# 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:** 6
### Author:  [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2014, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-required-for-a-phd-in-christian-theology/681784/101 "2014-02-20T19:47:28Z")
> [@watchwolf49](#):
>
> Whew … and here I thought you might be searching …
are you talking to me? ok. seriously, is it not a bit arrogant to say “if you were only searching for the truth”. i don’t think people mean to be arrogant when they say that, but the assumption that i will find it if i just “keep looking” instead of assuming there are no answers because religion is a bunch of made up hooey… is arrogant.
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### Author:  [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2014, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-required-for-a-phd-in-christian-theology/681784/102 "2014-02-20T19:49:07Z")
> [@Robert163](#):
>
> ok, and exactly how is that you are being forced to read this thread? maybe if you told me this tale of captivity you were enduring whereas the only source of contact you had was with the outside world, was by talking to me, i’d try to direct my comments into a more linear fashion so as not to add any more stress to an already difficult situation.
I’m sowwy-are we hurting your feewings? If you want to unintelligently blather on and on without criticism, you might want to consider starting blog…and not tell anybody about it.
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### Author:  [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2014, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-required-for-a-phd-in-christian-theology/681784/103 "2014-02-20T19:53:37Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#):
>
> I’m sowwy-are we hurting your feewings? If you want to unintelligently blather on and on without criticism, you might want to consider starting blog…and not tell anybody about it.
oh, i see, because you are intelligent and hostile and i am unintelligent and hostile, that makes you what… even sadder than i am because you are smarter than me, right?
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### Author:  [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2014, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-required-for-a-phd-in-christian-theology/681784/104 "2014-02-20T19:56:20Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#):
>
> Moving the goal posts and a conversation going off track are two different things.
>
> Discussing things with you and like having a conversation with a gnat. You bring up a topic, people respond to the topic _you brought up_ and then _zip_ you change the topic again without even acknowledging anything about the starting topic.
>
> That’s not conversation drift. that’s blowing off the people _you_ invited to discuss something with.
you know what, i’ll acknowledge that you are correct. i’m not really sure what to say after admitting that but i wont be so stubborn as to say that i am without flaws.
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### Author:  [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2014, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-required-for-a-phd-in-christian-theology/681784/105 "2014-02-20T19:57:08Z")
> [@Robert163](#):
>
> oh, i see, because you are intelligent and hostile and i am unintelligent and hostile, that makes you what… even sadder than i am because you are smarter than me, right?
I don’t ask questions, then immediately tell people I’m not interested in the answers. You’re not even bright enough to be devious.
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### Author:  [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2014, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-required-for-a-phd-in-christian-theology/681784/106 "2014-02-20T19:58:00Z")
> [@Robert163](#):
>
> ok, and exactly how is that you are being forced to read this thread? maybe if you told me this tale of captivity you were enduring whereas the only source of contact you had was with the outside world, was by talking to me, i’d try to direct my comments into a more linear fashion so as not to add any more stress to an already difficult situation.
Dude, do you ever have conversations with people? I mean, in real life?
Generally speaking, when you’re jumping rather wildly from one topic to another it’s hard to follow. In text as well as conversation. Pick a direction. Pick a stance. Admit when you’re talking out your ass. I promise, things will go more smoothly.
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### Author:  [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2014, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-required-for-a-phd-in-christian-theology/681784/107 "2014-02-20T20:01:37Z")
> [@andros](#):
>
> Dude, do you ever have conversations with people? I mean, in real life?
>
> Generally speaking, when you’re jumping rather wildly from one topic to another it’s hard to follow. In text as well as conversation. Pick a direction. Pick a stance. Admit when you’re talking out your ass. I promise, things will go more smoothly.
i have a fair amount or real life friends. i’ve been kind of depressed for two months and don’t see them as much but even now i do have contact with people.
as to jumping from topic to topic people have complained about that before on other places on the net. not as much as people do here though.
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### Author:  [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2014, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-required-for-a-phd-in-christian-theology/681784/108 "2014-02-20T20:03:23Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#):
>
> I don’t ask questions, then immediately tell people I’m not interested in the answers. You’re not even bright enough to be devious.
or maybe you’re not bright enough to notice that i’m just f\_ucking with people. like not all the time but yeah, i do it a lot. BUT it seems as if most everyone else here does too.
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### Author:  [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2014, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-required-for-a-phd-in-christian-theology/681784/109 "2014-02-20T20:03:46Z")
> [@Robert163](#):
>
> i have a fair amount or real life friends. i’ve been kind of depressed for two months and don’t see them as much but even now i do have contact with people.
>
> as to jumping from topic to topic people have complained about that before on other places on the net. not as much as people do here though.
Well, that’s likely because this MB is oriented toward conversations about topics.
I can understand criticism putting your back up, but damn. Seriously. You _know_ you’re kind of all over the place, why not try to rein it in a little?
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### Author:  [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2014, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-required-for-a-phd-in-christian-theology/681784/110 "2014-02-20T20:04:51Z")
> [@Robert163](#):
>
> or maybe you’re not bright enough to notice that i’m just f\_ucking with people. like not all the time but yeah, i do it a lot. BUT it seems as if most everyone else here does too.
Possibly, but you’re not doing it very _well_.
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### Author:  [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2014, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-required-for-a-phd-in-christian-theology/681784/111 "2014-02-20T20:06:43Z")
> [@andros](#):
>
> Well, that’s likely because this MB is oriented toward conversations about topics.
>
> I can understand criticism putting your back up, but damn. Seriously. You _know_ you’re kind of all over the place, why not try to rein it in a little?
Because trolls gotta troll.
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### Author:  [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2014, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-required-for-a-phd-in-christian-theology/681784/112 "2014-02-20T20:08:57Z")
> [@andros](#):
>
> Possibly, but you’re not doing it very _well_.
And don’t we have a word for that?
edited to add: Damn-ninja’d by **John Mace**.
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### Author:  [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2014, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-required-for-a-phd-in-christian-theology/681784/113 "2014-02-20T20:11:00Z")
> [@andros](#):
>
> Well, that’s likely because this MB is oriented toward conversations about topics.
>
> I can understand criticism putting your back up, but damn. Seriously. You _know_ you’re kind of all over the place, why not try to rein it in a little?
yeah, you’re right, i’ve kind of been shut in the house for a few days and i think maybe i got a little too obsessed with posting here. sometimes i do that when i pick up a new habit.
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### Author:  [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2014, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-required-for-a-phd-in-christian-theology/681784/114 "2014-02-20T20:12:29Z")
> [@Robert163](#):
>
> or maybe you’re not bright enough to notice that i’m just f\_ucking with people. like not all the time but yeah, i do it a lot. BUT it seems as if most everyone else here does too.
No, everybody doesn’t.
Read just about every other thread and you’ll see conversations going on. Sometimes they get heated, sometimes they are bizarre, but for the most part they are actual conversations.
You want better quality interactions? Hang out in better quality threads (and read before you start posting many of your own). If you want to jerk people around, then don’t be surprised when people treat you like a jerk, too.
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### Author:  [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2014, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-required-for-a-phd-in-christian-theology/681784/115 "2014-02-20T20:14:46Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#):
>
> No, everybody doesn’t.
>
> Read just about every other thread and you’ll see conversations going on. Sometimes they get heated, sometimes they are bizarre, but for the most part they are actual conversations.
>
> You want better quality interactions? Hang out in better quality threads (and read before you start posting many of your own). If you want to jerk people around, then don’t be surprised when people treat you like a jerk, too.
you’re right. all i have really paid attention to is the most heated threads and haven’t looked much at the other ones.
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### Author:  [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2014, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-required-for-a-phd-in-christian-theology/681784/116 "2014-02-20T20:15:50Z")
> [@Robert163](#):
>
> you’re right. all i have really paid attention to is the most heated threads and haven’t looked much at the other ones.
How can you put down a place that has threads like this one:
[http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=17124527#post17124527](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=17124527#post17124527)
Seriously- it made my whole day. 😃
But I’m weird that way.
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### Author:  [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2014, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-required-for-a-phd-in-christian-theology/681784/117 "2014-02-20T20:20:19Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#):
>
> How can you put down a place that has threads like this one:
>
> [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=17124527#post17124527](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=17124527#post17124527)
>
> Seriously- it made my whole day. 😃
>
> But I’m weird that way.
well, that particular entry didn’t interest me much but thanks for your last couple comments.
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### Author:  [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2014, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-required-for-a-phd-in-christian-theology/681784/118 "2014-02-20T21:04:15Z")
Does anyone else find it just the tiniest bit ironic that someone who comes in and announces that an entire field of philosophic study is “stupid” and “childish” and only for high school-level intellects then flings around accusations of arrogance at the drop of a hat?
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### Author:  [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2014, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-required-for-a-phd-in-christian-theology/681784/119 "2014-02-20T21:06:35Z")
[continuing indological hijack over here in the corner]
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#):
>
> > [@Kimstu](#):
> >
> > That’s because the catchall term “Hinduism” is too broad to describe the variety of subjects involving Indian religious thought and culture that are studied in modern academia. It would be like trying to get a PhD in “Western Civilization”.
>
> That’s what Indian academics _claim_, but its not actually true. Theology can be studied in as broad or as narrow a sense as the student likes.
Sure, but that doesn’t mean that every possible sense of the term is necessarily going to have an officially designated doctoral program specifically tailored to it.
What aspects of South Asian religious thought and culture do you feel are being academically neglected due specifically to the lack of the official title “Hindu studies” on a doctoral program?
[/cihohitc]
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### Author:  [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2014, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-required-for-a-phd-in-christian-theology/681784/120 "2014-02-20T21:30:31Z")
> [@Smeghead](#):
>
> Does anyone else find it just the tiniest bit ironic that someone who comes in and announces that an entire field of philosophic study is “stupid” and “childish” and only for high school-level intellects then flings around accusations of arrogance at the drop of a hat?
when did i ever say i wasn’t arrogant? when did i ever put on any pretense at humility? not that that would excuse truly horrible behavior but calling the bible a stupid book for people with child like beliefs can’t really be THAT bad, can it?
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