James Dobson, Influential Evangelical Leader, Dies at 89

James Dobson, the influential founder of the conservative Christian ministry Focus on the Family, died at age 89. He was a prominent figure in shaping Evangelical values and politics from the 1970s onward, advocating for traditional Judeo-Christian family structures and discipline in childrearing, notably through his book Dare to Discipline. Dobson's conservative views extended into the political arena through the Family Research Council, and he was a vocal opponent of abortion and gay rights. While he was admired by many Evangelicals for reinforcing biblical principles, critics condemned him for promoting homophobic and fundamentalist ideologies that influenced the modern Republican Party. Dobson's legacy is thus highly polarized, seen by supporters as a giant of faith and by detractors as a divisive figure. His impact on American religious and political culture remains significant decades after he first rose to prominence.