Back in 2007, when Rudy Giuliani was a front-runner for the GOP nomination for President of the United States, evangelicals tried to stop him. Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission said that he could […]
James Dobson
“I am left to conclude from these opinions that our greatest problem …is with the people of this land! We have lost our ability to discern the difference between right and wrong.”
This September 1998 James Dobson letter to his Focus on the Family constituency is loaded. (See our last two posts.) I was also struck by this passage: At one point during the shocking revelations last month, Clintonâs public approval rating […]
“Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring (James 3:11 NIV)?”
I have been rereading James Dobson’s September 1998 letter to his Focus on the Family constituency in the wake of the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal. It is an amazing primary source, especially in light of the evangelical embrace of Donald Trump, a […]
“There were other indications that [he] was untruthful and immoral. Why, then, did the American people ignore so many red flags”
This was James Dobson in a letter to his September 1988 newsletter to his Focus on the Family constituency. Read it here. By the way, the “he” in the title of this post is a reference to Bill Clinton. The […]
About that Beth Allison Barr blurb
People are wondering how, in my recent piece in The Atlantic, I could be critical of Beth Allison Barr’s book The Making of Biblical Womanhood after I wrote a blurb endorsing it when it first appeared in print. That’s a […]
My piece today at The Atlantic
It is titled “Part of Me Will Always Be Grateful for James Dobson.” The subtitle is “Americans deserve a fuller accounting of evangelicalism’s role in our country’s life.” Regular readers of Current will recognize some of these ideas. Here is […]
Evangelical pastor John MacArthur in 1998: “When a ruler is given to lies, he will accumulate around him people who can tolerate lying.”
Back in 2015 I started collecting quotes from Christian leaders who made bold statements about presidential character during the 1998 Clinton impeachment and then seemed to ignore their own principles when Donald Trump was running for president. I called attention […]
How has Donald Trump’s Christian faith grown since he decided to run for president?
It’s been nearly eight years since James Dobson announced that Donald Trump was a “baby Christian.” One might think that by this point Trump could at least understand this question, even if he is still incapable of answering it. Watch:
Trump speaks to court evangelical “emergency prayer call”
Tonight at 6:45 Donald Trump, fresh off his New York City indictment, participated on a prayer call with some of his conservative evangelical supporters. Paula White’s “National Faith Advisory Board hosted the call. I listened to it here. It looks […]
My father didn’t need James Dobson to teach him how to be a patriarch. Focus on the Family had a different influence on him.
I’ve made this point before, but I recently made it again on a WNYC (New York City’s National Public Radio station) podcast called “On the Divided Dial.” (It was repackaged and rereleased last week). I appreciate journalist Katie Thornton willingness […]
Episode 51: “The Politics of Tinky Winky”
As animated programs for kids and adults become more inclusive, conservative evangelicals fight back. Episode 51: ââThe Politics of Tinky Winky;ââ dropped today. Subscribers to Current at the Longshore level and above have access to new episodes of this narrative history podcast. Here is […]
What are the court evangelicals saying about Trump’s announcement last night?
Unfamiliar with the term court evangelical? Read this. It is worth noting that Trump said nothing about evangelicals and very little about the moral issues they deem important during his speech last night. I did not see many court evangelicals […]
Episode 48: The Christian Right Against Arlen Specter
Evangelical Bush supporters are angry at the new chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee Episode 48: âThe Christian Right Against Arlen Specter’â dropped today. Subscribers to Current at the Longshore level and above have access to new episodes of this narrative history podcast. Here […]
Episode 46: Flexing Muscles
After lifting George W. Bush to victory, the Christian right seeks its reward. Episode 46: âFlexing Musclesâ dropped today. Subscribers to Current at the Longshore level and above have access to new episodes of this narrative history podcast. Here is a teaser: If you […]
Episode 45: Election Day 2004
The Christian Right gets George W. Bush another term. Episode 45: âElection Day: 2004â dropped today. Subscribers to Current at the Longshore level and above have access to new episodes of this narrative history podcast. Here is a teaser: If you like what you […]
Episode 40: “Redeeming the Vote”
As election day draws near, the Christian Right gets out the vote. Episode 40: âRedeeming the Voteâ dropped today. Subscribers to Current at the Longshore level and above have access to new episodes of this narrative history podcast. Here is a teaser: If you […]
Trump is keeping the court evangelicals close
The court evangelicals are back! Last Friday Trump called his evangelical disciples to Mar-a-Lago and they no doubt jumped on the first flight out of their home cities. The lunch was attended by Paula White-Cain (who organized the event), Jack […]
Episode 28: “How Mel Gibson’s ‘ The Passion of the Christ’ Fueled the Culture Wars”
In 2004, George W. Bush adviser Karl Rove said he was going to turn the presidential election into one between those who went to see the movie and those that did not. Episode 28: âHow Mel Gibson’s âThe Passion of […]
Episode 27: “Evangelicals Get Passionate About the ‘The Passion of the Christ'”
Hollywood star Mel Gibson releases a movie about the last week of the life of Jesus and it opens a new front in the culture wars. Episode 27: “Evangelicals Get Passionate About the ‘The Passion of the Christ’” dropped last […]
Episode 25: “The Fight Has Just Begun”
The Christian Right responds to the Senate’s decision not to pursue a Federal Marriage Amendment Episode 25: âThe Fight Has Just Begunâ dropped last night. Subscribers to Current at the Longshore level and above receive this narrative history podcast. Here is a teaser: […]