# 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:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2014, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-required-for-a-phd-in-christian-theology/681784/21 "2014-02-20T15:38:42Z")
> [@Robert163](#):
>
> Did you bother to try and understand what I am actually saying? What concept(s) in the bible are so complicated that it takes 3 years of graduate school and then 2 years of a PHd to understand?
[Christology](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christology), for one thing. What does it **mean** that Jesus is the Son of God? Is he God Himself? How is that possible if there’s only one God? Is he but a man? Or a lesser divine being? Etc. Scripture is far from clear on these points, and many divergent schools of thought emerged in early Christianity.
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### Author:  [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2014, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-required-for-a-phd-in-christian-theology/681784/22 "2014-02-20T15:42:24Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#):
>
> What does it **mean** that Jesus is the Son of God? Is he God Himself? How is that possible if there’s only one God? Is he but a man? Or a lesser divine being? Etc. Scripture is far from clear on these points, and many divergent schools of thought emerged in early Christianity.
Angels, heads of pins, etc. etc…
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### Author:  [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2014, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-required-for-a-phd-in-christian-theology/681784/23 "2014-02-20T15:44:18Z")
> [@Robert163](#):
>
> yeah, that was the impression I would of had as well. except that my step mom went to Emory and she gave me her laptop and i read through her papers, and Jesus Christ, most of them were so so simple, like barely one step above what her sermons are like today. none of the PHd theology people i met at the bible college i attended for two years (i took general ed it was the only school nearby) none of those people seemed like the brightest people or the most articulate thinkers. nice people. well versed in the bible. well versed theology past and present. but none of them had the piercing intellect of a really good history professor or literature professor.
Quite the ironic post, isn’t it?
---
### Author:  [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2014, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-required-for-a-phd-in-christian-theology/681784/24 "2014-02-20T15:50:14Z")
> [@Robert163](#):
>
> yeah, that was the impression I would of had as well. except that my step mom went to Emory and she gave me her laptop and i read through her papers, and Jesus Christ, most of them were so so simple, like barely one step above what her sermons are like today. none of the PHd theology people i met at the bible college i attended for two years (i took general ed it was the only school nearby) none of those people seemed like the brightest people or the most articulate thinkers. nice people. well versed in the bible. well versed theology past and present. but none of them had the piercing intellect of a really good history professor or literature professor.
Ahaha, I had you pegged as a preacher’s kid and I was right. I thought it might be your dad, though, so I was only half-right.
---
### Author:  [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2014, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-required-for-a-phd-in-christian-theology/681784/25 "2014-02-20T15:51:57Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#):
>
> [Christology](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christology), for one thing. What does it **mean** that Jesus is the Son of God? Is he God Himself? How is that possible if there’s only one God? Is he but a man? Or a lesser divine being? Etc. Scripture is far from clear on these points, and many divergent schools of thought emerged in early Christianity.
OK, but in complete 100% seriousness, that isn’t really that complicated a topic… wait… the concept itself, is not complicated. it is a story element just like in any mythology or story. what is complicated is all the complicated interpretations. like in my step mom’s library, (the preacher) there is book after book after book about say, predestination. but all of the “study” is really study of other people’s opinions on the topic.
---
### Author:  [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2014, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-required-for-a-phd-in-christian-theology/681784/26 "2014-02-20T15:53:03Z")
> [@gallows\_fodder](#):
>
> Ahaha, I had you pegged as a preacher’s kid and I was right. I thought it might be your dad, though, so I was only half-right.
half right
my resentment to christinaity comes from growing up in the south in the 1970’s and 1980’s. the step mom came along when i was in my 20’s…
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### Author:  [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2014, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-required-for-a-phd-in-christian-theology/681784/27 "2014-02-20T15:53:27Z")
> [@Robert163](#):
>
> OK, but in complete 100% seriousness, that isn’t really that complicated a topic… wait… the concept itself, is not complicated. it is a story element just like in any mythology or story. what is complicated is all the complicated interpretations. like in my step mom’s library, (the preacher) there is book after book after book about say, predestination. but all of the “study” is really study of other people’s opinions on the topic.
Well, there you are. Theology isn’t about understanding the **Bible,** it is about understanding Christian doctrine, which is much more complicated and draws on many extra-Biblical sources. And when Bible-focused Protestants came along and changed the doctrine, it didn’t get a whole lot simpler. If you think that’s all bullshit, don’t be a Christian.
---
### Author:  [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2014, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-required-for-a-phd-in-christian-theology/681784/28 "2014-02-20T16:02:08Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#):
>
> Well, there you are. Theology isn’t about understanding the **Bible,** it is about understanding Christian doctrine, which is much more complicated and draws on many extra-Biblical sources. And when Bible-focused Protestants came along and changed the doctrine, it didn’t get a whole lot simpler. If you think that’s all bullshit, don’t be a Christian.
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. if you agree with my statement about these groups having the most direct understanding of the bible, doesn’t it seem that divinity school actually “harms” your understanding of the bible instead of helping it?
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### Author:  [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2014, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-required-for-a-phd-in-christian-theology/681784/29 "2014-02-20T16:03:10Z")
> [@Monty](#):
>
> Quite the ironic post, isn’t it?
You noticed too, huh?
And **Robert163** - it’s PhD or Ph.D.
Regards,
Shodan
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### Author:  [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2014, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-required-for-a-phd-in-christian-theology/681784/30 "2014-02-20T16:03:27Z")
> [@Skammer](#):
>
> Also, why do you specific (Christian) in the thread title? A theological degree in other religions is fine but for some special reason Christianity is juvenile?
Is it possible to get a PhD in theology for any other religion? I’m honestly curious, since I don’t know. I’d imagine that places such as Yeshiva would have graduate study, but do they offer degrees in theology rather than, say, Torah studies?
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### Author:  [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2014, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-required-for-a-phd-in-christian-theology/681784/31 "2014-02-20T16:11:10Z")
I think the point that the OP might be vaguely flailing in the general direction of is that there do exist “diploma mill” versions of “Doctor of Theology” degrees that are pretty lightweight, academically speaking.
So the average person interested in acquiring “credentials” for the ministry could certainly obtain something called a “Doctorate in Theology” involving no rigorous study.
This, of course, has little or nothing to do with what a reputable university’s doctoral research program in theology would look like.
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### Author:  [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2014, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-required-for-a-phd-in-christian-theology/681784/32 "2014-02-20T16:13:26Z")
> [@](#):
>
> Is it possible to get a PhD in theology for any other religion? I’m honestly curious, since I don’t know.
[This site](http://www.unc.edu/~cernst/reliprograms.htm) lists a number of US universities that offer doctoral degrees in Islamic studies, but some appear to be “tracks” in general religious studies programs. You’ll no doubt be amused to learn that [no Indian university](http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/an-unfulfilled-search-for-a-phd-in-hinduism/article4909554.ece) offers PhD level programs in Hindu studies; the only Western university I could find which does is “[Alameda University](http://almedauniversity.org/credentialing/doctor-of-philosophy-hinduism.html)”, which appears to be a diploma mill.
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### Author:  [@Falchion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Falchion)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2014, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-required-for-a-phd-in-christian-theology/681784/33 "2014-02-20T16:15:19Z")
> [@ITR\_champion](#):
>
> Is it possible to get a PhD in theology for any other religion? I’m honestly curious, since I don’t know. I’d imagine that places such as Yeshiva would have graduate study, but do they offer degrees in theology rather than, say, Torah studies?
Do you mean a PhD that exclusively focuses on Theology? I think most major universities offer PhDs in Islamic Studies, which has (at least) a historical component to it. I would be shocked if there weren’t a number of places that offered a “Islamic Theology” program.
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### Author:  [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2014, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-required-for-a-phd-in-christian-theology/681784/34 "2014-02-20T16:17:15Z")
Always trust someone who has not studied a subject to inform us just how incredibly easy that subject is.
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### Author:  [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2014, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-required-for-a-phd-in-christian-theology/681784/35 "2014-02-20T16:19:21Z")
> [@Kimstu](#):
>
> I think the point that the OP might be vaguely flailing in the general direction of is that there do exist “diploma mill” versions of “Doctor of Theology” degrees that are pretty lightweight, academically speaking.
>
> So the average person interested in acquiring “credentials” for the ministry could certainly obtain something called a “Doctorate in Theology” involving no rigorous study.
>
> This, of course, has little or nothing to do with what a reputable university’s doctoral research program in theology would look like.
you are correct! (about the diploma mill part)
but also not correct
i was watching a preacher, Dr Charles Stanley and noted that his real skill, his real real skill had nothing to do with academic training and everything to do with being an incredibly gifted orator. like as in, nobody can learn to speak this well, it s a natural gift.
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### Author:  [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2014, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-required-for-a-phd-in-christian-theology/681784/36 "2014-02-20T16:22:28Z")
> [@Shodan](#):
>
> You noticed too, huh?
>
> And **Robert163** - it’s PhD or Ph.D.
>
> Regards,
> Shodan
He uses no capitalization at all and that’s what you zero in on?
---
### Author:  [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2014, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-required-for-a-phd-in-christian-theology/681784/37 "2014-02-20T16:24:10Z")
> [@Robert163](#):
>
> you are correct! (about the diploma mill part)
>
> but also not correct
>
> i was watching a preacher, Dr Charles Stanley and noted that his real skill, his real real skill had nothing to do with academic training and everything to do with being an incredibly gifted orator. like as in, nobody can learn to speak this well, it s a natural gift.
I’ve listened to this guy on his radio show as well…yes, he’s a talented orator. And if it’s who I’m thinking of, every once in a while he’ll throw in a “but that comes from the Greek word _“wordikakis”_, which can mean _this_ or _this_. Paul very cleverly used it to mean BOTH!”
Makes him sound very smart, learned, and probably convincing to those predisposed to believe.
I (The self-styled Reverend Doctor) think that the main purpose for a large part of post-secondary divinity or theology educationis learning to keep the flock dazzled with smoke and mirrors.
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### Author:  [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2014, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-required-for-a-phd-in-christian-theology/681784/38 "2014-02-20T16:25:05Z")
It’s the 2005 join date that throws me. Nothing for seven years, then a brief flurry of activity two years ago, then silence, and now posting like it’s going to be taxed as of next week.
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### Author:  [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2014, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-required-for-a-phd-in-christian-theology/681784/39 "2014-02-20T16:27:07Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#):
>
> I’ve listened to this guy on his radio show as well…yes, he’s a talented orator. And if it’s who I’m thinking of, every once in a while he’ll throw in a “but that comes from the Greek word _“wordikakis”_, which can mean _this_ or _this_. Paul very cleverly used it to mean BOTH!”
>
> Makes him sound very smart, learned, and probably convincing to those predisposed to believe.
>
> I (The self-styled Reverend Doctor) think that the main purpose for a large part of post-secondary divinity or theology educationis learning to keep the flock dazzled with smoke and mirrors.
yes, thats him, he’s usually real relaxed and simplistic but then he puts in those points of empahsis
---
### Author:  [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2014, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-required-for-a-phd-in-christian-theology/681784/40 "2014-02-20T16:28:12Z")
> [@Malacandra](#):
>
> It’s the 2005 join date that throws me. Nothing for seven years, then a brief flurry of activity two years ago, then silence, and now posting like it’s going to be taxed as of next week.
… unemployed and bored
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