SpongeBobGate Continues - Focus on "Focus On The Family" (Yup, they're Moonies)

Most of us probably assume this was all media hype. Some nut somewhere and a couple of his shaved baboons saw a "homosexual agenda" being distributed via the SpongeBob cartoon (specifically a "We Are Family" segment intended for use in schools) and the media blew it all out of proportion for a time.

In fact, if one were to visit the Focus On The Family organization's website (the origin's of this "conspiracy") one would see significant effort on the part of Dr. Dobson, FOTF Founder, to explain away the story as just that...media hype.

Setting the Record "Straight" on SpongeBob

Isn't he adorable?

Why then the continued orchestrated war on journalists Dr. Dobson?

As Keith Olberman documents, Dobson's followers are being asked to spam journalists (including him) that covered the SpongeBob story both in retaliation and to influence them back in lock step with the formerly influential activist group most previously noted for blowing up the FCC lines over NippleGate and going after Dan Rather. Such a noble heritage of authoritarian censorship surely can't go down in flames over a gay sponge can it?

Oh it can. Olberman explains:

Dobson came across as a nut job, the story was picked up around the world (often with the admittedly oversimplified headline “SpongeBob is Gay?”), and Dobson immediately blamed the messengers. Suddenly it was the media that had interconnected the cartoon character with the “pro-homosexual” effort, and, of course, the media needed to be feel The Wrath. As part of his weekly newsletter, he conveniently included an e-mail generating device so that people who never saw our broadcast nor knew who I was, could spam my mailbox full of what I must say is some of the most unintentionally entertaining e-mail I’ve ever gotten.

Firstly, you wouldn’t think a member of this group could misspell “Christian,” but sure enough, one of the missives had the word as “Christain” three times. I think just about every word you could imagine was butchered at some point (and we’re not talking typos here - we’re talking about repeated identical misspellings):

Spong, Spounge, Spnge - presumably meaning “Sponge.”

Dobsin, Dobsen, Debsin, Dubsen, Dobbins - presumably Dr. Dobson.

Sevility— I’m not sure about this one. This might be “civility,” or it might refer to the city in Spain.

The best of them was not a misspelling but a Freudian slip of biblical proportions. A correspondent, unhappy that I did not simply agree with her fire-and-brimstone forecast for me, wrote “I showed respect even though I disagreed with you and yet you have the audacity to call me intelligent.”

Well, you have me there, Ma’am. My mistake.

If Dobson's idea was to pretend none of this ever happened, or better yet, turn the tables on the journalists... big mistake in letting his "followers" expose themselves to further public scrutiny. Though hilarious!

Did you find the weakest link in FOTF's braintrust?

“I showed respect even though I disagreed with you and yet you have the audacity to call me intelligent.”

Just a minor glipse into the "backbone" of these popular movements towards censorship and moral authoritarianism. They could all use a good dose of sunlight.

EDIT: Additional "sunlight" continued...

[edit on 31-1-2005 by RANT]

Haha!

Some of the things he does are very fine and noble.....but that was a bit far off...lmao.

I haven't listened to him in about 3 years now?

I'm starting to realize just how big and deep FOTF goes. They have an Institute where you can pay to trade a semester from your secular college for one at theirs and get 15 credits?

In what exactly? Somehow I don't think it's all mountain climbing and snow skiiing like in the pictures.

Ahhhh, here it is... A Christian World View and Tools to Help Reshape Society:

Academics That Are Life-changing and World-changing

The objective of our curriculum is to equip student leaders in the Christian worldview, as it pertains to our family, church and society. Our classes challenge you to examine your faith and apply it in ways you have never imagined. You will be empowered to confront the world in which you live and transform it with compassion. Each of our four courses provide a powerful foundation from which to share love and truth to a needy culture, while our internship gives you professional experience within your future career field.

Even money bet the Moonies are involved here. Heck, I'd give odds.

This guy though takes the focus on FOTF a bit far: Why FOTF is of the Devil!

Originally posted by RANT
Even money bet the Moonies are involved here. Heck, I'd give odds.

Former Employee and "Dobsonite" Exposes FOTF

The "Family Research Council" as led by Gary Bauer is an arm of FOTF that came into existence in order to protect FOTF's tax exempt status. But it also shares ties to the Moonies with Bauer leading addresses to large Moonie conventions in DC promoting similar global objectives.

Allow me to begin by saying simply that I am a 66 year old man, I have spent 4 years and 10 months at Focus On The Family, I began with them in 1991 and my employment with them was terminated on October 3rd, 1996. I believe that James Dobson is the greatest threat to the true church of Jesus Christ in the world today. Through radio it is quite possible that he has done more to undermine the foundations of true Christian faith than any person since the church was founded two thousand years ago. Big statement? Yes! Think I'm exaggerating? But give me the opportunity to offer to you documented material and then you make up your mind as to where you stand on Focus On The Family.

James Dobson is a dangerous man - he is an ecumenist, he has psychologised Scripture that takes away the authority of Scripture and he is also a very, very adamant political activist and I am going to give you documented proof of all of those allegations.

In the process of time of working with Focus On The Family, after about one year and a half, or a year or a little over into my employment, I began to see many things that disturbed me. I, like many of you came to Focus On The Family believing that I had arrived on the front porch of heaven itself but I began to realize that Biblical 'counselling' was not normal at Focus On The Family. Then there were many other things that I had heard and I soon began to change my mind about what Focus On The Family really stood for and where James Dobson was really coming from.

At that point I coined a word, I called this word "Dobsonology" - basically it describes my observations of James Dobson and Focus On The Family and what they really are. It defines James Dobson and Focus On The Family.

Dobsonology is a mixture of psychology, humanism, New Age, political activism and ecumenism packed in a silver box of morality, it is tied with a golden ribbon of assorted Scriptures - not necessarily in context. It is being sold to the Christian Community in lieu of biblical authority through sound doctrine by James Dobson and his Focus On The Family Organization.

These people are Moonies. Not necessarily knowing followers of the Reverend Sun Myung Moon or Unification Church any moreso than members of Falwell's Moral Majority realize they are in effect Moonies...



But they are. Whether it's Liberty University, Focus on the Family Insititue, or the front organizations funded by public dollars teaching abstinence in your child's school...

Meet your new King!


Duly elected by a simple majority of 3.5 million evangelical votes in 2004.

And Dobson's in on it.

attacking someone's ability to spell words is admitting you already lost the arguement at hand

in structured scientific debate; attacking the opponents bad spelling habits amounts to nothing more than irrationality

just because they cannot spell does not mean their arguement has no merit; it just means those whom interpret their arguement and use the "they cant spell" arguement, are losing so badly they must "grasp at straws"

cmon guys; how could you entertain such poorly structured debates?

also, Focus on The Family is a good segment
it comes on my local news broadcast every night *or maybe its only a few times a week*

but i Watch it regularly, and its a great segment
without pro-family people; america would surely be in trouble
the family is the most important part of society
it IS Society!

i myself enjoy learning the lessons taught by Dr. Dobson; they are very intelligent; and they are very Positive

attacking Dr Dobson over the "sponge bob fiasco" is a little over the top
your bias and leaving out the fact that MILLIONS of people listen to him and Thousands have directly improved their lives and overcome hardships with His advice

you act like hes a bad guy, or some christian nutjob
nothing could be further from the truth

i personally resent him being blamed on the 'sponge bob fiasco'
could you please include better evidence?

also; im actually confused on your intent in posting this article
im not sure if your agianst or for or neutral
please clarify for me if you have a chance thanks

but all this negative talk about Dr Dobson is disturbing
hes one of the ONLY people advocating reasonable approach to Keeping Familys Togeather
He helps many many people

i am NOT a christian
and in fact; Dr Dobson seems more like a psychologist than a christian to me

Dr Dobson is a good guy
face it yall
you cant bring him down unless u post photos of him naked with a horse or something atrocious like that

thanks

I took the time to read through the link "Let's Focus in on "Focus On The Family". Quite frankly after reading the article I can only say that it is just a house of cards waiting to be blown down. The speaker tries to imply that because FOF uses management techniques taken from sources other than mainstream christianity they must be pushing a new age agenda. That is like saying that I must be pushing a mormon agenda because I read and apply techniques from Steven Covey's books. He also points up that management has used candles in their unity building exercises. He makes rediculous statements like "Candles are used in satanic rituals", suggesting that FOF is flawed because of it.

He also tries to say that because they use imagination techniques, which are common to psychology as well as new age, they must be pushing a new age agenda. Never mind that Dr. Dobson himself is a psychologist that wouldn't have anything to do with the application of such techniques.

The author/speaker then goes on to denigrate FOF due to the fact that the organization reaches out to some of the fringe christian organizations. FOF is intended to be an organization that furthers Christian morality in society and expecially in the family. It is not unreasonable to reach out to other faiths to further the interest of morality and family values. In fact it would be seen as intollerant and bigotted not to.

In summary the article that denigrates FOF is just smear. There is no real evidence of anything unchristian in FOF. IT is all just smoke and mirrors, and no real substance, just sour grapes from a guy who didn't fit into the organization.

On a sponge bob note. The information put out by FOF makes a reasonable argument for how a variety of childrens programming promotes acceptance of a homosexual life style. All that most people have seen is a brief snippet or quote from the presentation that the media then uses to mock and ridicule the organization. The argument is never vetted in its entirety but rather one piece of it is mocked. This is generally a sure sign of someone trying to hide the validity of an argument or lessen its impact. They are taking a page from the propagandist playbook to deflect attention away from a trend they would rather keep hidden.

Alright,
My question for this is,



Where do Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell stand on this issue. God talks to them all the time, and they are prophets. Pat said that the tribulation was coming and when. He even said God hand chose him and personally told him he was to broadcast the second coming live on the Bible Channel. I hope I dont miss that.....oh wait...I forgot, that must have already happened considering his 1982 and following 1984 timeframe.

[edit on 1/31/2005 by Seapeople]

I showed respect even though I disagreed with you and yet you have the audacity to call me intelligent.”

Tell me exactly why you have problems with Focus on the Family. Perhaps because he speaks out on behalf of the family, or on behalf of Christian morals? Perhaps that he believes what the Bible says against homosexuality, and pornography. Perhaps because he is one of the strongest pro life voices there is. Dr. Dobson is a great man with great moral values and has done nothing to deserve the ridicule you give him. But I tell you now that I stand here firm to defend anything he has ever said or done.

I do not see why attacking someone is over the top for reasons like this.

Like I mentioned (a little disguised) before, Pat robertson is supposedly a good guy. Many people would follow him to their grave, god knows why. Yet he repeatly cons them out of their money, and lies to them. You have to be careful with everyone, even those who "are good men".

There is definitely a huge propoganda movement in this country right now pushing us to accept homosexuality as normal. Whether it offends any of you or not, I will never accept that as normal. It does bother me that children are now being taught in school that it is OK. It bothers me that children are being forced to accept it. In no way could anyone force me to accept it as anything more than a problem. But, if you are gay, then you are gay. I have no need to get involved unless I am forced too. I don't agree, so I stay away. No-one should be allowed to force it upon me or anyone as acceptable if they choose not to feel that way. Even with that being said, I think that dr. needs to rethink what probelms he is causing.

Originally posted by muzzleflash
also; im actually confused on your intent in posting this article
im not sure if your agianst or for or neutral
please clarify for me if you have a chance thanks

A little of each. I see how both sides blew it out of proportion, but the e-mail spam generator from Dobson's newletter was over the top. This is the fallout. People laughing at the harrassing e-mails sent via the Dobson website. One of the targeted journalists exposed them. Not me.

Which merely prompted me to dig deeper since Dobson's obviously a bit underhanded. Saying one thing and doing another. Asking everyone to put this behind them, calling it misunderstood media hype, while simultaneously launching a spam campaign against journalists....effectively not letting it die and making it bigger.

but all this negative talk about Dr Dobson is disturbing
hes one of the ONLY people advocating reasonable approach to Keeping Familys Togeather.

He helps many many people

So did L. Ron Hubbard. The Promise Keepers. The Moonies. Heck, Jim Jones has 100% success rate to this day.

i am NOT a christian
and in fact; Dr Dobson seems more like a psychologist than a christian to me

Exactly! Bingo. You win a prize. Thus the second article from a Christian and former insider exposing the contrary teachings against Christianity and pro-new age underbelly of the overtly political Dobsonite movement and global agenda.

I'm shocked actually to learn the man has so much vitriolic support. Especially here. But then again I'm not...

Dr Dobson is a good guy

Aren't they all? What cult leader doesn't haven't his defenders?

My "problem" with Dobson is actually much bigger than Dobson so I'm not all that interested in bickering with his own Moonies over him per se. My problem is with this entire Unification movement where practically every so called "legitimate" Christian leader from Robert Schuller to Pat Robertson is now in lock step with the new Moonie/Republican agenda.

Getting into that wasn't my intent with the original post of lighthearted intent. But one need not peel the onion far these days to get right into it.

No offense to non-Moonie Republicans (you know who you are), but you strictly economic conservatives really need to start speaking up on this issue. Or just give up your party to the new age globalists altogether.

[edit on 31-1-2005 by RANT]

Originally posted by deesw
But I tell you now that I stand here firm to defend anything he has ever said or done.

Okay...

Pardon my nervous laughter, but that came very close to a Kool Aid pledge...

What's up with his Family Research Council offshoot? Gary Bauer's speaking engagements at Moonie conventions? You cool with that too? These strange new age bedfellows of Dobson's known as the Moonies?

I'd love to hear from some actual admitted Moonies too. Though I suppose I could just pick up The Washington Times Op/Ed page for that.

Originally posted by muzzleflash
*SNIP*i myself enjoy learning the lessons taught by Dr. Dobson; they are very intelligent; and they are very Positive

*SNIP*you act like hes a bad guy, or some christian nutjob
nothing could be further from the truth

i personally resent him being blamed on the 'sponge bob fiasco'
could you please include better evidence?

*SNIP*Dr Dobson is a good guy
face it yall

I'm guessing you didn't read RANT's link here:

This guy though takes the focus on FOTF a bit far: Why FOTF is of the Devil!

From the above link:

Our young believer listens, and two subtle evils begin to work in his life. Focus On The Family first admonishes our believer to keep listening, because their programs will help heal the damage in his soul. They don't just come out and say it, but the message is clear. If he wants to learn how to be a better Christian, he need look no further. In other words, they set themselves up as the authority on moral living. This little device hooks our young believer. If he rejects what's being broadcast by Focus On The Family, he is rejecting the information God obviously wants him to hear.

This sounds rather cultish to me. Maybe the author is a bit extreme, but he does make the point that groups like FOTF are themselves too extreme.

I have nothing against Christianity as such, but get a little nervous when they tell you how to think and act. Behaving not as God would like, but as FOTF tells you.

The suggestion that FOF is a moonie organization is just plain baseless. Even should someone from the Family research Council go and meet the Rev. Moon himself this would not directly link the organizations. Show me where the moonies and the new agers have direct influence on the agenda of FOF. You can't. The only case that can be made is one of guilt by association. Well I guess by those rules of evidence I am a drug addict and a satanist since I know and even associate with drug addicts and satanists. I even witness the gospel to them from time to time telling them of my beliefs. If they invited me to a conference, I would gladly go and speak since I have a message I believe they need to hear. So by the arguments made against FOF I must be a Satanist druggie. The truth of the matter is that I am willing to associate with most any kind of sin and error but that does not mean I espouse it. WHen I was in India I attended a hindu wedding, went to a Hindu temple with adherents to that religion. I also went to a muslim temple and spoke to a group of people there. I told them about the Good news of Christ. Am I then a muslim or a Hindu? No, I am a man who loves Jesus. If you want to smear FOF, I guess you have that right but you should at least read what the man has to say about this sponge bob issue here.(this is linked in the first post as well)

Let me also say that the so called journalist who got spammed got off pretty easy for the terrible job of reporting they did. Dr Dobson never attacked Sponge Bob as being gay or his cartoon as promoting Homosexuality. I challenge anyone to find where he did. What was addressed was a video put out by a pro-homosexual action group that used a wide variety of cartoon characters, including old spongy to promote moral acceptance of the homosexual lifestyle. IT was a critisism that had nothing to do with the cartoon characters involved and everything to do with the agenda of the video's sponsors. If a reporter grossly distorts a story to the extent that these did then they deserve to be reprimanded. If all they got was some e-mail then they got the very least they deserved. The lack of vetting of stories like this is attrocious and is a stain on our national media.

For the reporter listed above to go on a self righeous tirade against the bad PR he was experiencing as a result of his bad reporting is just plain arrogant. He should be giving an apology to FOF and Dr. Dobson for his fictional news reporting not whining because he got some e-mail.

[edit on 31-1-2005 by Johannmon]

I know for a fact that the studies he did on pornography and the link to serial killers was professional.

Y'all DO know that ALL known Serial Killers started out with porn?

Originally posted by Johannmon
If you want to smear FOF, I guess you have that right but you should at least read what the man has to say about this sponge bob issue here.

I did. That's the second link in my original post.

But for the record I don't think I'm smearing Dobson. Just posting the accounts of a journalist, a former Dobsonite and a theocratic watchdog.

As for your adamant defense of Dobson not being a Moonie, I'm not enitely positive that's in line with his new age teachings.

All I've read from his material indicates he's pushing this non-denominational open society accepting of all religions for the combined effect of reshaping the world. Which makes sense since he is a prominent officer in Lahaye's Council for National Policy.

Why this backlash anyway for pointing out the associations with Moonies? They own right wing fundamentalism. Is that embarrassing? I realize it's not advertised, never spoken of....and never, ever defended... but why?

Look at where your tax dollars go under Bush's Faith Based Initiatives.

Scientologists, Hare Krishnas and Moonies, Moonies, Moonies galore!!! Is Dobson better than those he associates with?

"One of the big issues that people haven't talked about much is that some very controversial religions could get active in this," said Philip Jenkins, the author of "Mystics and Messiahs: Cults and New Religions in American History"(Oxford University Press, 2000), and a professor of history and religious studies at Pennsylvania State University.

"Running a faith-based program raises the question, what faiths are out of bounds?" Mr. Jenkins said. "Either you fund all faith groups, even groups you radically don't like, or you fund none. I have nothing against funding everybody, but I think people need to be prepared for the issues that might arise. How do you distinguish between a Methodist and a Moonie? The answer is, you can't."

I hardly think so. But what do I know?

I'm certainly not the Christian and former Dobsonite who's inside account I posted stating point blank Dobson is running a cult.

I do think, however, all these places that try to get you off to their "institutes" (like FOTF) to teach you how to think and live your life and recruit others are dangerous programming centers with cult-like qualites that damage critical thinking and individualism. But hey, that's just me.

Originally posted by jlc163
I know for a fact that the studies he did on pornography and the link to serial killers was professional.

Y'all DO know that ALL known Serial Killers started out with porn?

Yeah. I'm looking into that now. I've seen a few links talking about his meteoric rise to power and wealth based on calls for censorship.

From porn to SpongeBob.

Man, there's so may articles though. People seriously HATE this guy... And I'm talking about Christian websites!

I'll never be able to read all these.

Jame's Dobson's War on America

The Money Machine

How is Dobson's compensation arrangement with Focus so lucrative if he draws no salary? It is enormously profitable by virtue of the fact that Focus on the Family is essentially a publicity-generating machine for Jim. three million households receive positive advertising impressions of James Dobson weekly - James Dobson the writer of books, the maker of educational films, and the seller of audiocassette albums - all of which are available at your local religious bookstore, where Jim is always in the top ten authors category.

For example, Dobson's November 1996 fund-raising letter announced to his donors a new Focus on the Family venture: youth rallies in major cities across North America called "LOTE: or "Life On The Edge." Dobson said of this new enterprise: The first [rally[ of its kind was held in Cincinnati on October 5. Some 3,200 teenagers and their parents spent all day listening to [a variety of youth speakers, including members of the Focus staff.] From all the reports we've received, the seminar was wonderfully successful. We had to turn away hundreds in Cincinnati. If resources permit, it is our plan to take this program to fifty or more cities in the next couple of years.

On the surface, the observer sees nothing in such an announcement other than James Dobson, care provider to the nation's youth. But when one looks more closely, one sees a national event strategy into which hundreds of thousands of dollars will be poured, creating immense visibility and market interest in "Life On The Edge," which is more than the name of the event; it is the title of Dobson's latest book as well as of a video and film series, all Dobson's personal property, from which he earns immense royalties.

Jim does not donate the income from his books and many of his communications products to his nonprofit corporation, as do many heads of ministries. He retains control of the revenues they generate, and foremost among all who benefit from the massive marketing and publicity generated daily by Focus on the Family is James Dobson himself. Furthermore, since a guest spot on the Dobson program turns other authors into instant best-sellers, his promotional power puts him in a position to demand higher-than-normal personal advances and royalty percentages from publishers of his own books.

All I've read from his material indicates he's pushing this non-denominational open society accepting of all religions for the combined effect of reshaping the world. Which makes sense since he is a prominent officer in Lahaye's Council for National Policy.

To label this new age thinking simply ignores the far more probable rationales applicable to this policy. The breaking down of dividing walls between religious groups in order to further their common agenda is a win win for any of the groups involved. FOF by its charter is to be an interdenominational ministry that promotes family values and help to shape society in that light. This does not make it new age. It simply makes it effective. IF the mormons want to help promote family values they can come along side. If the moonies want to help promote biblical family values let them join in. THe fact of the matter is that Dr. Dobson is a Nazarene who belongs to the Church of the Nazarene. This church is an evangelical holiness denomination that would never condone new age theology. This does not mean that he would condemn new agers nor spurn their support toward common interests.

Really it is only the opponents to the Judeo Christian morality upon which our countries laws and government were formed who do not want to see unity of purpose in the the vast mosaic of religious faith. John Wesley is creditted with saying, " In essentials Unity, in non-essentials liberty, and in all things love" Was John Wesley a new ager? This motto is being followed by FOF and Dobson in soliciting support for the organization's agenda. It has been quite effective and I hope it becomes even more so.

Let me lastly address those who have cast aspersions toward FOF as for being a cult. A cult is a group that seeks to control its members and remove their identity, making them subserviant to the organization. FOF is the good opposite of this in that they seek to serve their members and help them to make the most out of their lives. Never has FOF been shown to brainwash anyone. They teach Biblical principles. In all the their teachings the individual is encouraged to search scripture for himself to test the validity of what is being taught. How is this brainwashing or cultish?

lol....
Look, this happens in a lot of Christian groups.....
ANY evangelical cause that gets more money, more converts, more whatever good item here, is bashedby at least 10% of the rest of the leading evangelical causes. It's the I am the only way mentality.

I tend to believe what your saying is true Johannmon, but for me, that doesn't make it less insideous.

If the extent of Dobson's acceptance of other religions is, as you say, for the tearing down of walls toward a common agenda (just like that of the Modern Unification movement), it's the agenda that scares me.

It's almost as if helping an individual or family is secondary to the greater purpose of consolidating politcal clout which is what all these groups are aligning to do.

That may tickle you pink as it does most evangelicals, but I don't think it's appropraite influence over government.

From your statements that you think our government was formed on Judao-Christian morality, I don't even expect you to understand my problem with this (or for that matter the other 48% of America not interested in how you think they should live their lives), but I assure you it's a valid concern.

So while I accept your explanation, I further feel validated in my initial distrust of this pro-censorship, anti-gay, presumably anti-choice, pop psychologist, preacher man of political punditry.

The movement he represents is the greatest threat to individualism and civil liberties we and future generations will face in my estimation. It's because of people like him, that I now do believe the once rhetorical "culture war" is in full effect and being waged on our children's minds as we speak.

And it's not the "homosexual agenda" that frightens me. It's the "evangelical agenda" that's real and seeking control of our youth to establish it's own NWO.