Elroy,

I went to college in California and had many friends who worked at Focus while we were in college. My wife even interviewed to be Dobson's personal secretary. I was glad she did not get the job because of the ability Dobson has of taking people and making them his. Just a side note. A friend of ours went to school with his daughter at Azusa Pacific. His daughter had three roommates in one semester because she could not get along with any of them. Eventually our friend was the fourth and told us she was a complete pain in the rear. That makes me realize that as I preach each Sunday at my church that I cannot declare myself to be the authority but that God and His Word are the authority on life. I have taught our church that if we are to reach the people in our community we need to accept them where they are and help them find a better way of life through Christ. I also agree that becoming a Christian is not a quick fix to all that ails you. I have found my Christian life to be tougher. Though it is tougher it is also more rewarding than the life I once lived before Christ. In an age of intolerance I have given my life to teach my children and our church the greatest way to show the love of God is to act like Jesus did. Which means being a friend to sinners not their judge. Keep going and getting the truth out there.

for fourteen years i attended church three times a week with my parents. this particular church seemed to have a very intimate relationship with focus on the family. i was taught women didn't deserve the same respect as men because they were not equal to them. this and other "values" were ingrained into my young, absorbant mind from the nursery to youth group. As a female, this contributed to my low self-esteem. my selfesteem, in turn, led to my silence after my rapes (my youth pastor convinced me it was my fault and that i was "ruined") and a relationship with an abusive boyfriend. my experiances drove me to reject christianity as a whole. i would like to give my life back to christ, but i cant let go of my haunting memories. i also camt separate christianity's teachings from those of dr.dobson.

thanks for the wonderful web page.

(although i would like to hear what you have to say, please do not write back. i live with my parents (im 16) and they get mad.)

Dear Mr. Mckinley,

Subject: What? I'm not alone?

First an introduction:

My name is _________. I live in Canada, in Ontario, in a small town called _________. I am 21 years old and slowly building a career in politics as a social democrat.

I was raised as a child by the Dobson's methods. I went to a Christian School whose idea of sexual education was to put on a Dobson tape and tell us to take notes. I was given "tough love" because my parents were confused with certain aspects of my personality that Dobson claimed was "passive rebellion". Ergo, I was given "spankings" (the details of which I will spare you, but I understand that not even Prisioners of War, according to the Geneva Covention, should be treated in such ways). It was all done by the book (Dobson's books) and his radio shows were always on the radio.

Three nervous breakdowns, years of therapy and support groups, and a lost childhood later, I am just starting to learn what Mr. Dobson's theories have done to me. Despite this, millions continue to listen and adhere to his destructive approach to parenting.

For years, I thought I was alone in this opinion.

My parents and I have made our peace over the past. But, it churns my stomach to know he carries on.

I don't know how I found your web site, but I find it refreshing that a Christian has taken a hard look at what the "religious" organizations are doing - especially organizations like Focus.

I am a gay man. Many years ago, I listened to Focus on the Family. They had a news show called 'Family News in Focus.' It was the only thing that I found that addressed homosexuality..albeit in a negative light. Their radio program really worked on me. I nearly killed myself before finally accepting myself as I am. A friend of mine was less fortunate and became obsessed with Bob Larson's 'Talk Back' program and later committed suicide.

After this happened, I started researching the Religious Right and found them out to be a very scary bunch. Bob Larson has a fan club these days. But, as you are seeing, it's hard to criticize them, because then you're the 'enemy' who is 'attacking' Christianity. It's a catch-22, and I know that it's not Christianity that you wish to attack!

I have come across some 'Christian' sites and have sent letters to their editors when they come across so extreme, trying to get them to consider what they are saying. But I only get a bible verse back, and a polite letter that doesn't address what I said to them at all. "Love the sinner but not the sin" is what I'm told. I asked one of them why don't they think that it's a sin using homosexuals in fundraising letters in order to stir up anger toward us (to get 'love gifts' from their followers)?

I'm hoping that one day being a Conservative Christian means things other than attacking homosexuals, focusing on abortion and prayer in schools. With the help of your Web page, maybe it will be.

Good luck to you.

Dear Brian: Just happened to come across your web pages last night, and I was so impressed I stayed up most of the night and read just about all of them. Thank God for your sanity and intelligence, Brian. I'm a passionate Christian myself who is so upset by the current brain-dead evangelical landscape in this country, I'm embarrassed to work with these people anymore--and I've given my whole life to working with these loons (including Robertson, Falwell, TBN, Dobson,Campus Crusade)...I've seen too much and I know too much, and I think these guys are all crazy. No, I'll go one step further. I think they're all the antichrist. They intentionally twist the truth to promote themselves. So you can only imagine the joy I felt when I found your website. Congratulations to your boldness, your balls, and your brains...and most all...your desire to speak the truth for Christ's sake! I was particularly impressed with your insight as to how even a well-intentioned Christian looses his voice when he succombs to using power and coersion to implement his belief. Is this not the very sin that made the Reformation necessary? Have evangelicals completely lost all sense of not only good biblical hermeneutics but church history as well? It's just very very scary out there. The gospel has been thoroughly trashed and fornicated by all this political posturing for power and glory. It makes me wanna puke. It's time for another Reformation. So keep up the good work and don't stop nailing your thesis on the Wittenburg cyberdoor. You may feel all alone sometimes, but there are plenty of us out here who are truth-seekers as well, who are NOT Biblically-impaired fundamentalists, and who also share your frustration and anger at how these ego-maniacal psycho-terrorists have hyjacked the gospel of Jesus Christ for their own evil purposes. Be encouraged. You are not alone.

Hi, I don't know how long your stuff on Dobson has been around, but I agree with your views about Dobson's imposition of his will on unsuspecting but well intentioned folks. I became a Christian when I was already teaching in the public schools. I stayed in the public schools because Dobson and others said that we needed "godly" teachers in the public schools. After a number of years, the tone changed...public schools were wicked places and teachers were teaching all kinds of evil things to our children..hmm...I couldn't find all the drugs , sex, and immoral things they were talking about...."Well, you're different!" I was told. "yes, but so are all the other teachers in my building", I replied. Well then it became the nasty teachers unions who were foisting their immoral ideals on unsuspecting teachers....I became a leader in the teachers union and could find no "evil empire" that was out to de-Christianize our children. I brought this out to others who "adored" Dobson and guess what? Now I have become "the problem"....My Christianity is intact even though it is questioned by many....I have become a back-slider in their terminology. For once though, I can see people with other beliefs as individuals who are loved by God as much as he loves me and not as a soul to be saved by some neurotic underpinning that I might have.

hello there mr. mckinley.

thank you for the food for thought and what seems to be a commitment challenging mainstream christianity (whatever that is). i'm not sure whether i totally agree. but the powers -that-be in that little chriastianrepublicananalretentive subculture have really got me pissed.

shalom to you.

Dear Brian,

I wanted to write to thank you for two things. The first is for your article "Why Abortion is Biblical" I needed to do a paper on the way religion approaches the question of abortion as a moral act, with Biblical references. I was convinced it would be impossible for me to present both sides of the issue, but your article helped me immensely. And although you may have been a pioneer in this kind of article, I also found several others like yours (so you aren't alone any longer). While writing my paper I caught your related writings and saw the name James Dobson and was interested. I revisited your site and was then truly thankful that I did. Although it may not have been your intention, you really helped me feel better about myself. I am 22 years old, and when I was 18 was introduced to the Christian faith. I accepted Christ into my life and was doing well, until a few years later, a leader of the religious organization I was involved in discovered that I had recently been sinning (I was afraid that they would reject me if I confessed so I hadn't) I was removed from my Bible study group, the other people in the group found out through the gossip grape vine, (and a form letter that the leader put out mentioning my sins in it) and I pretty much lost all of my friends through it. I was devestated and confused and was told I wasn't worthy of forgiveness, by some. I know that I was wrong to sin but your articles made me feel like I could still study my Bible and pray without fearing that God no longer wants anything to do with me. You probably did not mean for your works to be interpreted in that way, but I thank you anyway. I have really missed reading my Bible and feeling that I can still talk to God. I just wanted you to know because I got the impression that you didn't get many letters that weren't kind of mean. I've learned from experience that it feels terrible to be shunned for any reason, and I will never purposefully make someone feel badly for expressing their veiws or for making a mistake.

Thank you again,

I'm not sure what a Christian liberal is but for a long time, I've found I have to turn off my local Christian station whenever Focus on the Family and their fringe shows, like Family News in Focus, come on.

Recently, they were airing reruns from the earliest days of ministry...child rearing and related things. This was Dobson's calling and his advice is sound. Too bad they can't stay with that.

I'm a public school teacher and a self-syndicated columnist; my husband and I placed our children in our city's public schools with the same prayerful seeking as any Christian parent. There are obviously problems with the system nationally, but most of the schools I know about are doing a fine job with what they have to work with.

Anyway, we have a large, organized group who get together and plot how to destroy the public schools. They mask their concerns in religion. I call them the 'home school mommies' although not in print.

Since they know me to be a Christian lady, they think I'm just misguided. They pray for me and take me to lunch. We have some interesting chats. They hold strange, paranoid views of what we're doing in school. Their leader is a woman named Ramona Mays of Michigantown, IN.

Recently, one of them let slip that they had run out of money, but Focus on the Family was stepping in to help them finance their campaign. They were quite excited. Then, realizing they had let the cat out...they refused to talk further about this.

While I think Dobson's organization does some good, I'm frankly furious that donations are funding groups like Ms. Mays. She's a nut.

Gary Bauer is nothing more or less than a lobbyist. He becomes almost orgasmic with his perceived power in Washington. He made a sarcastic crack about how Clinton had embraced so many Republican ideas. I jotted him a note...I doubt he got it or if he did, I doubt he "got it"..that maybe the President was moderating his beliefs because so many Christians had been praying for him.

I sense Focus and all make you angry. The organization makes me sad. I had an opportunity to write for their 'Teachers in Focus' magazine. But, I no longer can lend my name...no big deal for them, I'm sure..to their organization.

I don't agree with all you say, but it's thought provoking.

Best to you.

Brian,

My name is _____. I am a student at _________ University in ____________. Well, I am a freshman here and when I got here in September I founded the Abortion and Pregnancy Support Group. I am the President of and run the group. It is for anyone who is pregnant now or has been in the past no matter what decision she made. We are Pro-Choice and extremely confidential.

The reason for the group is obvious. To support each other with what we live with daily. I say we because I got pregnant last year, my senior year in high school, and after a month of decision making decided to have an abortion. I was 6th in my graduating class, President of National Honor Society, an academic letter winner, involved in student government and a student athletic trainer. No one would ever have thought that I would get pregnant. Including me. But I did and I live with that everyday. I don't regret my decision to have an abortion, but I regret having sex in the first place. My boyfriend and I did everything by ourselves because his family is extremely Pro-Life and if they had found out they would have disowned him. They already had one daughter get pregnant and put her child up for adoption. When I got here I started telling people from high school via e-mail and then in December right before my "due date", I told my mother who is an extremely understanding and awesome person and friend. We are really close, but I just couldn't bring myself to tell her because I didn't want her to be disappointed in her daughter that seems so perfect or worry her.

Well, now I am trying to get the public schools in my home town to allow me to speak on safe-sex and abstinence. I am an avid Pro-Choice supporter, but I think that if I want to truly support women's reproductive rights that I need to help reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies in the first place. If my boyfriend's family finds out I don't know what they will do. He is a senior in high school and they might kick him out of the house. But I desperately want to speak to the schools. If I can help one person to not ever get in my place then I am doing something good. My generation is so confused and mislead that I have to take the lead along with others to help get us to where we need to be. Under God's love and loving each other. I am a strong Christian and as you are a Christian liberal so am I. I'm tired of listening to preachers teach love for one another and then denounce a teenage girl for having an abortion. I sit in church quietly when they are putting down abortion and those who choose it, mostly because my boyfriend's family is sitting there. But now after reading your article I feel like I can support my beliefs just as well as they can. I am so tired of people using the Bible to support their causes but not actually reading what it says. Thank you so much for writing what you did. If you ever need a personal testimony from a Christian woman who has had an abortion e-mail me. I am willing to talk because I love my child who I named BA. My boyfriends initials are BA and mine are too. My middle name is _____. The BA for our child stands for Baby Angel because that is exactly what he is. We felt that we couldn't give him a home here that he deserves and neither of us trust someone else on this planet to raise our child without hurting him. So, we decided to give him up for adoption to the ONLY perfect parent, God, who lives in the ONLY perfect home, Heaven. Thank you again, Brian!!!! You have helped me so much more than you will ever know!!!! Keep writing and believing in God!!!! He is more amazing to me every day!!!!

In Christ's love,

My name is _________. I am a Christian who has also been branded a heretic by some. I, like you, have become "liberal in my thinking", so much so that some of my Christian brothers and sisters have had occassion to fear for my eternal well-being.

I confess that I didn't read too much of your web page(s), mainly because I have an aversion to reading off the net (cyber-space in general reeks of impersonality to me). However, I did read enough to become interested in correspondence with you.

Here's my (tenative) slant on abortion: 99.9% of all abortions performed in this country are morally reprehensible, being performed, as they are, in the interest of money and for the sake of convenience. However, this does not make abortion categorically unethical. Unfortunately, this issue has become so polarized (read:politicized) that it is almost impossible to find any balanced and thoroughly reasoned assessment of it. Abortion is presented to Americans as an all or nothing proposition: EITHER give us abortion on demand, for any reason whatsoever, and be doomed to hell, OR outlaw it completely, shoot the perpetrators, and enjoy your reward forever.

Thanks for the writings on the "Focus on the Family".

They have been "hurting" me as of late.

Thanks again

Brian,

I think you raise an interesting point. I have listened to focus on the family since they first started. I beleive Dr Dobson is sincere. However I believe they are caught up in legistrating morality. If a born again Christian struggles with sin. How do you expect an unbeliever to overcome sin.

If we as believers spent as much time talking about Jesus and the saving power of His blood as we do abortion and political issues, the world would be turned upside down for Christ. It is as if we are ashamed to openingly say that Jesus can set you free from your sin. Also because many Christians are still bound by their own sin and they find a place where they can forget about their sin and concentrate on others. Such as the Pharisees did.

Let me sight an example. I was raised in the guetto of north Jersey. My family was poor and I was very neglected growing up. I married a beautiful girl from a family that Dobson would call ideal. My mother in law listens to Focus On the Family. And she has a buzz word for me. She says that I am "disfunctional". I hate that term. All I ever was was a guy who loved the Lord and is trying to get through life the best I can. Well after 24 years of marriage my "stable" wife wants to call it quits. She is giving up on following the Lord and obeying Him and keeping her covenant. She has said "I know what God wants me to do but I don't want to do it". While I am forced to learn to love her in the face of rejection. I have been clinging to God and searching for encouragement to do the right thing and remain faithful as the enemy swarms around my head like bees, with temptations to give up, curse God and die or run away. "I am disfunctional" when I stand as a soldier against the armies of hell who have stripped me of any opportunity to earn a living and is trying to take my dignity from me also. Like Job I sit here having done no evil and yet I am looked upon from the Christian Community as "disfunctional" and to be cast aside like refuse.

I called Focus On the Family and they sent me a book. 'Love Must Be Tough' and in it James says that I must stop clinging. What does a drowning man do? If you were slipping off a cliff and I came up to you and said, "Stop clinging to me and let go and trust God". If you did let go wouldn't you fall and punge into the bolders below? I think you would be better served if I reached down and let you cling to me and pulled you up. Another thing that James said in that book was "Pretend like you don't care about her and she will be attracted to you again" He used the term "Cat and Mouse" Marriage is not a cat and mouse game. It is a covenant between two people of which the very existance of a vow demands that there will eventually be a test.

I have been a Christian for 26 years and yet I have never felt like I fit in. I am not an attractive person anymore. The dispair I have felt for 4 years over the rejection of my wife has made not take very good care of myself. I have gained 30 or so pounds. Because I cannot find a job I can't buy clothes that will fit me. My heart has been broken and the Christians around me call me a basket case.

My wife on the other hand is very beautiful. Insodently she is still with me. She has a job and is being blessed. Everyone loves her. I have cried from memorial day to labor day and not one of those functional Christians came to me and put their arm on my shoulder and said "I'll stand with you" The best any of them could say is "I don't know what to say" Which proves that they are not as spiritual as they think they are because if they were they would know what to say.

In all the years that I listened to focus on the family I never got anything to prepare me for the trials in life. Like you said they only made me feel like I never measured up. All those years they simply entertained me. They bought in rich and famous people to showcase the shows. Always the sensational. Never the common guy who was struggling. Always someone with a new book. A famous coach who started promise keepers. A famous football player whose wife wanted to leave him. How about the guy whose wife wants to leave him, whose kids hate him and he can't find a job and they are shutting off his electricity and they shut off his phone and he has no self respect yet he says "Though You slay me Lord yet will I trust You"? How many Christians are there out there like me? I know that I am in good company. Moses, Joseph, Job, Hosea. Do you think God would have said to Hosea when his wife was out whoring around "Now Hosea, just pretend that you don't care and she come running after you" or how about the tough version. God tells Hosea to say to Gomer "Now Gomer you have got to make up your mind. If your not gonna stop whoring around I'm gonna throw you out. You know I'm showing you tough love" Do you think that advise would have helped. I don't think that that was the point that God wanted to make.

Well I do go on. All and all I do agree with you as far as the damage that that influence can cause. It breed Pharisees. Just from seeing many of the letters to the editor proves that. I don't think that Jesus would inspire the hate mail that you have gotten.

Thank You

Brian,

Words cannot explain how I feel about what you write. I found you site yesterday and have been in absolute aw with what you have said. I agree 100% with what you say.

I am 17 years old and am growing up in Orange County. For the last few years, I have been looking to find a person who lives in my area who I can relate to. The results have been grim. I was raised Catholic and was brought up in Catholic school, the whole nine yards. I have been shunned from the general Christian Community for my beliefs and shunned from the others because I challenge norms. I do not want you to think I am an outcast, I have friends who are Christians and we get along fine, we just steer clear of Philosophy and Politics during the times we spend together, if at all possible. I also have friends who are very Artistic and thought/idea provoking individuals. We always talk Politics and Philosophy, so you can see the contrast in my social life.

I absolutely commend you for, first of all, taking the time to produce such a fine web site, it is bookmarked and read over again and shown to friends. Secondly, for expressing your ideas so clearly and concisely. I struggle with this task so I have deep admiration for your talent.

Thank you for what you have done.

Brian,

I was on the net and I saw your site. (totally against Focus on the Family) and I agree with it 1000%, if not more..... in my opinion, Dr. Dobson knows not about what's holy, but about how to get people to worship him like a god.. Thank you for putting a site on the web that lets eveyone know about him. I e-mailed him about something (I was against what he was saying) and all he could do was tell me something from the bible that proved HIM right.... If he were even 1/100th of as good a christian as he said he was, he wouldn't have used the bible as a weapon to make him better... Thank you for putting up a site that tells that.... Dobson is full of Bologna... And it doesn't take a scholar to figure it out, either.... Keep up the good work!

Sincerely,

How refreshing to read your writtings! I may not agree with everything you say but you have a very healthy view of Christianity. There are a lot of sick-ass people in religon. To quote Jimmy Buffet.

I am a campus minister and deal with these follow the leader types every day. I have some of the same struggels that you have, and have come to a simmular conclusion. The grace of God is much greater than our sin. I know that he is also more forgiving than most of his followers. But that has always been true, hasn't it.

Thank you for your openness and for your writing. Keep up the good work.

I don't need to tell you, but when these modern-day Pharisees decry the "liberal" media, they usually do it from their own media empires such as CBN, Trinity Broadcasting Network (just love Jan's purple hair!), FOTF and numerous radio stations emitting their hatred.

THANK YOU very much for your excellent website!

Brian,

I read your article on Focus on the Family and I have had some of the same concerns and problems that you mention. I believe that this type of idolotry is a very real problem for lay people as well as our leaders. I do not agree with everything Focus on the family does or stands for, but i have one word in there defence. I am not sure if you are familiar with Promise Keepers, which is an organization for men. it focuses in on problems of men. And it actually addresses some of the probles that you have addressed.

Elroy -

I linked to your site through a search for Focus on the Family related sites. Needless to say the title "Why Focus on the Family is from the Devil" caught my eye. From the title I expected an essay by a fundamentalist of the most extreme degree. I was quite surprised to read the essay and discover that it was written by a Christian concerned that Focus on the Family was too conservative.

I admire your willingness to state your views. I will in time read all or your essays and try to respond. I appreciate any Christian's desire to know the truth as it is given in Scripture. Luke praises the Bereans in Acts 17:11 because they listened carefully to Paul and then they "examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true." I hope that you continue to question the popular leaders in the church for Biblical integrity.

I do find myself questioning the use of such inflamatory language in the titles of your essays. It seems that (in your titles at least) you are guilty of some of the excessiveness I find questionable in the rhetoric of Focus on the Family, the Christian Coalition, and the Pro Life movements (Similarly, the People for the American Way, the Pro Choice folks, and the Gay Rights leaders are willing to through intellectual debate out the window in favor of devisive language). But I will continue to read.

I share your concern for Focus on the Family's tendency to promote only one view and to ignore Christians who would contradict them. I do not listen to them regularly but have often wished that Dr Dobson would focus more on issues of child-rearing (his true area of expertise) and marriage rather that politics.

I appreciated your section on your personal journey and your reasons for publishing your essays. I did question your statement that all the chapters condemning homosexuality also referred to eating pork. I Corinthians 6 seems lacking in any reference to pork. It also contains v:12 which some good folks who have left a homosexual lifestyle give as part of their reason for abstaining from homosexual activity.

By the way, I am Kelly Quinn. I am a Christian seeking the truth, not rhetoric. I consider myself conservative in my faith. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and the Clinical Director for a Christian agency. I do not claim that any views I express to you are the views of my employer.

I look forward do hearing from you.

Hey Elroy:

I enjoyed reading some of your stuff. We have much in common. While I am not quite a liberal, I sometimes get called that. I am more of a Post-modern Christian. Have you read Bishop John Shelby Spong's new book Liberating the Gospels. It's quite good. I just saw him the other night. Actually, I'm 26 years old, and my partner and husband _____ is 28. We are planning to move to Colorado Springs in either April or May. Maybe we can hook up, talk, or something like that. We will be looking for a local internet provider at that time. Maybe you can help us out. A little bit more about myself . . . I am studying ministry with the Evangelical Anglican Church in America--a post-denominational gay-inclusive, women-affirming faith community in the Anglo-Catholic tradition. While I am the first to agree that Jesus was agressive (righteous indignation all the way), violent may be a bit strong of a word. He was definitely prophetic. You cannot serve God and manna (money, wealth, achieverment). Here I go, preaching again, but it is my profession after all. Once I am in Colorado, I will begin my ministry of adult education. Eventually, I will establish a very different kind of faith community, more consistent with the values of inclusivity, compassion, and intimate community. I would love to talk to you. You are a very interesting person. Take care and God bless!!!!

Mr. mcKinley,

I have been reading many of your writings on your homepage including the responses you got based on your article "Dobson..." and "...Abortion". After reading the article and reading the responses, I have to admit, I like many others thought it offensive to what Christanity stood for. The more I read though, The more I had the feeling that there was something familar about it.

Late one evening I figured it out. In my freshman year in college, I took the standard english compisition which is required by most Universities. Different from the other classes though was the professor. We did not study sentence structure or the rules of gramer, we studied about seeking the truth. On the first day of class, we all sat down as the professor came in and laid his breifcase on the desk. Before he had said anything, he went to the blackboard and drew an American flag. Underneath he wrote a phrase that was popular as a bumper sticker during that time. It read "America, love it or leave it". He then took the chalk and scratched out the flag and wrote "bullshit" under the cute little catch phrase below. I was instantly offended. "How could he do that" I thought. Did the man have no patriotism? I was in the Navy at the time and so I was really mad. I said "wait a minute. I am in the millitary and have agreed to lay down my life for what you just scratched out if called". He looked at me for a few seconds as I prepared to recieve the apology that I knew I was to recieve. Instead the teacher said, "One of the worst things you can ever do is get caught up the ""truth"" based on the sole fact that somebody said it was the truth.". He then went on to explain the concepts of middle ground (eg..Love it or leave it? arn't there some other options between the two points of view). Later in the course we talked about the process of "group think" and how it gets everyone from politicans to companies into real trouble. We were asked to think criticaly about issues such as the war in Vietnam, based not on the media, but on a carefull investigation of the events. Needless to say, a whole new world was in front of me and I was excited to begin the journey of knowledge.

That is why, 9 years later, I am somewhat ashamed that I have again fallen into the same group think trap as before. This time it is not Patriotism, but Christanity. I had always had a strong belief in God. I had figured that the Pastors and radio ministers must know what they are talking about. After all, I never had any training in theology. But here I was, relying on some one else to tell the truth. Fortunately, I did turn to my Bible. I read a verse in Romans that captured my attention; "Some people naturally obey the laws commands, even though they don't have the law. This proves that the conscience is like a law writen in the human heart...." (Rom 2:14-15). If more people would follow the law written in there hearts, and did not reliy only on the interprataion of a few men, they would feel much closer to Christ. You must have been sad to get those responses back from people. For me it only confirmed what I suspected. Christians who follow these radio gurus are little more then lemmings hurtaling off a cliff. I am still hard pressed to figure out where in the Bible the politics of the USA are discussed.

Keep on writing!! I know that there are more like me out there that just need to be reminded of what they already know. God is about love, not moral condemnation.

Dear Brian,

Although I did not thoroughly read all your views, I think I have the picture you are painting - and I agree!

From my own perspective, I see people in want of someone to hold their hand and tell them how to live and believe. I see many people take the scriptures as "it" . Few dare to question its origin, its interpretation, its history....and take it as the infallible word of God. Do they once consider the fact that many "leaders" of churches have added their own interpretation or added to what they think God is telling them? I think people want to be led like a bull with a ring on its nose. Where is independant thinking here?

I myself cannot follow in any prescribed church. I read the bible and other sources for information combined with prayer in faith that the truth will guide me. To date, I cannot find a single person alive today with all the answers. Asking for wisdom seems to be my only choice. "To err is Human, to figive, devine." (I think that's the quote")

As for "leaders", they are human also. They make mistakes and their flaws are under closer scrutinay than their followers. We cannot preach love because none of us truly know it or live it. Oh yeah, we have a human conception, but who really lives it? It's the rare few that have a slight grasp on it that live in the minority, and out of the majority view, I may add.

Ok, I could go on. But I cheer you on. To those who think you speak blasphemies against God and the church, are not really looking at the bigger picture. They are afraid. They think they are being "bad" if they question the things they have been taught are of God. Hey! Wake up people! There are alot of deceptions along the path of life and no one is going to come out and tell you, especially if they don't know either. You know, the blind leading the blind, kind of thing. You know God is big, really big (omni-everything) and I can be pretty sure he is tolerant of a dumb human questioning things to learn and truly understand. We need to dig deeper within and with history to discover who and what God is so He may take a deeper meaning into each of us.

Mr. Lincoln said it well (I think that's who said it), you can please some of the people all of the time and all of the people some of the time, but you can't please all of the people all of the time. My point? We are all different and to want a leader puts a great burdon out there and no one can match it, ever. So, people listen to leaders about the bible, how to raise our families, how to live, how to eat, how to work, have the "right" attitudes, how to be happy, how to pray, how to be good, how to, how to, how to....I wish these "experts" would just learn how to shut up and learn how to live and let live!

I don't even want to get into the abortionist viewpoint. Do they ever stop and offer these poor young girls an alternative for their lives? No. Either give it up for adoption (which most new mothers have a very difficult time doing once they give birth) or keep it (which most new single mothers have a difficult time doing one they give birth).

As for the violence in the bible...I have often taken note about all the violence in it and thought about it. It practically condons that type of thinking when it is read to children. I don't like to read certain parts to my children because of that. They do question why God would ordain his chosen people to run amuck and kill a bunch of "enemies" because of a piece of prime land. Does this sound like the God who has created, has mercy and loves? No. This has obviously been interpreted along the way to make others think that the Hebrews were a special group of people because God loves them more than you, kind of thing. No, I believe they were the worst of them and as the saying goes, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. God is a god of mercy and who needed it more than them?

Anyway, if this may be any consolation for you, people are quick to judge and point the finger and say the other guy is a quack, without stopping long enough to understand what the bigger picture may be or what the other guy may be driving at. We need to be a little gentler with each other and more compassionate. We need to open our hearts and minds to others so that we may understand, discern and learn the truth. (And sometimes the picture ain't too pretty, either.) I can see what you are aiming at. Keep stirring the pot. There are those out there that need and want to be stirred to be a bit more independent in their thinking. I have many horror stories about this great religion called Christianity. There is much that needs to be learned by those who think they follow the way, the truth and the light, when in reality they haven't a clue. (My first inquiry is to question the source when someone is selling me an idea).

Thank you for your net page, although I may not go back and read it very often. It is good there are those out there like yourself, who know how to set up a web page and type your ideas on it.

Mr McKinley,

I am fascinated with your web page. I disagree with most of it, but I can't stop reading it! I do agree with some of your "major" points, like the fact that open debate can only help. Thank you. The Truth can stand up to open debate.

I also agree that our salvation depends on our confession that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who died on the cross for our sins. You have confessed that, so I must accept that you are a saved brother in Christ. We can disagree about doctrine, and gifts of prophecy and speaking in tongues, and divine healings, and whether or not you can lose your salvation, etc., but as long as we agree with Jesus about who He is, we will both be saved. I look forward to meeting you in heaven, where the King of Kings will instruct us about all the mysteries we can't know about right now.

You have attracted quite a few followers, yourself. Don't let us down!

Your brother in Christ,

Thank you for your WebSite. I enjoyed it thoroughly. It is great food for thought. Me, I do listen to FOTF. I agree with you in the dangers of the program and the arrogance and self-righteousness of that "cult". What I have come to believe in is that our God is truly and "Awsome" God, and that His love flows beyond bounds that the "Conservative Christians" cannot fathom. It must truly be frightening to them to consider the idea that God loves everyone.... . and that they are no more important to him than someone such as you or me.

The thought that is intriguing to me is the idea that so many of your respondents were so brazen as to judge you as "Satanic". Me, I can believe very much that Satan's greatest pieces of work come via the Christian Churches. . . and via Christians themselves. As wolves in sheeps clothing, you might say, Satan is able to weave in and out of the church, snatching would be believers before they can truly commit to God....but even more frightening is that He can, through the Church and Christian Radio and TV and prevent people from serving God by deceiving them into believing the lies that they are within the realm of God's Will. Dr. Dobson makes a spiritually fatal mistake when he purports that he is always in alliance with the Will of God and that he knows without a doubt that those he disagrees with are out of the Will of God.

What gets lost in all this chaos, is the fact of John 3:16-17. If we as Christians would unite on these basic truths, what a spiritual force we could be. (We do not necessarily have to be a political party afterall!!!!!!!! :) ) We should spend more time spreading the Good News (John 3:16-17) and quit wasting precious time arguing over matters that went to the Cross with Jesus.

Dear Brian, I have just seen a recent announcement that hundreds of people are walking off of their jobs at FOTF, lately because Dr. Dobson has gone extremist. We will stand against anyone that tries to take away our freedom of Religion and the right to worship God as we choose. Our forefathers left Great Brittain because of the control of the Church upon the people. Our forefathers shed their blood upon our shores fighting for our freedom. I say that Dr. James Dobson needs to pack up his organization and move to Great Brittain if all he cares about is power and control. He may have caused many people to lose their faith in God, but not me. I will call the Angels to stand against him and expose his treachery to everyone! I know a false prophet when I see one and He will not tear my faith down. He is no better than David Koresh! I will pray for those people who have had their faith in God damaged because of his demeaning values. I will pray that these people who have been hurt, will be comforted by the holy spirit and their faith restored. I and many others have been watching this unfold. We are with you all the way! May you be blessed in the Light of our Father YHWH! Thank you for this web site.

I was just reading a little bit of your essays and found them very interesting. I struggle with some of the issues you discuss in your essays, such as the troubles with "Focus on the Family" and the mis-application of scripture by some Christians. I am a Christian who believes that Jesus Christ is our best example of a Godly life, not James Dobson. So, I just wanted to say thank you for posting such interesting material on the web. I'll bookmark this page so I can read more when I have time.

God Bless,

First, thank you very much for providing the information that you do. Currently I reside in the heart of the Christian Right. Living in Colorado Springs challenges my beliefs everyday. I find myself frequently defending the seperation of church and state. Just today I was engaed in an argument about James Dobson. My argument rested on the fact that Dr. Dobson is very wealthy individaul who uses his fincially success to ram rod his or FOL's agenda through politics.

Could you point me in the correct direction of where to find information on Dobson's money trail? I think the LA Times repeorted his money situation but cannot find it. Thank you again,

First of all, Brian..I have to admire you for your bold stance and obvious invitation for opposition. I have been a believer for over 20 years now, and in many points you have made would have to agree have also been frustrations for me. There are many things about the modern church I too struggle with. I have been a youth pastor for several different churches. My past includes playing in a Christian hard rock blues band for three years, which because of the style was viewed with severe criticism. I was an art teacher in the public schools for about 7 years, and a prominent wildlife artist. I have gone through more pain and attack than I care to dig up now that some of the dust is settling. I feel these things are symptomatic not of a "baby to be thrown out with the bathwater" but of changes that need to take place. I have let my hair to grow very long to take people out of their comfort zones, in order for them in time to understand and appreciate my personal integrity. This in turn has turned many in my sphere of influence from less likely making a newcomer with long hair feel unwelcome. Oh, and so many things, but I won't bother. I see your idea of following your own voice in a cultural context as a freedom paradoxical, as all our voices internal have accumulated over time from external influences. In attempting to do this, you raise the question of what becomes our standard to order our lives by- is it cultural relativism, behaviourism, hedonism, existentialism, generalism, or absolutism? Not to trust my Christian heart and mine, only encourages me to follow your voice...hmmmm?? Your abortion article was interesting, and I would encourage you to pick up or order a copy of Winkie Pratney's, "Devil Take the Youngest" which gives a good intro overview of the old testament practices of the Hittites, Amalykites, Ammonites,..(etc;) in "molech" worship. Many will use the example of the orders of annihilation to question the Biblical idea of God being a "loving" God, however these nations in practice of nature worship appeased their gods to bend favor on their behalf in sacrificing tens of thousands of their own children upon a half-bull half-human statue fire furnace. It was hoped that by doing that which was most "unnatural" (the killing in this case of children by their own parents), it would cause the gods of nature to favor them in war, in harvest, etc; It is the premise that God has such compassion on the idea of children that the judgement called for total annihilation both as an example to all other nations, and so that the children of that society would not later rekindle such practices to honor their given ancestry. Those children were sacrificed..(much like your article on terrorism) for the sake of personal conveniences of the parents...favor! The convenience of winning war, the convenience of a good harvest, etc; Today, over 4,000 aborted children daily are also sacrificed for the god of convenience,so that a mother-to-be might not lose her status in climbing the job ladder, or so a father-to-be maintains his selfish freedom. I do want to thank you for the construct of marvelous arguments, though I believe they fall through the cracks. Anyone having done serious studies in ethics and absolutes, and in worldviews would have fun going over the material. I am just beginning a new class on worldviews, "Understanding the Times" for 18-24 year olds, and am looking forward to see them challenged in thinking through their Christian worldview. Today it is estimated that 83% of all evangelical youth will never darken the door of a church again once leaving home. While there are problems in the church that professors will point out to further disillusion and assure a transition to global thinking correctness in young people, the base worldview issues and challenges of looking at universals and absolutes can catapult a young believer into seeing the immaturity of believers today trapped in the chaos of everyday living. The inconsistencies of faith and the walks of believers can be attributed to their having been caught up in the anxieties of trying to carve out a living for themselves like it does anyone else in the world. This leaves little to no time for the kind of contemplative lifestyle necessary to take advantage of what Christ has offered us, and that is coming to know God. Ps 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God" It is not easy..often very frustrating, but I live to change things such as they are, not to believe falacious concepts because they are more culturally convenient in our contemporary society. Peace!!

Brian,

I have over the last few weeks enjoyed reading your essays that are contained in the "Event Horizon Rider". I just wanted to give you a brief word of encouragement.

I have gone through a very difficult time over the past few years. In a real sence, I have been deconstructing the framework of Christian dogma that I had sheltered in for so long and found even my foundations wanting. Only very recently have I begun to build anew. I have found little help. It seems to me that we Chrisians (not to exclude the rest of society but merely to focus attention) are very afraid of hard questions. Your "Event Horizon Rider" has served as a real encouragement to me in this context. Of course, I don't agree with everything you have to say, but I have found lately that I disagree with much of what anyone has to say. It is simply nice to know that there are others who aren't satisfied with the path of least resistance.

I've been reading a little Kierkegaard lately. I highly recomend both "The Sickness Unto Death" and "Training in Christianity" though I have also gone through a couple others and have yet to find a Kierkegaard I didn't like. He points out (though this is not his main thesis) that Christ's suffering began long before the cross. At no point in his life was he understood by even those closest to him. To be sure, this is how it had to be but can you imagine that kind of pain? After reading the responses to some of your essays, I think that you probably can.

I suppose that I haven't made a lot of sense. As I said, I just wanted to encourage you a bit and thank you for the encouragement you have given me. Keep seeking God, keep struggling to become an individual before God, Keep speaking your heart and, above all, keep loving God and, in as much as he gives you strength to do so, keep loving us as well.

With love,

You seem like a very observant, and accuratly project your views of these "not so Christian Christains". I agree with all of your writings, and hope that other readers will understand what you are trying to get across. Thank you for your time, and God Bless!

Dear Elroy, I understand your words and admire them. I am a believer in God, that God became man in Jesus Christ, yet Jesus Christ was fully God. He was fully man. Indeed, he was of fully two natures, but his human nature was unlike ours. It was without sin. Of course, this concept of two (or three) natures has been a problem and source of debate forever. For example, the idea of a Trinity. Is the one true God really three Gods? How can Christ be both man and God? What is the nature of the old man and the new man in the Christian? I believe that we are of two natures. One of them cannot sin because it is the new creation in Christ, the other can do nothing but sin because it is less than perfect and anything less than perfect is unacceptable to God. However, the shed blood of Jesus Christ atones for this imperfection. I believe that Christians have been put on this earth to suffer with the two natures in order to teach us important lessons, humility for example, and we will struggle with these two natures until we are called up to heaven.

I am a member of the Libertarian Party. Organized political action from a religious group is abhorent to me. Some good might come out of it in the short term, but in the long run evil is the inevitable and natural result. The real underlying problem among Christians that would let them accept this kind of activity is the abandonment of the idea of God's grace. We did nothing to earn it and indeed could do nothing to earn it. Members of the religious right believe they have earned their salvation, which leads them to believe they must continue to do something to earn their salvation which leads them to be mired in legalism within which there is no peace. There is also no true humility before God because there is no fear and trembling before his awesome power to choose who He will. Christ's anger was always directed at the self righteous legalists, who believed that obeying the law would save them when the teaching of the Old Testament to the Jews was that the law could never save them because it was impossible for the nation of Israel to keep the law, just as it is impossible for the old nature that is within us Christians to keep the law. We are saved by grace, not by works, lest any man should boast.

Thank you for taking the time to write such provocative and insightful opinions about Christian right and wrong on the internet. I trust that God will reward you with ever deepening understanding and insight. Please pray that the Bible will always be your guide.

Well, I think I've read everything except your "musings." I wanted to talk to you a little bit about something you said in one of your essays responding to the responses to your FOF essay. You mentioned that you didn't understand why conservative Christians oppose a "national tithe" to feed the poor while wanting federal restrictions regarding abortion and the like. It's reformed theology, Mr. McKinley. Have you read up on the theology of Calvin and other guys like him? I'll try to briefly describe it here. Luther came, of course, from a nationalistic and Catholic background, and did not see the government as the enemy of the church. As a matter of fact, he saw Christians as citizens of two worlds: the spiritual, NOW, reality and the physical NOT YET, reality. Government is necessary in this life, and should not hinder the church in any way, but for Luther, those two areas are separate circles. Now, I know he messed up and put the German church under civil authority, but that was supposed to be temporary..... Calvin, on the other hand, well, he saw the church as the ultimate authority over both spiritual and temporal affairs. (That's because he and his reformed buddies have a dualistic notion of the nature of man, but that's another story.) He wanted the God (the church) to rule over all the affairs of men, and that's, you guessed it, a theocracy. The Pilgrims (among others) tried to institute that type of government. No effort has proved successful for any significant length of time (save Israel) to this point. Since theocracy per se didn't work, reformed folks came up with other ideas about government that range from disavowing any and all connection with government as long as it does not recognize the Bible and the Christian faith as the highest authority, to running for President to make government "spiritual" by virtue of its office holders' spirituality, and all points in between. As a nation, we have rejected the ideas of government that the Anglicans and Lutherans brought with them (maybe conservative Christians have rejected Anglicans and Lutherans as well...). The Christian folk that feel strongly about government are naturally more vocal about government, and IF THEY'RE ON FOCUS ON THE FAMILY, THEY MUST BE RIGHT. Does that make sense? Christian conservatives do not trust the evil government with their money. Christian conservatives do not want to give a free hand out, but would use benevolence as a means to preach the gospel. (The fact that they, on the whole, do NOT provide benevolence in any means is another matter.) Many conservative Christians firmly believe that the poor are suffering God's punishment and to interfere with that is to invite God's wrath yourself. Christian conservatives believe that government must be made to conform to "God's" morality and to enforce it. Hence the desire for restrictions on evil behavior and opposition to federal tithe. By the way, have you settled with the Catholic church? I've settled with the Lutherans. But I have many dear friends and family members who are dyed in the wool Dobsonites. Is it tough living there in Colorado with them? A few years ago I listened to broadcasts and began to see a pattern: genuflect to James, do your talking, Mike gets on and reminds us that FOF so very rarely says anything about finances, James gets back on and talks about finances. I mentioned this to a fellow church member, but will never do it again. Don't get me wrong, Mr. McKinley, I wouldn't go so far as to say that they are of the devil. We all are, to a certain extent. (In sin was I conceived...) But I find that they are soooo out of touch with real reality, for lack of a better term. You know, though, with so many people so devoted to them, they must have their own little reality. (I think I read an essay about that somewhere.) When it's all said and done, they seem to just take themselves far too seriously. We all tend to do that, and when tens of thousands keep telling them that they are God's gift to the current age, how can they help it? On the other hand, maybe they ARE God's gift to the present age, and we'd better be careful about opposing them. Who said that about Jesus? If he is crazy, he'll go away, and if he's telling the truth about who he is, I don't want to be involved in opposing him? Oh my, I have rambled. Hope you were at least mildly interested.

A guide to striking back at the Religious Right