Doctor of Divinity

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

I do not understand why anyone buys these things.

Not saying this is why Gryff wants to buy it, but most people buy it to inflate their egos. They can't be arsed to go through years of school to obtain one the right way, and they can't get one as an honorary from a prestigious institution validating someone else's hard work, but they want the recognition such a Doctorate brings, and they think they "deserve" it, so they buy it.

In short, they want to pay to win.

But why would anyone feel like their ego was inflated by a piece of paper they paid forty dollars for? When every single person they show it to knows it has zero value?

 

[Amaris]

I do not understand why anyone buys these things.

Not saying this is why Gryff wants to buy it, but most people buy it to inflate their egos. They can't be arsed to go through years of school to obtain one the right way, and they can't get one as an honorary from a prestigious institution validating someone else's hard work, but they want the recognition such a Doctorate brings, and they think they "deserve" it, so they buy it.

In short, they want to pay to win.

But why would anyone feel like their ego was inflated by a piece of paper they paid forty dollars for? When every single person they show it to knows it has zero value?

Because they can call themselves "Doctor" and believe it, and they can tell others they have a Doctorate in Divinity and not be lying, which further reinforces that ego push.

To add, there's more than the ULC that offers pay to win. There's an actual place called "Harvard Theological Seminary" that will sell you a Doctor of Divinity, or just about any other kind of religious title degree. As long as you're not some jackass living in a one room shack in the middle of the train depot wearing a wife beater shirt, then it's a bit more convincing.

Also, just think about it: Anyone can call themselves "Reverend," and have it be so, regardless of religious knowledge, but not just anyone can call themselves "Doctor," not without some kind of external validation. As you know, people seeking to be better or to appear better than others crave that validation.

Oh, and would you like a Doctorate? Maybe a Professorship? You can get one, along with academic transcripts! Just go here: http://reliabledegree.com/instant-online-degree/

And place your order, and in just one week, you can be a Doctor, and expand your career opportunities!
Seriously, though, the site is real, and you can even choose the grades applied to your transcripts.

 

[Tora Ziyal]

Oh, and would you like a Doctorate? Maybe a Professorship? You can get one, along with academic transcripts! Just go here: http://reliabledegree.com/instant-online-degree/

I love how they warn you not to be taken in by other degree sites, which are scams. Their degrees are verifiable, from accredited universities. Uh huh. Sure.

 

[Amaris]

Oh, and would you like a Doctorate? Maybe a Professorship? You can get one, along with academic transcripts! Just go here: http://reliabledegree.com/instant-online-degree/

I love how they warn you not to be taken in by other degree sites, which are scams. Their degrees are verifiable, from accredited universities. Uh huh. Sure.

Oh, come now. Don't you want good career opportunities by "quality service done from the heart?"

 

[Tora Ziyal]

I missed that line. Must've been too busy looking at prices for reference letters from professors.

 

[Amaris]

I missed that line. Must've been too busy looking at prices for reference letters from professors.

And to think, all this time, I wanted to go to school! What an idiot I was!

 

[Sector 7]

So what do you think of an honorary Doctor of Divinity? In this case, it's D.D. honoris causa (h.c., for the sake of honor). Is an academic doctorate degree necessarily better than the one that's honorary, which is usually awarded to people based on experience rather than academic achievement? What say you?

I tried not to be judgmental (and I'm not sure how serious you are), but I have to admit I totally failed. So...

IMO, purchasing an "honorary" degree online is dishonorable. And somewhat deceptive. And, therefore, questionably Christian. It doesn't even serve a practical purpose, since you're already authorized to do weddings and other religious services.

If you want credentials so badly, and you want to minister in a formal way, why not go take some theology classes and get a real certificate or degree?

Tora Ziyal, M.Div.
(Yup, four years of hard academic work.)

The difference is that Tora Ziyal, myself and many others actually put in the hard work to EARN our degrees. You want it the easy way... or as a joke, which makes light of our hard work. Get over yourself. [Yeah, I said it. Someone needed to give the reality check here.]

i'm an Octo-Countess of the Grand Order of the Mother Squirrel and have the certificate to prove it. This allows me to officiate at zero gravity wicker man burnings.

I'd like a ticket to that one!

If I just wanted a fun conversation piece, I'd rather have a Hogwarts diploma. Or Starfleet Academy.

Now, THERE'S a better investment!

I missed that line. Must've been too busy looking at prices for reference letters from professors.

And to think, all this time, I wanted to go to school! What an idiot I was!

A genuine "I could've had a V-8!" moment. It would also have been much less expensive...

 

[Gryffindorian]

Well, the piece of paper would have to be at least certified or issued by an institution such as the ULC. Otherwise, it's useless.

ETA: You can't just make this shit up, right? In other words, if I wanted the title High Jedi Priest of the Hogwarts Order, it would have to come from Humanist Church of Spiritual Odyssey. Duh! I'd call that a good investment.

 

[Tora Ziyal]

I missed that line. Must've been too busy looking at prices for reference letters from professors.

And to think, all this time, I wanted to go to school! What an idiot I was!

Oh, my! You mean you actually wanted an education?

 

[Gryffindorian]

Tora and Kestrel, I think you went about getting your divinity masters the hard way.

http://www.victorynetwork.org/DD.html

Scroll all the way down.

 

[Tora Ziyal]

^ My biggest worry about getting a degree from them is that the diplomas might have as many grammatical/spelling errors as the website.

 

[Thestral]

Oh my heavens the eyes... they be bleeding.

I especially love this bit:

These degree's do not give you the authority to marry people, or anything else having to do with the state marriage laws. They are strictly wonderful spiritual degree's. You must be a licensed ordained minister to perform marriages in any state!

 

[Amaris]

You know, you'd think with my wobbly ethics, as well as my superior grasp of spelling, punctuation, and grammar, that I would have cashed in on this idea by now.

Score one for me!

 

[Tora Ziyal]

^ I'm proud of you, J. Allen!

 

[Amaris]

Yay!