# What exactly is required for a PHd in (Christian) Theology
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-required-for-a-phd-in-christian-theology/681784
**Category:** The BBQ Pit
**Created:** [February 20, 2014, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-required-for-a-phd-in-christian-theology/681784 "2014-02-20T13:43:54Z")
**Posts on this page:** 16
**Page:** 11
### Author:  [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)
#### Post date: [February 23, 2014, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-required-for-a-phd-in-christian-theology/681784/201 "2014-02-23T01:49:18Z")
> [@Robert163](#):
>
> hmm… ok, good point. my counter point: the people with the most direct understanding of the bible are people who’ve probably never been to seminary, your independent baptists and pentecostals and the like.
Using the phrase “direct understanding” as a euphemism for “simplistic,” I suppose.
> [@Robert163](#):
>
> if you agree with my statement about these groups having the most direct understanding of the bible, . . .
I cannot imagine any thinking person–Christian or atheist–who would agree with such a silly idea.
_Nego majorem._
(This is not a slam at untutored people or people of any particular denomination. Many such people have a profound faith that is based on their understanding of the bible. However, the notion that they have the “most direct understanding” when that understanding is based on English translations, (particularly one that is written in a version of English that is, itself, four hundred years old), is ludicrous.)
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### Author:  [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)
#### Post date: [February 23, 2014, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-required-for-a-phd-in-christian-theology/681784/202 "2014-02-23T03:49:29Z")
> [@AskNott](#):
>
> I hold a meaningless Doctor of Divinity decree. The Universal Life Church in Modesto, California required that I give them $20 for the fancy certificate.
Is it truly meaningless, or by searching for its meaning are you distracting yourself from seeing its meaning? “Free from desire, you realize the mystery. Caught in desire, you see only the manifestations.”
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### Author:  [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)
#### Post date: [February 23, 2014, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-required-for-a-phd-in-christian-theology/681784/203 "2014-02-23T04:08:24Z")
> [@AskNott](#):
>
> I hold a meaningless Doctor of Divinity decree. The Universal Life Church in Modesto, California required that I give them $20 for the fancy certificate.
I, too, _“believe in that which is right”._
In the 60s, you had to mail in five dollars. And they only gave you a “Rev”, not a “Doc”.
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### Author:  [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)
#### Post date: [February 23, 2014, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-required-for-a-phd-in-christian-theology/681784/204 "2014-02-23T19:09:34Z")
I’ve just been perusing their website. You can get a ‘doctor’ degree of some sort from them for anywhere between 15 and 100 bucks. Pick your price point.
You can still get ‘reverend’ for 5 bucks.
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### Author:  [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)
#### Post date: [February 23, 2014, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-required-for-a-phd-in-christian-theology/681784/205 "2014-02-23T19:41:51Z")
I almost missed this. All of the ‘doctor’ degrees require you to first buy the ‘reverend’. Only officially ordained ‘reverends’ get to be ‘doctors’.
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### Author:  [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)
#### Post date: [February 23, 2014, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-required-for-a-phd-in-christian-theology/681784/206 "2014-02-23T21:29:15Z")
Well, sure. Otherwise, the whole system would just be SILLY.
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### Author:  [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2014, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-required-for-a-phd-in-christian-theology/681784/207 "2014-02-24T04:36:31Z")
> [@Smeghead](#):
>
> Well, sure. Otherwise, the whole system would just be SILLY.
Brah-VO!
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### Author:  [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2014, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-required-for-a-phd-in-christian-theology/681784/208 "2014-02-24T14:30:02Z")
Hey, the ULC (which provided me the “Rev” in my username) now sells Jedi Knight Certificates!
> **[Jedi Knight Credential](https://www.themonastery.org/catalog/jedi-knight-credential)**
>
> One of Earth's newest religions, commemorate your status as a true Jedi Knight with this mysterious certificate. Have you become one with the force yet?
I see a possible username change in my future… Hey, I really might have The Force! I’m seeing the future!
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### Author:  [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2014, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-required-for-a-phd-in-christian-theology/681784/209 "2014-02-24T15:08:06Z")
May the farce be with you.
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### Author:  [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2014, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-required-for-a-phd-in-christian-theology/681784/210 "2014-02-24T15:43:02Z")
> [@Robert163](#):
>
> Because, to be quite honest, there is not much in the bible that is too complicated, most of it can be understood by a 10th grader very easily, certainly all of it could be understood (understand, not agree) by your average college freshman.
Well, no, that’s absurd. But a degree is about more than just understanding the bible anyway.
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### Author:  [@Tiktaalik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tiktaalik)
#### Post date: [February 25, 2014, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-required-for-a-phd-in-christian-theology/681784/211 "2014-02-25T19:38:12Z")
I haven’t met too many bright people that went to bible college for theology. However, I’ve met some very bright people who have PhD’s in theology from Georgetown or Harvard.
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### Author:  [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)
#### Post date: [February 25, 2014, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-required-for-a-phd-in-christian-theology/681784/212 "2014-02-25T20:04:49Z")
> [@Revtim](#):
>
> Hey, the ULC (which provided me the “Rev” in my username) now sells Jedi Knight Certificates!
> [Jedi Knight Credential](http://www.themonastery.org/catalog/jediknightcertificate-p-237.html)
> I see a possible username change in my future… Hey, I really might have The Force! I’m seeing the future!
It won’t really be useful until they pass a law saying that it is legal to bring light sabers into bars. NRA, where are you?
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### Author:  [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)
#### Post date: [February 26, 2014, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-required-for-a-phd-in-christian-theology/681784/213 "2014-02-26T02:46:33Z")
> [@Ibn\_Warraq](#):
>
> and if you think that any ten-year-old in America could easily learn Hebrew and Aramaic, then you’re even stupider than you appear.
:: raising hand ::
OK, the Aramaic didn’t come until my later teens. 🙂
Zev Steinhardt
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### Author:  [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)
#### Post date: [February 27, 2014, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-required-for-a-phd-in-christian-theology/681784/214 "2014-02-27T23:55:31Z")
> [@Robert163](#):
>
> I’m not sure what business it is of yours what and why I post anything in the BBQpit.
Wait a fucking minute here. Do you want anyone to pay any fucking attention to anything you post, or do you not want anyone to pay any fucking attention to anything you post?
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### Author:  [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)
#### Post date: [February 28, 2014, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-required-for-a-phd-in-christian-theology/681784/215 "2014-02-28T14:50:20Z")
> [@Robert163](#):
>
> I assume you understand and accept that the people studying middle english and german and medieval history are aware that Grendel is not real? wouldn’t they look like a bunch of idiots if they thought Grendel was real but everyone else knew he was just a monster from a story?
My minister has a PhD in - I actually think its Divinity, not Theology - from Yale. She’s an agnostic.
There is no requirement to believe Jesus is real to 1) pursue religious studies or 2) even be a minister.
(Granted, she and I are Unitarians, she might have a problem being a Baptist minister)
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### Author:  [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)
#### Post date: [March 1, 2014, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-required-for-a-phd-in-christian-theology/681784/216 "2014-03-01T01:55:21Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#):
>
> There is no requirement to believe Jesus is real to 1) pursue religious studies or 2) even be a minister.
Right. The OP is an utter moron who is actively refusing to realize his prejudice against Christianity and its adherents is preventing him from grasping the concept of the study of Christianity or any other religion.
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