Thick As A Brick: Dobson Disses The ‘So-Called Wall Of Separation’

[Ian David]

November 29, 2006
Thick As A Brick: Dobson Disses The ‘So-Called Wall Of Separation’

Last Wednesday evening, Focus on the Family founder James Dobson appeared on CNN’s “Larry King Live” to offer the evangelical take on many current events. King and Dobson discussed everything from O.J. Simpson’s now-defunct book and movie deal to Dobson’s unwillingness to sit on a three-man “spiritual restoration panel” for fallen evangelical leader Ted Haggard.

The conversation got testy when discussion turned to same-sex marriage and the separation of church and state.

King asked Dobson, “Why can’t marriage be somewhere in the middle, a religious institution? You want to be married, you go to a church, you go to a synagogue, but anything to do with the state should be a union.”

Dobson gave an evasive answer, prompting King to prod: “Why is it a state institution rather than a religious institution? Why is the state involved? We have a separation of church and state.”

“I beg your pardon?” Dobson snapped. “Who says?”

“It’s in the Bill of Rights,” King protested. Dobson then launched into a half-true tirade that the “only place” the “so-called wall of separation” has appeared is in a “letter written by }President Thomas} Jefferson to a friend.”

More:
http://blog.au.org/2006/11/thick_as_a_bric.html

[trotsky]

1. Radical Christian clerics like Dobson HATE that wall.

And it would be funny if it weren't so sad - if it hadn't been for that wall, religion probably wouldn't be nearly as big of a factor in American society today. They just don't get it.

[donheld]

2. We need to tell them the state is going to take over their churches

Tell the the state is going to take over their church schools etc. This could be one good way of making them want to protect the separation of church and state.

[donheld]

3. If there is no separation, they also need to pay taxes. n/t

[Bluerthanblue]

4. Dobson might do well to remember Jesus' attitude towards Caesar-

there is -and always has been- and SHOULD be- a wall of separation between church and state.

FREE WILL is exactly that- each individual must choose for them self, and apply TO their life what they believe/embrace/accept as their own spiritual truth-

No one can force another to 'believe' or to 'accept' a religious system that doesn't 'fit' them.

THAT (in my opinion) is what is wrong with organized religion in all its many guises.

You either genuinely believe in something, lie to yourself and others in an attempt to conform/fit-in, hoping to avoid suffering ridicule or discrimination- or stand and face the wrath of those who need outside confirmation and the reassurance of the masses to enable them to hold onto their 'beliefs'.

I am very comfortable with my beliefs. I don't need to recruit others,'correct' those who see things differently than I do in order to feel 'ok' about what I have come to know as my own spiritual truths.

I'd happily discuss my beliefs, and why I have come to hold them dear with anyone, but I would never feel right about trying to shove my personal faith down someone elses throat, or declare others 'damned' if they don't stand on the same ground as I do.


Whatever happened to the "personal relationship" concept? The notion that we choose our own 'god'(s) ?? Why do we need the lock-step obedience, and why are so many groups threatened by those who don't think in the same way???

Phariseeism is alive and well even today and probably always will be.