How is that anyone and everyone is a Dr. these days?

It's very simple: 1) They got their doctorate legitimately by attending a University; 2) It's an honorary title given by a legitimate institution; 3) It was acquired through an online diploma mill.

For the designation of "Dr." to be legit, a person must have completed the course work at a legitimate University; this can take 4—6 years. But with an online diploma mill it may take 2 years and cost a whole lot less. Diploma mills don't check your work; you just tell them what work you've completed, pay your money, and bang you're a Dr.

At some diploma mills, those who have completed the program and attained their "doctorate" go on to become "professors" at the diploma mill. Check out Primus University of Theology for example. Some of the names of their graduates are very familiar, and are now "Alumnus Professors." From their website:

Notice what's happening here: this is little more than a gimmick to increase book sales. Some of Primus' graduates include:

Jerry Boykin
Randy Clark
T. D. Jakes
Rick Joyner
T. L. Osborn
Lance Wallnau
Kevin Zadai

These are the names I recognized. There are quite a few more at the link posted above.

As I understand it, if a degree is honorary, a person only has the privilege of using their title at the institution from which the degree was given. For example, Bill Gates was awarded an honorary doctorate from Addis Ababa University in Addis Ababa, Etheopia. If he gave a lecture there he'd be entitled to be addressed as Dr. but nowhere else.

So the next time you see "Dr." in front of someone's name, don't assume this person has done the work to earn the title.

"The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps."—Proverbs 14:15

This is an interesting read ---read all for yourselves

https://christianbibleinstitute.net/honorary-doctorate/

Christian Bible Institute & Seminary welcomes the opportunity to receive recommendations and nominations of persons in the ministry who deserve the special recognition and honor of receiving the Honorary Doctorate of Divinity Degree. However, each applicant must meet the criteria established by the CBIS Board of Regents which will also be based upon their evaluation of information provided about the candidates. The Honorary Doctorate Degree is conferred upon distinguished Pastors, Evangelists, Ministers, and other Christian Leaders or Public Servants who have made significant contributions in their respective fields or for the extension of God’s Kingdom.

Honorary degrees are a complete farce and should have no place in the Church. They appeal only to the ego, which is about the last thing to which a Christian should appeal.

Another reason one can be granted an honorary doctoral degree by a credited University is in consideration of work he or she has done in a particular field of study that merits such recognition.

The Christian Bible Institute and Seminary is probably a diploma mill. IMHO, it is a diploma mill. Notice what it says in the part you posted: ". . .which will also be based upon their evaluation of information provided about the candidates." Whether or not they're accepted is based on the information provided, not rigorous research into a person's qualifications.

The address they give is a strip mall in Houston, TX.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Christian+Bible+Institute+&+Seminary+Inc/@29.8631498,-95.6457231,21z/data=!4m12!1m6!3m5!1s0x8640cd45497bb9e1:0xea30c25454a36776!2sChristian+Bible+Institute+&+Seminary+Inc!8m2!3d29.8631602!4d-95.6457976!3m4!1s0x8640cd45497bb9e1:0xea30c25454a36776!8m2!3d29.8631602!4d-95.6457976

Well, I was thinking of a individual I know who was given an honorary doctorate from a well know University because the quality of his life work demonstrated all the necessary requirements of research, writing, and knowledge in his field to merit such a degree. Granted, there was a benefit to the university because they wanted him so serve as a professor at that particular campus.

That's generally how honorary degrees are awarded, but I'm not exactly sure what your point is.

I understand that rationale, but I reject it for several reasons. One you stated already: it benefited the U... rather self-serving, IMHO. What is to stop several seminaries from giving such an 'honour' to the same person for the same reason? The person may indeed have done work comparable to a doctoral course of study, but he has already been rewarded for it by other means (income, position, influence, etc.). Why can't the U simply invite the person to be a professor on the merit of their life and work, rather than creating some artifice to satisfy the critics?

My point is that the man earned the title through a lifetime of hard work and dedication and it was recognized by that university. But I do agree with you about the online degree mills. Those are completely worthless.

I agree. I don't have anything against an honorary degree per se, so long as it comes from a legitimate institution.

Someone with an honorary degree is obligated to the established convention of not referring to him or herself as "Dr." or expecting to be referred to as "Dr." except in situations that involve the University which awarded the degree. It's not a "law" or anything, but not following convention could be considered arrogant or conceited. Not such great qualities for a teacher or preacher of God's word.

These are the Christian pastors/theologians/philosphers who have earned the title of Dr. and whom I like to listen to:

Leighton Flowers
James White
John MacArthur
William Lane Craig
Tim Stratton
Frank Turek
Braxton Hunter
David Allen

As for me, I'm not a doctor and I don't play one on TV either.

I'm a PhD, too. But in my line of work, there are few people getting 2 year online degrees. There is another degree where you could form one online school. Theology has a lot of them. I have a friend who got the full-blown PhD in education and he was upset that some 2 year Ed or EDD or something like that degree online got other workers as much of a bump up in pay as he got. But I talked to one of my kid's teachers who got an online doctorate and he was upset that he could not teach at community colleges. He did not seem to like kids that much. I've seen people (or at least one) with masters degrees in very in demand fields who have a doctorate that looks fishy to me at lower ranked degrees. I don't think honorary doctorates in my field would bother me much if there were people with 2-year online degrees using the title.

In academia, the lower degrees don't get you far. But in theology, doctorates aren't required and people aren't specialists who evaluate.

Then there are these questions:
-- If doctorates are so important for ministry, why didn't Jesus and the apostles have them.
---- Paul was the only one who had something equivalent, training under Gamaliel. Jesus is the real Rabbi. But we do not know if Paul got hands laid on him or not, if he finished the apprenticeship and teaching were people would have given him that title. If he did, he could have declined it because he was a Christian.

-- Why should we put academic requirements on religious practitioner doctorates?

-- If Jesus did not want people to be called 'teacher', 'rabbi' or to be called 'father' as religious honorifics, why would he want church leaders to go by 'doctor' as a religious honorific? Isn't that close enough to 'master' or 'teacher', especially 'teacher' etymologically? Why do leaders want to be called 'pastor' as if it is part of their name? Does that fit with the gist in Matthew 23? Is it only about those specific words, or the principle behind it?

-- Teaching scripture in-house is a Biblical practice. See II Timothy 2:2 for an example. Some organizations with not-as-recognized accreditation standards have followed this model, including an organization who ordained at least one person in your list.

I have a relative by marriage who took courses at his church for years to get a masters and a doctorate that was accredited by the same organization that accredited Rick Joyner's degree. I am not sure if it is the same school or not or the accreditation. I gather it is a small organization. This relative of mine did not study Hebrew or Greek. I gather they are just rolling that out. They did study a lot.

Do I think it has the rigor of a PhD from a top seminary, Ivy League, or big state school? Probably not. Did he put in a lot of work, amidst working overtime and taking care of his family to get those degrees? I believe he did. I have not looked at his books. I would not be surprised if he had books that were once on the end cap of a Christian bookstore instead of Calvin's Institutes or Aquinases Summa Theologica. But I don't know. But the objective is probably to train ministers in the doctrine of their church based on their understanding of the Bible, not to give someone a classical theological education in one of the historical streams like Reformed or Roman Catholic or more recent liberal theologians or that stuff.

Then it is all over the map on what is required. Not all of them have that level of rigor. Some of the online programs might have you take some light Bible courses, then right a dissertation. I am doubtful they have to be up to the rigor of a more formal institutions doctoral committee-- but what do I know? There are different large theology accrediting bodies, like Tracs, ATS, and the liberals have one. And some might think not all the TRACS schools are as rigorous as ours, and someone might say those schools over there teach liberal theology or whatever. So even within accreditation it is fuzzy and subjective.

Getting a theology degree is not a Biblical qualification for being an overseer of the church. Many churches substitute theological degrees for Biblical qualifications-- caring about one but not the other. Other churches substitute focus on gifts and calling for a focus on these qualifications.

If I am not mistaken, the religious domain may be the only one where it is considered appropriate to call an honorary doctorate by that title before their name, which is ironic considering Matthew 23.

its not difficult to get a "dr" to your name. lots of educated idiots in this world. no amount of education can fix a lack of common sense. i remember during the blm riots there were doctors saying that rioting doesnt actually spread c0vid19. you cant believe everything you hear from a doctor

but also there is a place for expertise, if you want to know about biblical languages, you should go to someone who has studied it, just have to weed out the true professionals from the "dr" so and so. source their doctorates.

I don't know if I've ever met a PhD who did not know a lot if I did not talk to him. But education does not guarantee against moral idiocy and moral foolishness.

I know what you mean. It is obvious that there are more and more people willing to lie about this. And yes, if you order a paper from a web site for $50 after answering a bunch of theological questions and they send you a paper calling you a Doctor and you put it on the wall and tell people you are a Doctor, you are a liar. You might be dumber than a box of rocks for thinking that it is ok, but you are still lying.

I have noticed that it seems to be increasing. That and calling oneself Apostle. But now it is getting so bad they are calling themselves Doctor, Apostle so and so. LOL.

If they don't tell you where they went to school for their degree in their bio it is because they didn't so just ignore them. How can you trust someone who does that sort of thing? I think their audience is ignorant people who don't care, so they don't care that the rest of us are amazed at their dishonesty. As long as they are making lots of money they consider it all worth it. They come up with reasons why they are not sinning and you can't tell them otherwise.

So why is the happening? It seems to be working for the ones they are trying to copy.

I doubt that having a doctorate legitimate or not means anything of the person it means man approves of thier theology but it’s a direct result of mans thinking

the only real matter is if God has called and equipped someone for ministry . There is no institutional approval required in fact I think that probably is a result of this sounds like it anyways

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”
‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭4:3-4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

the institutions established by man don’t mean anything to God the anointing of the spirit matters and truthfully many seminaries would reject someone annointed with the spirit and many teach different ideas all together depending on who established the seminary

mans ways are always corruptable and end up corrupt the only real matter to God is where we fit in this part

“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:11-16‬ ‭

whatever paper says or who wrote the price of paper of framed the doctorate is irrelevant God equips his people tonthier specific gifts and roles within his body the church those are authorized to ehatever role he gave and equipped then for and seminaries are a creation of man

Similar to this type of dishonesty is that of ordering a paper that says they are "ordained minister" by some bogus organization. There is no accountability and no credibility behind this kind of "ordination" credentialing process.

You may say "who needs a paper of ordination or licensing by a religious institution to preach the Gospel? That is not biblical and I don't believe in that." Which I would agree that one does not need such a thing to obey God to preach the Gospel.

However, if one desires such a thing, because they want people to trust them as having accountability and recommendation by a large organization then they should go through the training and internship with such an organization so that the credential card means what they are trying to make people think it means.

To order something fake online is a lying. You are wanting people to trust that you have the proper training and have demonstrated a certain life style and character over time to recommend you as a minister of the Gospel with some card you bought online. That is just manipulating peoples trust with a fake card.

If you don't think you need a card like that then don't do what is required to serve under an organization long enough to earn one. But don't, instead, buy a card online to trick people. That is lying.

People are registering with states as "ordained ministers" so that they can marry people and then pretending that they are equivalent in theological education and training as an ordained minister from a denomination. It is lying.

On the bright side. If you ask someone how they got their doctorates degree, or what school they attended and they tell you that they took a test and ordered it online you can know not to waste any of your time listening to them preach or teach because they are an immoral and their teachings are bound to be full of nonsense.

I do believe that being filled with the Holy Spirit to preach the Word and relying on the Holy Spirit to give me understanding in the scriptures is the priority and foundation of a good bible preacher and teacher.

The degree, paper or title does not concern me in the least. There might be some value if I wanted to get a job in a seminary. But the learning does appeal to me. Learning the original languages and being able to read the manuscripts would be worth the degree. So a doctorates in Biblical Studies that accomplishes that goal would be very benificial. Not necessary for salvation or to preach or teach but I believe it would be worth it for me, who has a desire to know that sort of thing. For that reason I plan to pursue a doctorate in Biblical Studies with an accredited seminary that offers online courses. With video lectures and interaction like Zoom there really shouldn't be much reason I need to attend a campus.

I do believe in reading good books along with the bible. Seminaries help you focus on a well defined path of learning so that you are not reading the wrong books and wasting too much time. There is plenty of value in bible college and seminaries.

I am fully persuaded that if some people who have posted in these forums had attended just one year of bible college, they would not have posted some of the strange interpretations that have.

There is a GREAT need for people to attend bible college. I love the idea that "we just need the Holy Spirit and the bible to teach us" but in real life it is not working out for so many people who claim that.

yeah I sort of just look to the understanding that each seminary teaches different doctrines depending on who paid to start the seminary for instance “rod parsley “ has many seminaries , “ Kenneth Copeland has many “ seminaries are based on the preachers interpretations to begin with is the thing but all claim to have it right sort of which seminary is the question would be benificial ?

the whole world is corrupt some are directed toward teachings like rod parsley or Joseph prince so we end up still following and learning foul ideas because they are shaped by the teachings of whoever funds the Bible college

which denomination influences which Bible college ? Who’s teachings are the right ones ect we still end up just learning someone’s interpretation and then the paper makes us think we have it right

but yes study is benificial original language not so much in my view when you examine the original language you find very very little that changes from time proven interpretations but it does breed arguing it seems even the original
Languages are open to “ what they really
Mean “

if there was such a thing as the original God given seminary I’d agree but there reslly never was that type of thing in scripture

books and things are good to read but we should always test what we are learning against scripture

but honestly everyone should choose what’s best for them I was just saying doctorates are only as worthy as the men who print them up and sign them

definately study to show ourselves approved I prefer prayer and study of Gods word along with application of his word to real life. Often you find skit of error in the popular doctrines that come out of seminaries again depending on who’s teachings they begin with and charters the seminary itself

it seems like just another denominational preference it would be great if there was an official one and they all taught the same things but it ends up being based on someone’s interpretation it seems like worldly thing to me but that’s just what I came to when I had thought of seminary and began to notice how differently they each teach and claim they have it right

Those are not seminaries in the classical sense of the word. I was referring to something more credible. Generally speaking the best Seminaries are not denominational. They usually use text books that are considered some of the best works available and are written by different authors from different seminary backgrounds. Many of the best scholars today have degrees from several seminaries depending on what they were focused on during their career path. Seminaries like Fullers, Regent, Gordon-Cromwell, Asbury, and many others, which will have a mixture of professors who come from different denominations but are all in agreement on how to teach hermeneutics, or New Testament Survey, or Old Testament Survey, Or Greek or Hebrew, none of these things change based on your denominational preference. Even the pentecostal seminaries like the AG Theological Seminary use many of the same books that that the other seminaries use that are not pentecostal like Dallas Theological Seminary. Sure each professor might give his opinon why he leans toward one interpretation over the other but it really is not true that all seminaries have a denominational focus. Not at all.

Those kinds of bible schools you mentioned that mega churches or popular preachers start are not even in the same category. Those are a waste of time.

In my opinion one should save their money and stay of debt and just enroll in low cost online bible schools that use the same text books like Global University if they just want to get basic bible college training. One can easily exceed the education of a 4 year bible college and stay out of debt by reading the right books.

But then after that, seminaries that offer a Masters and Doctorates will help produce better preachers than what most people are getting today in the average churches. A lot of fluff and little exegesis out there because preachers won't spend the time necessary to educate themselves beyond the basic bible college courses. And many don't even do that much. They think they can just wing it with their gift of personality and teach positive motivation and call it preaching the Word. It's sad, and doesn't seem to be getting any better.