Doctorate degrees: honorary and earned

What do you mean by "I gave myself a doctorate? Is this someone who just calls themselves a doctor or is this something else I am not familiar with?

Just curious?

 

How about a choice for those of us who are just entering a Masters Program and don't know if we want to continue on in school after that or not?

BTW, Siegfried, did you get the private message that I sent to you?

[ October 31, 2002, 06:12 AM: Message edited by: BibleboyII ]

 

I just heard of a fellow that started his own seminary and gave himself a doctorate, so I wondered if anyone would admit to it. </font>[/QUOTE]I have a good friend who, while president of a Baptist college, granted himself an honorary doctorate.

 

...and it is an insult to those of us who have made the sacrifices required to earn one.

 

Why do people covet an honorary doctorate? I think it is because they get to have the respect that comes from having a doctorate without having to do the work.

In my opinion, someone who calls himself Dr. Whatever who didn't earn it is dishonest. They get to put Dr. in front of their name on brochures and such. That gives the impression that they are more credible than they really are. To me that is also deceitful.

If we get upset because people gamble to get money they didn't earn then we should be upset with people who get doctorates who didn't earn them.

I know of one IFB college that gives out two honorary doctorates each year. They don't give out any earned doctorates. The university I go to. (I am working on a real one.) Has given out some honorary doctorates but they are few and far between. When an IFB college hands them out like candy then the honorary doctorate is no longer a real honor because it is so commonplace. When a university like I go to gives out an honorary doctorate it is really an honor because it doesn't happen so often.

 

I agree. If someone earns an honorary doctorate, they should remember that it is simply honorary and not employ the title. IMHO.

Rev. G

 

Dr Bob,

I concur. The earned Dr's degree can be deceptive as well. I have a friend who turned in a few short papers which he had basically already written and received a doctorate from a small IFB school. Fortunately if you receive a PhD in one of our SBC institutions you are going to earn that baby. My cramped fingers, strained eyes, calloused buns, stiff back, and empty bank account can attest to that fact

 

This proliferation of honorary and "easily" earned doctorates is evidence that the desire to be called "Doctor" is greater than the desire to learn what it takes to be one. The original idea of the honorary doctorate was to recognize certain veterans of spiritual warfare as having earned by experience and service the respect due to and equivalent of a doctor's degree.

 

Amen, brother! I just took my orals last week, and that was no "walk in the park," let me tell you! Neither were those papers I did in seminars! Those babies had to be researched, well-written, presented and defended (and with some profs., re-written).

An example of someone who earned an honorary doctorate is Asahel Nettleton. He was a "grizzled veteran", if you will, who had won about 30,000-35,000 people to Christ. He taught at the Theological Institute of Connecticut (later Hartford Theological Seminary, now defunct). He had not only spent years in the ministry, but he spent years investing in the lives of others. Therefore he was "awarded" with the honorary degree. His attitude towards it? He didn't really want to accept it, but he did so that he wouldn't dishonor or insult those who wanted to present it to him. Ah! What a man of God!

Rev. G

 

I don't have a particular desire for a doctoral degree. It's not the degree that interests me, it's the learning. True, one doesn't have to be in a program to learn, but I find that I'm more disciplined about it when I'm working toward something. That, and having access to mentors and advisors (and their recommendations for reading and such) is excellent.

'Course, I don't have a bachelor's yet, but that'll come as soon as I've finished my thesis (coming up at 120 pages). Then it's on to law school.

 

I was at a meeting where a pastor of a large church gave out seven doctorates to some older well deserved men. However, at the next year's conference he gave a doctor's degree to a famous preacher's horse. Makes me glad I did not graduate from that school....one of your alumnus would be a horse...oh and you should have seen what the horse did in the middle aisle to show his appreciation.

The good thing is the preacher knows better now.

 

I have a Ph.D. of Phriendship, full certificate hanging on my wall, given to me by a senior physicist at Stanford Research Institute...

it's from the Heavenly College of Spiritualities and Technicalities, Unlimited and reads
"Awarded entirely as a result of Amazing Grace apart from any merit whatsoever."

There is a lovely quote in the middle of it
"Not by might, not by power, but by My Spirit"

It continues, "The highly coveted Doctor of Phriendship degree is the only advanced degree not based on works, but soley on grace and unmerited favor. Note: This degree can not be attained by hard work, self-effort, trying harder, or paying money under the table.."

I know it's real because there is a big seal at the bottom that says "Gen-U-ine" and it is signed by Ima Knut Case, who is the High Muckety Muck and Swami Rami Sonofagun, for the international and cross-cultural endorsement.

I love it!

It is, of course, framed and hanging on my wall...

IT IS!!



[ November 19, 2002, 10:48 PM: Message edited by: Helen ]