What exactly is required for a PHd in (Christian) Theology

[tomndebb]

@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.)

[dropzone]

@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.”

[digs]

@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”.

[Cheshire_Human]

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.

[Cheshire_Human]

I almost missed this. All of the ‘doctor’ degrees require you to first buy the ‘reverend’. Only officially ordained ‘reverends’ get to be ‘doctors’.

[Smeghead]

Well, sure. Otherwise, the whole system would just be SILLY.

[digs]

@Smeghead

Well, sure. Otherwise, the whole system would just be SILLY.

Brah-VO!

[Revtim]

Hey, the ULC (which provided me the “Rev” in my username) now sells Jedi Knight Certificates!

Jedi Knight Credential

I see a possible username change in my future… Hey, I really might have The Force! I’m seeing the future!

[Kimballkid]

May the farce be with you.

[lance_strongarm]

@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.

[Tiktaalik]

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.

[Voyager]

@Revtim

Hey, the ULC (which provided me the “Rev” in my username) now sells Jedi Knight Certificates!
Jedi Knight Credential
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?

[zev_steinhardt]

@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

[Senegoid]

@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?

[Dangerosa]

@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)

[Monty]

@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.