretation” and yet completely ignore Leviticus 20:9 and Deuteronomy 21? How can he say that the Bible is the infallible word of God and a guidebook for life and not follow God’s words?

The answer is obvious. He doesn’t believe it himself.

The American Heritage dictionary defined hypocrisy as: The professing of beliefs or virtues one does not possess.

The simple fact is, James Dobson, Rick Warren, Pat Robertson, the Southern Baptist Convention, and thousands of fundamentalist Christians all across America who use the Bible to condemn homosexuality are clearly hypocrites. It’s completely obvious that they do not believe that the Bible is God’s word to be followed, otherwise they would be following God’s every word to avoid eternity in hell.

Yet we continue to allow them to get away with this blatant hypocrisy while they are voting away our rights. It is the height of absurdity!!


"If we would not change a comma in the Gettysburg Address, why in the name of heaven would we tamper with the Word of God?" - James Dobson 2005


Rick

[Alecto]

Obviously, the word of God is infallible. Except for that part.

[keltic63]

Obviously, the word of God is infallible. Except for that part.


and a couple of other parts....

[sjbouza]

It is obvious that Dobson cannot believe his own words. The man is a total hypocrite and a liar, that is obvious to all that have at least half a mind and don't just blindly follow every word he says. I know that I am passing judgment and that is a no-no too. Man that is in the bible too, does Dobson and the like do this when they say the "homosexual lifestyle" is wrong? I mean they will probably have an excuse for thier being able to "judge" others. Look at the whole divorce issue. That applies to a HUGE majority of christians, but somehow they have come up with some "new interpretation" of when Jesus said that divorce is only permitted in the case of adultery. Come on, can you get any more transparent? If it applies to the "christians" then it obviously is alright because of whatever delusion they have about it. But the Bible says homosexuality is wrong, so therefore there can be no other interpretation of the scripture. Just like there is no other interpretation of scripture when it came to interracial marriage, women's rights, slavery, etc. Man I am sure glad that those things haven't changed from what the Bible says. Oh wait...they have...but I thought...man I am so confused...

Sorry, I got off tangent here, I tend to do that. Back to goofy Dobsy. In his book, "Raising Boys", I think it is proven that he cannot believe what he says or at the least he knows he is lying to make his point. When he quotes the satirical writing "The Gay Agenda". He quotes it word for word, EXCEPT for the very first part that states that the writing is nothing more than a satire. Come on Dobsy, if you want to use something against others then make it valid by using the ENTIRE THING!

He just likes to pick and choose what he wants to use so it will fit his "straight agenda". This notion that you can "hate the sin but love the sinner" is just bunk. If you "love the sinner" than you wouldn't lie about them. Think of it this way, when you lie to or about something or someone how can you love that person or group of people? My aunt tells my cousins that all the time. Where is the love coming from when you know what you are saying is an outright lie or at the very least not the entire story. How can one call him/herself a person of God and sit in front of others and spout untruths about others? I find it hard to believe that Dobson and his like will ever get the picture or see the reality of the damage they are doing until they meet their maker one day.

All I have to say to these type of people is remember Jesus said, "what you do to the least of these you do to me." So is that saying when you lie and tell untruths about gay people that you are also telling lies and untruths about Jesus? Wow, I think that would be a pretty dangerous thing to mess with. Maybe they should think about things a little more before they open their mouths and ask themselves, "what would Jesus do?"

Peace,
Scott

[antiochian]

Incidentally, did anyone read Dobson's "Letter to 2012?" It has outraged many and caused even staunchly Conservative Christians to pull their support for Focus on the Family. :D

The old bird has lost touch with reality. Of course, that's no secret to us! Maybe it's good he's as crazy as he is, because he'll continue to alienate his benefactors and feel the effects in his wallet. Is that too much to hope for?

[pnggrad79]

My dad says the same bs! When I quoted that same verse in Leviticus, he waved me off saying that there were some "lesser" laws that we tended to ignore. That infuriated me! So I said, "OK so what you're saying is that we should ignore every other law in Leviticus, except the one about idol worship?" He said that it was not idol worship, when it is, and that I was listening to the father of lies.

They pick out verses that make them feel superior and use it against us cause they don't want to admit they could just be consummately wrong!

I interpret the Bible from a historical context perspective and I think you have to consider the time period and the viewpoint the writer is writing from. I have no qualms with the Bible being inspired by God. I have a problem with human people writing it down and putting their own spin on it. That is what Paul did! You can't simply take 2000-4000 year old stuff and apply all of it today, just like you can't take today's mores and values and apply them to back then.

But all fundies like to hide behind the Bible because they have made such a stink about homosexuality that they can't come back and say they were wrong, because then they would lose credibility, so when they start losing the fight, like they are doing, they become increasingly stupid and making crap up just to keep their facade from fading. That was probably a run-on sentence...UGH! I just get on a roll and type slower than I think.:rolleyes:

[Rick336]

My dad says the same bs! When I quoted that same verse in Leviticus, he waved me off saying that there were some "lesser" laws that we tended to ignore. That infuriated me! So I said, "OK so what you're saying is that we should ignore every other law in Leviticus, except the one about idol worship?" He said that it was not idol worship, when it is, and that I was listening to the father of lies.

Wow. No disrespect to your dad, but that way of thinking is completely void of reason.

Rick

[Unmasked]

On the bright side, you can call him a backward **** **** @%^%@^ and he shouldn't feel spiritually obligated to kill you.

[Unmasked]

I just read that letter by Dobson. It was the most foul thing I have ever read. We shall know them by their fruits indeed. If we are to believe the Bible, the entire staff of Focus should be condemned to hell for breaking the 9th Commandment. That's one of the big ones. Honesty is stressed by all Biblical characters, and conservatives today are lying to defend their broken religion.

[pnggrad79]

No disrespect felt, Rick. I respect my father for one reason only, he is my dad. But I am mature enough to realize that he is human and makes mistakes. For a long time, I didn't think he was fallible until I came out and he said that to me. He can be wrong. So can I. In the end, however, I know God still loves me and I am still a Christian and I am uncondemned.

[pnggrad79]

I wrote a satirical letter in response to FTF's Letter to 2012. I didn't have time to take it point by point, but here it is...Hope you like it.


Letter to Right Wing America under John McCain.
Dear America,

With Obama soundly defeated in the 2008 election, John McCain and Sarah Palin swept in and finalized the long hoped for theocracy that replaced the United States Constitution and negated most of the civil rights gained over the years. Responding to a minority of voters who operated out of fear and hatred, McCain and Palin instituted several sweeping changes.

1. Gay marriage in Connecticut and Massachusetts was declared invalid. All other states with civil unions or domestic partnerships were allowed to continue but with severe restrictions on what was allowed. Gay/lesbian people were banned from adopting children, preference given to the foster home system, or parents with divorce records, felony convictions, etc.

2. Gay people had to have stamped on their driver's license a pink triangle identifying them to whomever. It opened the way to further limit gay people's participation in any civic organization, politics, or public office. The education system adopted a "don't ask, don't tell" policy with teachers, and summarily fired known homosexuals despite untainted records of service, and no verifiable allegations or suspicions of homosexual activity .

3. Parts of the Constitution were deleted from the original document. The First Amendment was amended to say, "Congress shall make laws respecting an establishment of the Christian religion, and prohibiting the free exercise of any other and abridging the freedom of speech, and of the press;and the right of the people to assemble, and no petitions to the Government for a redress of grievances."

4. Compulsory "re-education" of all non-Christian students (Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, etc). Parents forced to submit to Christian education of their children under pain of imprisonment or worse.

5. All gay people forced to undergo reparative therapy, shock treatment, and intense Christianization.If they refuse to convert, imprisonment will occur or even death.

6. All unintended pregnancies will be forced to carry to term with no consideration given for circumstances.

7. The nation will be plunged into debt beyond its wildest dreams as BIG GOVERNMENT pushes through Congress bill after bill requesting billions of dollars to save companies on the verge of bankruptcy.

8. Children will not be insured if their parents make below $100,000 a year. Government adopts a policy of "decrease the surplus population". This doesn't include unborn children, only those already alive.

9. The US will continue to meddle in affairs for which they have no business. This will occur ostensibly to keep the world safe for democracy.

10. The US will continue to plunder our natural resources and contaminating the ocean, so that coral reefs die and the ocean becomes warmer and fish die, not to mention more destructive hurricanes.

11. Mandatory prayer in schools, and homeschooling will be the norm. Public schools will no longer receive federal or state funding, forcing communities into higher taxes and decrease in welfare expenditures.

12. Guns will be allowed in schools. Teachers will be required to keep a handgun in their belongings.

13. Unruly children will be forced into mandatory boot camps and intense "Christianization".

14. James Dobson will be the Secretary of State; Pat Robertson, Ambassador to heathen nations;
Don Wildmon, advisor to the president, and Anita Bryant, Head of Congress.

As America embarks on a mission of peace and prosperity for all Americans, except gays/lesbians, illegals and black people, the Constitution will be reworded to only guarantee freedoms for straight, white people who own guns.

[baumgrenze]

Since it has not been entered into this thread yet, let me invite you to check out this url:

http://www.powells.com/authors/wallis.html

It's a transcription of a book reading/interview at Powell's Books in Portland from 2005, when Jim Wallis was touring "God's Politics." If you are in a hurry, just search the page for "focus." Please scroll up a few paragraphs to see the whole story in context.

For good measure, when I was looking for 'proof texts' regarding lying as part of my personal 'no on 8' campaign, I found this. It even contains an all important 'code word.'

Proverbs 6:16-19 (New King James Version)

16 These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
17 A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood,
18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil,
19 A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.

I don't think I need to spell things out more clearly, do I.

baumgrenze

[tdogg]

Hey png, the only thing missing is:

15. All Christian citizens are required to have a special code tattooed on their foreheads and back of hands to identify them as citizens. All others will be decapitated. :eek::lol:

Perhaps Revelation is more interesting than we thought...

[tdogg]

For good measure, when I was looking for 'proof texts' regarding lying as part of my personal 'no on 8' campaign, I found this. It even contains an all important 'code word.'

Proverbs 6:16-19 (New King James Version)

16 These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
17 A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood,
18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil,
19 A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.

I don't think I need to spell things out more clearly, do I.


That is one the things regarding Prop 8 that really bothers me (well, besides my civil rights being voted away). The fact that the lies and deceit and wickedness of the Prop 8 campaign didn't bother anyone that supports it. They are all ok with the tactics used to get this thing passed. That really pisses me off.

[tymejumper]

Obviously, the word of God is infallible. Except for that part.


I love the fact that they forget the part about Jesus getting so mad that he threw a bunch of preachers out of the church because they were perverting his fathers word. Apparently, the perversions have not yet ended......:rolleyes:

[Rick336]

That is one the things regarding Prop 8 that really bothers me (well, besides my civil rights being voted away). The fact that the lies and deceit and wickedness of the Prop 8 campaign didn't bother anyone that supports it. They are all ok with the tactics used to get this thing passed. That really pisses me off.

The lies and deceit are more examples of their hypocrisy. The Bible clearly says that these things are sinful. What part of that do they not understand?

Even if they ignore the Bible, lying and deceiving people is a character flaw. It reflects on the people running the campaign as people of bad character and flawed values.

The American Family Association is notorious for deceiving their members with wrong information. Focus on the Family does the same thing. Do these organizations really think that we are so stupid that we can't easily see this?

It's a sad state of affairs.

Rick

[Zerbie]

The American Family Association is notorious for deceiving their members with wrong information. Focus on the Family does the same thing. Do these organizations really think that we are so stupid that we can't easily see this?


Rick

No. They know that 90% of the people who receive their 'information' will not bother to verify its accuracy.