41 Facts About James Dobson

James Dobson is no longer affiliated with Focus on the Family.

Dobson founded Family Talk as a non-profit organization in 2010 and launched a new radio broadcast, Family Talk with Dr James Dobson, that began on May 3,2010, on over 300 stations nationwide.

James Dobson was born to Myrtle Georgia and James C Dobson Sr.

James Dobson once told a reporter that he learned to pray before he learned to talk, and says he gave his life to Jesus at the age of three, in response to an altar call by his father.

James Dobson is the son, grandson, and great-grandson of Church of the Nazarene ministers.

James Dobson attended Pasadena College as an undergraduate and served as captain of the school's tennis team.

In 1967, James Dobson received his doctorate in psychology from the University of Southern California.

James Dobson spent 17 years on the staff of the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles in the Division of Child Development and Medical Genetics.

James Dobson published monthly bulletins, which were dispensed as inserts in some Sunday church-service bulletins.

James Dobson interviewed serial killer Ted Bundy on-camera the day before Bundy's execution on January 24,1989.

In May 1989, during an interview with John Tanner, a Republican Florida prosecutor, James Dobson called for Bundy to be forgiven.

James Dobson stepped down as president and CEO of Focus on the Family in 2003, and resigned from the position of chairman of the board in February 2009.

James Dobson explained his departure as twofold: one to allow a smooth transfer of leadership to the next generation, and in this case, to Jim Daly whom he directly appointed as his replacement.

James Dobson frequently appears as a guest on the Fox News Channel.

At the invitation of Presidents and Attorneys General, James Dobson has served on government advisory panels and testified at several government hearings.

James Dobson was given the "Layman of the Year" award by the National Association of Evangelicals in 1982, "The Children's Friend" honor by Childhelp USA in 1987, and the Humanitarian Award by the California Psychological Association in 1988.

In 2005, James Dobson received an honorary doctorate from Indiana Wesleyan University and was inducted into IWU's Society of World Changers, while speaking at the university's Academic Convocation.

In 2008, James Dobson's Focus on the Family program was nominated for induction into the National Radio Hall of Fame.

James Dobson is a strong proponent of marriage defined as "one where husband and wife are lawfully married, are committed to each other for life," and have a homemaker mother and breadwinner father.

James Dobson recommends that married women with children under the age of 18 focus on mothering, rather than work outside the home.

James Dobson writes that "every civilization in the world" has been built upon marriage.

James Dobson believes that homosexuality is neither a choice nor genetic, but is caused by external factors during early childhood.

James Dobson anecdotally cites as evidence the life of actress Anne Heche, who was previously in a relationship with Ellen DeGeneres.

James Dobson supports student-led prayer in public schools, and believes that allowing student-led Christian prayer in schools does not violate the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.

James Dobson has called disciplining children to be a necessary but unpleasant part of raising children that should only be carried out by qualified parents:.

James Dobson believes that God defines marriage as between one man and one woman only and describes this as the central stabilizing institution of society.

In James Dobson's view, homosexuality results from influences in a child's environment rather than an inborn trait.

Sociologist Judith Stacey criticized James Dobson for claiming that sociological studies show that gay couples do not make good parents.

In late 2004, James Dobson led a campaign to block the appointment of Arlen Specter to head of the Senate Judiciary Committee because of Specter's pro-abortion rights stance.

James Dobson is America's most influential evangelical leader, with a following reportedly greater than that of either Falwell or Robertson at his peak.

However, in 2006, James Dobson said that, while "there is disillusionment out there with Republicans" and "that worries me greatly," he nonetheless suggested voters turn out and vote Republican in 2006.

James Dobson garnered national media attention in February 2008 after releasing a statement in the wake of Senator John McCain's expected success in the so-called "Super Tuesday" Republican primary elections.

When Palin's 17-year-old daughter's pregnancy was revealed, James Dobson issued a press release commending Palin's stance, saying,.

On June 24,2008, James Dobson criticized statements made by US presidential candidate Barack Obama in Obama's 2006 "Call to Renewal" address.

In 2007, James Dobson was one of 25 evangelicals who called for the ouster of Rev Richard Cizik from his position at the National Association of Evangelicals because Cizik had taken a stance urging evangelicals to take global warming seriously.

On May 30,2010, James Dobson delivered the pre-race invocation at the NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 automobile race, raising criticism about his association with a sport associated with sponsors and activities which would not meet his definition of family-friendly.

Janice Hahn complained because James Dobson used the National Day of Prayer for partisan purposes.

James Dobson has been named by Christianity Today as one of the Trump Administration's top "Evangelical Faith Advisers".

In 2020, James Dobson worked alongside other conservative Evangelicals and Evangelical organizations, including Jim Daly and Focus on the Family, to support the reelection of President Donald Trump.

James Dobson echoed his support of the President throughout the impeachment proceedings earlier that year.

In November 2009, James Dobson signed an ecumenical statement known as the Manhattan Declaration calling on evangelicals, Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Christians not to comply with rules and laws permitting abortion, same-sex marriage and other matters that go against their religious consciences.