James Dobson's War on America

I will not re-hash the book here. Previous reviews have shown the outline of the book, the topics covered, etc., as well as being able to look inside parts of the book here on Amazon.

However, I will share some problems I began having as I followed his ministry more. When I first started reading Dobson's books, I appreciated his views on the development of children and some of his practical psychological wisdom. However, my misgivings began to crystalize into two categories.

1. Political involvement. Now please understand -- I have no problem with Christians being involved in politics. But I do have serious issues with the following:

a. Legislating so-called "Christian principles." As a religion, Christianity is to be accepted by individuals, not by imposing its principles into law by decree. The Christian faith cannot be spread by imposing it onto others.

b. Although I am pro-family, pro-business and pro-life, I don't believe that the "conservative" camp exclusively owns these issues.

c. Furthermore, you don't have to be politically conservative to be a Christian.

d. I am a straight married woman, but I don't think I have a right to interfere in the lives of the gay community. I don't see them as messengers of evil, and I have no vendetta against them, either political or religious.

d. I get the impression that Dobson doesn't have a clue as to how the poor live and the challenges they face.

2. His attitude towards women. Many women see Dobson as their friend, but he clearly upholds a hierarchical view of the male as the "head." While this doesn't necessarily need to be a problem (though it often ends up that way) he also puts women into a "Catch 22" situation:

a. He wants women to make their homes and families the center of their lives.

b. But then, he has critiqued the fact that women don't seem to talk about topics from as broad a base as men do -- and has even had programs that impress on women that they need to have something in their lives besides home and family. But he forgets that MANY women have made the home and family the center of their lives by listening to HIM.

I worked at a religious radio station for a while where Dobson's program was aired, and one time I had the poor judgment to express some of my problems with Dobson's ideas -- and I was treated like I had attacked God Himself!

I think that Dobson is trying to amass too much power (if it hasn't already happened) and is trying to speak for the Christian community as a whole. Well, Dobson does not represent all Christians.

The best way to "Christianize" a country is for Christians to non-coercively share Jesus Christ with their family, friends, colleagues, etc., and let them accept Christ on their own. If enough Christians will simply live their lives as Christ would have them live it and practice GENUINE Christian love (I Corinthians 13) then I believe that more people will become Christians than through any kinds of laws made by any kind of government.


Hocus-Pocus On The Family   February 14, 2004
 55 out of 80 found this review helpful

I can't believe some of the nutty reviews posted for this book. Some of the vitriol directed towards this book & its author reminds me of the remark Disraeli made about the Jewish fear of Christianity: Jews were terrified of Christians due to ages & ages of "Christian love," i.e. pogroms, demonization, persistent persecution, etc. That same "loving" spirit has saturated many of these reviews posted on Amazon.com.

Whether you like it or not, this nation was formed on secular principles, not on the Christian religion. Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, Madison and Paine were deists. John Adams had Unitarian views. The Founding Fathers based their experiment on rationalism, not on any transcendental foundation. They drew their inspiration from a wide variety of sources, including atheists (like Voltaire & David Hume). You certainly have a right to believe whatever you want, but don't rewrite history.

Gil Alexander-Moegerle was an insider in the weird world of Christian fundamentalism. In fact, he was the right-hand man to the Religious Right's most powerful (and clandestine) leader, Dr. James Dobson. Although it may be easy to dismiss it as "sour grapes" and a hatchet job, War On America actually has a balanced tone. Alexander-Moegerle never resorts to trash talk; frankly, I kind of wished that he would have hit Dobson a little harder. Alexander-Moegerle's relationship with Dobson is of minor interest, however, compared to the tell-all on the inner workings of Dobson's operation.

Taking refuge in the tax-exempt status of religious organizations, Dobson's Focus On The Family has played unfair hardball with other religious publishers, such as Word, Inc. According to the author, Dobson also has a penchant for meddling in his employees' personal lives. This is entirely believable, considering Dobson's self-appointed status as America's moral guardian.

Like many a successful multimedia preacher (Graham, Falwell, Robertson, Colson), Dobson makes it a point to lavish support on the Republican party, both secretly through lobbying, and openly. This itself should be enough to revoke the "tax-exempt" status of these men. Dobson's dubious lack of salary is also given an interesting twist, as is his boorish treatment of those he disagrees with. In this light, Dobson seems more of a wrathful Jehovah than a gentle Jesus.

One of the author's most interesting observations is his view on the political development of the Religious Right. It was initially a sleeping giant, awoke to become destructive, and now this giant has to decide as to which path it will take: dialogue or destruction.

The only quibble I have is that Alexander-Moegerle seems to imply that he never would have altered his ultra right-wing views except for the fact that he was fired by Dobson. If that is indeed the case, I'm glad he got canned. Unlike the vast majority of the Religious Right, Gil understands the need for compromise in a pluralistic society. For that, I salute him.