Why Did James White Feel the Need...?

Why not ask James White??

Ed

 

I have an afterthought, here. Why has Lutheran apologist, theologian, and barrister Dr. John Warwick Montgomery wanted to earn 11 - count 'em - 11 degrees, including 3 doctorates? [A.B. (Cornell U.); B.L.S., M.A. (Univ. Cal-Berkeley); B.D., S.T.M. (Wittenberg U., Springfield, Ohio); LL.B. (LaSalle Extension Univ., then affiliated with the Univ. of Chicago); M. Phil. in Law (Univ of Essex, England); Ph.D. (Univ. of Chicago); Th.D. Doctorat d'Universite (Univ. of Strasbourg, France); LL.M., LL.D. in Canon Law (Cardiff Univ., Wales)].

Oh, yeah! For good measure, he was awarded an honorary doctorate, as well, in 1999 by the Institute for Religion and Law, Moscow - whatever that is.

One of my closest friends for almost 40 years, who happens to be a former student of Dr. Montgomery once asked him this question. His answer was that he enjoyed the studying, learning, and the satisfaction of earning the degrees.

As a somewhat unrelated aside, LaSalle, one of the early Distance Education institutions, managed to draw the ire of the "gubmint" and the FTC, back in the 1970's (for allegedly " involving misrepresentations about obtaining law degrees throught a correspondence course"), and ruled and required a disclaimer that the degree did not 'qualify someone for admission to practice law' "in any state". The subsequent litigation and costs of such, both in reputation and cash, to LaSalle, were certainly a factor in the eventual demise of the institution.

Are you somehow surprised that the charges and disclaimer were proven to be not factual, and to learn that Dr. Montgomery had long-since passed (with flying colors) the CA bar, arguably the toughest in the US, with only this 'correspondence course, law degree' for his legal schooling?

Somehow, I didn't think so.

Ed

P.S. Outta' curiosity, does anyone on the BB know of any individual who has actually earned more than 11 degrees?

 

First, a question: What is CES

As to his degrees: A Th.D and a D.Min are very different with the former requiring much research. However, the latter can help a man hone his skills in communication strategies to make his teaching more effective. It sounds like James White wanted to be well-rounded. I applaud him.

 

California does allow graduates of correspondence law schools requiring 864 hours of study and preparation per year for four years to take the state's bar exam.

 

No, but I figure James White is the only individual who can answer that question, unless someone here personally knows him.

Ed

 

You might look into Alpha and Omega Ministries, this is the ministry of James White. I think he wants to be qualified to do the work he has been called to do.

 

Sometimes an extra degree is only a class or two extra which can be fairly easy. Additionally if your dissertation is in the similar vein of research as your DMin project than it becomes just an extra weekend or two of work to add four more initials after your name.

just one way of looking at it, and certainly not probably on point. I actually received an additional undergrad degree this way.

 

I sometimes speak with him by email. If I can remember, I'll ask him.

 

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I think Dr. White has briefly answered this question on the CES website under "recommendations."

I suppose the intent of the original question is why White chose an unaccredited school. My hunch is that the answer is complex and probably includes entry requirements and program requirements.

Bill Grover