#054 - James Dobson (1936-2025) with Hilde Lovdal Stephens (SORRY ABOUT JOHN'S AUDIO!!)

James Dobson, the founder of Focus on the Family and author of many popular books about "Christian parenting", died in late August at the age of 89. Dobson's death was celebrated by many ex-Evangelicals of a certain age who were raised in part or in total by Dobson's teaching and methods. He leaves behind a complicated and questionable legacy, including a generation of ex-Evangelicals who despise him and credit him for ruining their lives on the one hand, and an Evangelical movement that seems to have moved past him on the other. Joining Kelly and John to talk about the life and times of James Dobson is Hilde Løvdal Stephens, an associatie professor of American Studies at the University of Oslo. Her first book, Family Matters: James Dobson and Focus on the Family’s Crusade for the Christian Home, was published by the University of Alabama Press in 2019. You can find her on Bluesky @hildelstephens (NOTE: At about the 15 minute mark, John's audio goes crackly. We did our best to make it as listenable as possible! Our apologies to all. We'll do better next time!)