Christianity Today Article - Bargain Counter Degrees

@tadj posted this on another thread. It was an interesting quote and probably applies to secular situations.

It comes from a 1960 article in Christianity Today.

"That a false scale of values makes degree mills attractive to some ministers is a stark reminder that the depth of sin does not exempt clergy, for whom pride remains a real temptation. Why do preachers, even if a tiny minority, seek out “bargain counter” degrees? Doubtless important strides in ministerial education have placed some pressure upon candidates lacking opportunity for earned degrees, but in these days of “status seeking” the worship of degrees has gone entirely too far. Degrees do not really tell the measure of a man, except perhaps when they are bogus. Even the criteria used by some evangelical institutions in conferring honorary degrees need to be re-examined. The Christian cause is worthy of sound scholarship and intellectual integrity. To sport a pseudo-doctorate in theology or philosophy, while deploring the false front of human pride from the pulpit, is shameful hypocrisy. The vast majority of ministers who have earned their degrees the honorable way, the hard way, will not only welcome this cleanup of degree mills, but will pity the poor cleric who, seeking a shortcut to academic distinction, actually lowered his stature in the sight of God and brought embarrassment to the Church."

 

I find it interesting that people who earn their degrees falsely are so often the ones who insist on being called "Dr" and plaster it everywhere. Those who have earned degrees legitimately are often far more humble. I think it speaks to the deep insecurity that leads people to seek out diploma mills in the first place.

 

I guess a question is whether a degree is bogus simply because it is unaccredited. I would say not necessarily. Then the question becomes how you assess that. Often beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

There are probably some objective standards we could use to at least assess from the outside whether an unaccredited institution had the structure in place to potentially provide credible education.

Of course, are most people going to take the time to do an assessment of the faculty, program requirements, and so on? Probably not. And so people just go by whether the program was accredited or not.

 

Technically yes, but in practice the vast majority of unaccredited schools are below standard. Of course, some unaccredited schools do eventually get accredited (e.g. Newlane), and must have been operating at a standard equivalent to an accredited institution for several years to do so, but since most unaccredited schools never pursue accreditation, we'll never know. It's a strong general rule that barring a specific education that is unavailable at an accredited school, like certain Catholic ecclesiastical programs, unaccredited schools are best avoided.

 

@Dustin I would agree that most unaccredited schools are below standard. The reality is that most of them are accredited because they couldn't be accredited and it has nothing to do with the government or in the case of religious schools religious discrimination.

 

If I remember correctly Laura Callahan infamously had bachelor's, masters, and a doctorate from Hamilton University. She managed to get a high level government job until it imploded. Bargain counter degrees that fell apart.

I can't find the link but if I recall correctly to her credit she rebuilt her academic portfolio from the ground up all the way to doctoral level with accredited degrees. Which is really amazing.

 

Her story is a cautionary tale of where the time bomb can go off. In the article below there is even an unrecognized accrediting agency involved and the assurance of their seal of approval on the diplomas.

https://reason.com/2005/01/01/cut-rate-diplomas-2/

 

I would suggest actually reading the article to see the schools they were talking about.

The Scandal of Bogus Degrees
https://www.christianitytoday.com/1960/05/editorials-scandal-of-bogus-degrees/

 

I am not sure whether this is your profile, but there is a Linkedin profile under the same name that lists six doctoral degrees from Oval Bible College including; Doctor of Sacred Literature, Doctor of Christian Apologetics, Doctor of Biblical Counseling, Doctor of Theology and Doctor of Divinity. There is also a Doctor of Religious Education, which is listed as a recent (2024) degree. I see that kind of thing as problematic and I think it’s relevant to our discussion.

 

It is an interesting list BUT helpful to keep in mind that it was 1960. Many if not all of those schools went away but a proliferation of like entities have cropped up in the latter 20th and the 21st century.

 

@tadj

I don't think the author of the 1960 CT article would be impressed by Oval Bible College. Unrecognized accreditor, PhD's for $500, and a 40-60 page dissertation after completing what I imagine to be less than rigorous coursework.

Appears to grant 13 different doctorates (not to mention Masters). And its "administrative office" appears to be a post box at UPS. Same mall as Men's Wearhouse.