{"id":10527,"date":"2017-03-14T17:33:32","date_gmt":"2017-03-14T21:33:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/?p=10527"},"modified":"2017-04-18T18:06:10","modified_gmt":"2017-04-18T22:06:10","slug":"james-whites-bogus-doctorate-degree-part-ii","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2017\/03\/james-whites-bogus-doctorate-degree-part-ii.html","title":{"rendered":"James White\u2019s Bogus \u201cDoctorate\u201d Degree, Part II"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

vs. Jamin Hubner<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Diploma\"<\/p>\n

Image by \u201cEner6\u201d<\/span> [Wikimedia Commons<\/a> \/\u00a0Creative Commons<\/a> Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International<\/a>, 3.0 Unported<\/a>, 2.5 Generic<\/a>, 2.0 Generic<\/a> and 1.0 Generic<\/a> license]<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

(6-29-10)<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

\n

I\u2019ve already treated at great length<\/a> the question of James White\u2019s bogus \u201cTh.D.\u201d.\u00a0The question was raised anew, due to the latest post on James White\u2019s blog (7-6-10): The Truth About Education and Accreditation<\/a>, written by \u201cnew member to Team Apologian, Jamin Hubner.\u201d [no longer available on his site] He has made flat-out amazing claims in the obvious attempt to shore up White\u2019s own bogus doctorate. In a particularly revealing tack, he actually attacks the very notion of accreditation of universities and seminaries (\u201c<\/span>what is \u2018accreditation,\u2019 and what is it really worth?<\/span>\u201c). I shall interact with a few of the more remarkable points, with Hubner\u2019s words in blue<\/span>:<\/span><\/p>\n

Reasons to (and not to) Obtain a Formal Education<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

. . . <\/span>Doctoral:<\/strong> A person should get a doctoral degree for (a) training for ministry\/teaching\/leadership roles (i.e. job as researcher, apologist, professor, etc.), especially those in the academic and scholarship world. A person should not get a doctoral degree because . . . (b) \u201cI want to be called \u201cDr.\u201d,<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Exactly. Yet the anti-Catholic Reformed Baptist apologist James White has gone around the world proclaiming himself \u201cDr. James White\u201d for years now. Obviously, he thinks this grants him a higher degree of credentials (looks great on debate announcements, doesn\u2019t it?), and he knows full well the prestige associated with the title; yet it is bogus, because it came from non-accredited Columbia Evangelical Seminary<\/a> (see the school\u2019s lengthy defense<\/a> of its stand on this score).<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s false advertising, and an insult to all the thousands of men and women who have done the necessary hard work of achieving a real<\/em> doctorate degree. How ironic, given White\u2019s persistent and ongoing critique of a certain figure in the evangelical world, for allegedly falsely presenting his own background on a number of fronts.<\/span> I am making no judgment on that affair, by the way; if anything I am inclined to agree<\/em> (from my heavy skimming of it) with the substance of the case that that White has made. But I have not thoroughly read both sides, and so make no final judgment at this point in time. I\u2019m simply noting the irony of criticizing one man for \u201cfalse advertising\u201d while doing the same in one\u2019s own glorious title of \u201cDr.\u201d \u2014 without having written a genuine doctoral dissertation (and that<\/em> term means something very specific, too) for an accredited educational institution.<\/p>\n

(c) \u201cI want to be accepted in the academic community,\u201d etc.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

There is such a thing as an academic community, and it sets standards for membership: legitimate scholars vs. ones who merely proclaim themselves to be so. There is nothing intrinsically wrong with seeking to be part of this class, and therefore, abiding by its membership requirements. <\/span><\/p>\n

Completing doctoral studies demonstrates (should) that a person is capable of being a scholar through demonstrating scholarship in one particular area, and demonstrates that a person is prepared to take Christian ministry (i.e. elder, professor, apologist, etc.) seriously.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDemonstrates\u201d is a malleable, subjective term. Who determines<\/em> that? This is precisely why accreditation exists in the first place: to ensure certain educational standards. One is not a \u201cscholar\u201d simply by proclaiming<\/em> himself to be one. If White has \u201cdemonstrated scholarship,\u201d who determined<\/em> that? His rabid followers? A majority vote from same?<\/p>\n

According to his own report, White has been published many times in the Christian Research Journal<\/em><\/a>, which is not<\/em> a \u201cpeer-reviewed academic publication,\u201d but merely an arm of the evangelical cult-watching organization, the Christian Research Institute: founded by Dr. Walter Martin. It\u2019s a great evangelical magazine (I\u2019ve often benefited from it, particularly in my cult research), but it\u2019s simply not formally an academic<\/em> one. It is on the same (popular) level as Catholic apologetics journals like This Rock<\/em> or The Catholic Answer<\/em> or Envoy Magazine<\/em>: publications I\u2019ve written for, myself, many times.<\/p>\n

His articles have been in TableTalk Magazine<\/a><\/em> on three occasions. Ditto the above: it is the \u201cdevotional\u201d publication of Presbyterian author and radio preacher R. C. Sproul\u2019s ministry, not an academic, peer-reviewed journal. He has another in Modern Reformation Magazine<\/a><\/em>, which is of similar nature, flowing from Sproul\u2019s ministry.<\/p>\n

He has four articles published in Reformed Baptist Theological Review<\/em>, which appears to be (at least prima facie<\/em>) legitimately academic and peer-reviewed (though edited by those who teach at the non-accredited Reformed Baptist Seminary), but of course that is merely part of his own small wing of both Reformed Protestants and Baptists, so he can expect to get a minimal amount of scrutiny, preaching to the choir. Thus, he has a total of four articles in one (ostensibly) peer-reviewed academic journal that derives from his own theological school. This is hardly impressive academically, and does not suggest the peer-reviewed work commensurate with a true doctorate.<\/p>\n

His many books are written on a \u201cpopular level,\u201d precisely as my own are. They aren\u2019t \u201cacademic books\u201d and all are published by evangelical or specifically Calvinist publishers. His initial publisher, Crowne (sometimes called Crown<\/a>) Publications, appears to have folded. I can\u2019t find anything about it online.<\/p>\n

White has at least taught at accredited institutions: Grand Canyon University <\/a>and Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary<\/a> (see also his\u00a0notes on accreditation<\/a>).<\/p>\n

None of this, however, magically transforms him into a \u201cDoctor.\u201d<\/p>\n

Granted, White has learned lots of stuff. He knows Hebrew and Greek. He does have a legitimate seminary education. He has learned exegesis (though he often applies<\/em> it in a thoroughly fallacious manner because of his highly tendentious and dubious anti-Catholicism). He knows a great deal of theology and theological history. He may know any number of things (and I think he does). For all we know, he might be the world\u2019s smartest and most knowledgeable man. But that is not the same \u2014 sorry \u2014 as acquiring a doctoral degree.<\/p>\n

I actually agree with one key premise of the article: education and acquiring of further knowledge (especially for the right reasons) is a wonderful thing in and of itself. In my own case (as I have openly stated many times), I have no formal<\/em> theological education. I have studied the Bible and Christianity and Christian history and apologetics and philosophy for over thirty years, for use in my vocation as a full-time apologist.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m all for learning: whether informal or formal. A great deal of my own (and all of my theological study) has been informal. No one need be ashamed of that. G. K. Chesterton, for example, never obtained any college degree. Yet few (in the Christian and especially Catholic world) would question his learning or even wisdom.<\/p>\n

What I object to is the false advertising of claiming to have a doctorate and proudly bearing the title of \u201cDr.\u201d when one has not done the work that is required to achieve that goal and honor. It\u2019s an insult to those who have<\/em> done so. I don\u2019t call myself an \u201cacademic\u201d or a \u201cscholar\u201d because that would be a lie. I do<\/em> call myself a Catholic apologist because that is the truth. \u201cApologist\u201d is a larger, more inclusive category than \u201cacademia\u201d or \u201cthe scholarly world.\u201d It always has been and always will be.<\/p>\n

C. S. Lewis was a Christian apologist, but he didn\u2019t have a theological degree. The man was an English professor. I don\u2019t go around saying I have a \u201cPh.D.\u201d (or Th.D.) when in fact I do not. White should not do so, either. He has a legitimate Masters degree (MA in theology, 1989) from the legitimate school, Fuller Theological Seminary. That is what he can properly claim.<\/p>\n

\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/_FOIrYyQawGI\/TDTbO1hbdZI\/AAAAAAAAC4Y\/6uCqk9hkKRo\/s1600\/whiteschool2.jpg\"<\/a>
\nThe beautiful entrance to the hallowed (ivy-less) hall[s?] of Columbia Evangelical Seminary<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

If a person gets, for example, a doctoral degree from an institution, this means (if the above assertions are true) that the person has demonstrated himself\/herself to be a scholar in a certain area, and thus, is (hopefully) capable of being a scholar in almost any area. Doing so requires nothing more than that: a demonstration.<\/span><\/p>\n

The same muddleheaded fallacy is presented again: the \u201cdemonstration\u201d is merely subjective rather than based on proper accreditation and academic, peer-reviewed standards.<\/span><\/p>\n

If a person or group of people decided to recognize some degrees as being \u201creal\u201d and others \u201cnot real\u201d for reasons other than this demonstration, it obviously has nothing to do with the doctoral degree \u2013 the demonstration of being a scholar.<\/span><\/p>\n

To the contrary, it has everything<\/em> to do with what a degree is, and whether it is legitimate or not. Granted, there are plenty of abuses in the academic world (heaven knows that I know that full well, in all of my apologetics debates and studies). But having problems does not mean that one should ditch the very notion of accreditation. We don\u2019t, for example, get rid of all traffic rules and thumb our noses at them because some routinely abuse them (e.g., speeding on the freeway or not using a turn signal when changing lanes). We don\u2019t throw the baby out with the bathwater.<\/span><\/p>\n

Indeed, the \u201cdegree\u201d has everything to do with reaching a certain degree <\/em>\u2013 getting to a point where one can earn the letters (BA, MA, Ph.D, etc.) indicating such accomplishment.<\/span><\/p>\n

By this absurd reasoning, anyone can read a bunch of books, get several folks to say that he or she has reached an appropriate \u201cdegree\u201d of knowledge, thereby entitling them to add titles to their name. I\u2019ve been told myself by many people (including those with real doctorates) that my learning indicates a knowledge commensurate with those who have obtained those degrees. I take that as a high compliment and am honored and humbled by it, but I would never dream<\/em> of calling myself \u201cDr.\u201d simply because of those observations. Yet that is what Hubner\u2019s \u201cthesis\u201d (no pun intended) seems to amount to. It\u2019s subjective and arbitrary and wishy-washy, rather than objective.<\/span><\/p>\n

A person can obviously have the knowledge of a degree without actually formally earning the degree and having it recognized; . . . <\/span>an athlete is no more competent a runner after he has obtained a running reward than before he received such formal recognition.<\/span> . . . <\/span>just because a person doesn\u2019t have the formal degree doesn\u2019t mean that person can\u2019t have the same abilities and knowledge.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I agree (this is what many folks have kindly said about me<\/em>); but it doesn\u2019t follow that we can proclaim ourselves \u201cDoctors\u201d without following the proper, required, understood process by which we can attain to that title and honor.<\/span><\/p>\n

Thus, to \u201cdemonstrate\u201d what one must demonstrate in any particular degree, is to earn \u201cthe degree.\u201d So, for example, in a doctoral program, demonstrating scholarship = degree; the \u201cdegree\u201d = demonstrating scholarship.<\/strong> <\/span><\/p>\n

Again, who decides who has demonstrated this level of accomplishment or not? If anyone can do so, then it is completely subjective. If \u201cacademics\u201d do so, then we are right back to the question of legitimate credentials and educational requirements, which is accreditation. Hubner is painting himself into a corner by his own flawed logic.<\/p>\n

In fact, absolutely nothing about the cheeseburger (i.e. origin, taste, nutritional value, physical weight, smell etc.) would change if every single CEO, manager, and cook of every restaurant in the world endorsed the cheeseburger through paper packaging, labels, and formal institutional recognition. <\/span>So it is with educational degrees. Accreditation is supposed<\/em> to mean something, but it can often mean nothing \u2013 at least when it comes to getting to a certain degree of academic ability and accomplishment.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

I see. So let\u2019s dispose of it altogether and regard diploma mills as the equivalents of accredited universities . . . Again (let it be plainly known what the nature of my argument is), I am not even opposed to some schools doing what they do without being accredited, if they perform a valuable teaching service. All I am opposing is the false advertising of claiming that they grant doctorate degrees and that these degrees are the same in essence as those from the accredited institutions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Since some people have created degree-mills which give the recognition (i.e. Ph.D) without the actual demonstration of reaching a degree of ability and accomplishment, the academic world has come together to establish standards <\/em>for what a \u201ctrue\u201d degree is and what it is not.<\/span><\/p>\n

Exactly. Now we need to determine what a \u201cdiploma mill\u201d is and isn\u2019t. Hubner apparently thinks there are three categories:<\/span><\/p>\n

1) Illegitimate non-accredited \u201cdiploma mills.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

2) Legitimate non-accredited<\/span> schools.<\/p>\n

3) Legitimate (though questionable in several ways) accredited<\/span> schools.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Who decides<\/em> which is which, with regard to #1 and #2? At what point does the \u201cdiploma mill\u201d cease to be illegitimate and become a legitimate non-accredited school? Hubner doesn\u2019t inform us. He then goes on to note some abuses in the accreditation process (inclusive language). I agree, but this has no bearing on my viewpoint one way or the other.<\/span><\/p>\n

The purpose of accreditation should be to do just that: to associate a degree with an actual demonstration, not to make unnecessary rules that have no effect upon the actual education and quality thereof.<\/span><\/p>\n

Bingo! So why wouldn\u2019t White\u2019s school seek this? <\/span><\/p>\n

A doctoral degree at, for example, Columbia Evangelical Seminary, <\/span><\/p>\n

. . . that just happens to be White\u2019s alma mater, by the merest of coincidences<\/em> . . . <\/span><\/p>\n

is not accredited by any agency. There is no golden stamp on the outside of the cheeseburger bag. But, if one compares the fruit of the doctoral degree (the actual demonstration of scholarship) with that of an accredited institution and there is is no difference, then simply put, there is no difference in the degree<\/em> \u2013 except the packaging, of course.<\/span><\/p>\n

How is \u201cscholarship\u201d graded, in order to determine \u201cfruit\u201d and \u201cquality\u201d \u2014 if not by accreditation and the peer-reviewed process of journal articles and academic books?<\/p>\n

If we are willing to assert the opposite and say, \u201cbut the academic world says its not real, so it\u2019s not,\u201d we are only fooling ourselves. We are saying the cheeseburger isn\u2019t real until an organization says it\u2019s real. We\u2019re saying a man who can lift 40lbs really can\u2019t lift 40lbs until he has formally done so in the presence of an approving body.<\/span><\/p>\n

This forces us to stop and think: Who is determining the value of the accreditation institution anyway? If one institution can validate another, what makes accreditation institutions exempt? If there are \u201cdegree-mills,\u201d why not \u201caccreditation-mills\u201d? What is to prevent their false education, except yet another, higher <\/em>accreditation institution?<\/span><\/p>\n

In conclusion, high standards of accreditation does not always mean high standards of education. The fruit of one\u2019s labor is the true test of academic success, not the letters after one\u2019s name. If that\u2019s true, then term \u201cscholar\u201d should be more broadly used.<\/span><\/p>\n

Right. As I stated above, obviously, Hubner is eschewing the entire edifice of accreditation, which is a ridiculous thing to do. If it isn\u2019t necessary for legitimacy, it isn\u2019t necessary. A=A (rule number one in logic). This is its own refutation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Some of the non-accredited institutions that offer demonstrated superior education (at a fraction of the cost) include Columbia Evangelical Seminary, Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, the Midwest Center for Theological Studies, and Reformed Baptist Seminary. <\/span><\/p>\n

We shall eagerly watch to see what new \u201cscholars\u201d and \u201cdoctors\u201d emerge from these wonderful institutions.<\/span> I say they should continue doing what they do (again I am not opposed to that in and of itself, being a great advocate of more informal education, myself), but drop the pretense of the granting of \u201cdoctorates\u201d and churning out \u201cscholars.\u201d Words (and titles) mean<\/em> things, and we have no liberty of redefining terms at our own whim.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

*****<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

vs. Jamin Hubner Image by \u201cEner6\u201d [Wikimedia Commons \/\u00a0Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International, 3.0 Unported, 2.5 Generic, 2.0 Generic and 1.0 Generic license] ***** (6-29-10) ***** I\u2019ve already treated at great length the question of James White\u2019s bogus \u201cTh.D.\u201d.\u00a0The question was raised anew, due to the latest post on James White\u2019s blog (7-6-10): The […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2331,"featured_media":10528,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1068],"tags":[3785,2030,3784,3783,3756,2033,3782,2366,2031],"class_list":["post-10527","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-james-white","tag-columbia-evangelical-seminary","tag-diploma-mills","tag-doctoral-dissertations","tag-doctorates","tag-dr-james-white","tag-honesty-in-advertising","tag-james-whites-degrees","tag-james-white","tag-unaccredited-schools"],"yoast_head":"\nJames White\u2019s Bogus \u201cDoctorate\u201d Degree, Part Two<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Another substantive discussion of the nature of the alleged "doctorate" degree claimed by James White. 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Formerly a campus missionary, as a Protestant, Dave was received into the Catholic Church in February 1991, by the late, well-known catechist and theologian, Fr. John A. Hardon, S. J. Dave\u2019s articles have appeared in many influential Catholic periodicals, including \\\"This Rock\\\" (now called \\\"Catholic Answers Magazine\\\"), \\\"Envoy Magazine\\\" (Patrick Madrid), \\\"The Catholic Answer,\\\" \\\"The Coming Home Journal,\\\" \\\"Gilbert Magazine\\\" (American Chesterton Society), and \\\"The Latin Mass.\\\" He also writes a featured column for every issue of \\\"The Michigan Catholic\\\": published by the archdiocese of Detroit, and was editor for most of the apologetics tracts published by the St. Paul Street Evangelization apostolate. Dave\u2019s apologetics and writing apostolate was the subject of a feature article in the May 2002 issue of \\\"Envoy Magazine.\\\" He served as the staff moderator at the Internet discussion forum for The Coming Home Network, from 2007-2010. Dave has been interviewed on many nationally syndicated Catholic radio shows, including \\\"Catholic Answers Live\\\" (twice), \\\"Faith and Family Live\\\" (Steve Wood), \\\"Kresta in the Afternoon,\\\" \\\"Son Rise Morning Show,\\\" \\\"Catholic Connection\\\" (Teresa Tomeo), and \\\"The Catholics Next Door.\\\" His large and popular website, \\\"Biblical Evidence for Catholicism,\\\" was online from March 1997 to March 2007, and received the 1998 Catholic Website of the Year award from \\\"Envoy Magazine.\\\" His blog of the same name (now transferred to Patheos), begun in February 2004, contains more than 1,500 papers, at least 500 debates or dialogues, and over 50 distinct \\\"index\\\" web pages. Unsolicited correspondence has indicated many hundreds of conversions (or returns) to the Catholic faith as a result, by God's grace, of these writings. Dave's conversion story was published in the bestselling book \\\"Surprised by Truth\\\" (edited by Patrick Madrid; San Diego: Basilica Press, 1994). Sophia Institute Press has published six of his books: \\\"A Biblical Defense of Catholicism\\\" (Foreword by Fr. John A. Hardon, S. J., 1996 \/ 2003), \\\"The Catholic Verses\\\" (2004), \\\"The One-Minute Apologist\\\" (2007), \\\"Bible Proofs for Catholic Truths\\\" (2009), \\\"The Quotable Newman\\\" (editor: 2012), and \\\"Proving the Catholic Faith is Biblical\\\" (2015). He is co-author (with Dr. Paul Thigpen) of the inserts for \\\"The New Catholic Answer Bible\\\" (Our Sunday Visitor: 2005), and editor for \\\"The Wisdom of Mr. Chesterton: The Very Best Quotes, Quips, and Cracks from the Pen of G. K. Chesterton\\\" (Saint Benedict Press \/ TAN Books: 2009). \\\"100 Biblical Arguments Against Sola Scriptura\\\" was published by Catholic Answers in May 2012. His \\\"Quotable Wesley\\\" compilation was published by (Protestant \/ Wesleyan publisher) Beacon Hill Press in April 2014. Several of his 49 books are bestsellers in their field. Dave maintains a popular personal Facebook page, a Facebook author page, and has a Twitter account as well. He offers almost all of his books in e-book form on his own Biblical Catholicism site (http:\/\/biblicalcatholicism.com\/), at a permanent deep discount: only $2.99 for ePub, mobi, and AZW, and $1.99 for PDF. His writing has been enthusiastically endorsed or recommended by many leading Catholic apologists, authors, and priests, including Dr. Scott Hahn, Fr. Peter M. J. Stravinskas, Marcus Grodi, Patrick Madrid, Steve Ray, Tim Staples, Devin Rose, Mike Aquilina, Al Kresta, Karl Keating, Fr. Dwight Longenecker, Brandon Vogt, Marcellino D'Ambrosio, and Fr. John A. Hardon, S. J. Dave has been happily married to his wife Judy since October 1984. They have three sons and a daughter, and reside in southeast Michigan (metro Detroit).\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/biblicalcatholicism.com\/\",\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/dave.armstrong.798\",\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@LuxVeritatisApologetics\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/author\/davearmstrong\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"James White\u2019s Bogus \u201cDoctorate\u201d Degree, Part Two","description":"Another substantive discussion of the nature of the alleged \"doctorate\" degree claimed by James White. 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This time, Jamin Hubner zealously defends Mr. White.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2017\/03\/james-whites-bogus-doctorate-degree-part-ii.html","og_site_name":"Biblical Evidence for Catholicism","article_author":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/dave.armstrong.798","article_published_time":"2017-03-14T21:33:32+00:00","article_modified_time":"2017-04-18T22:06:10+00:00","og_image":[{"width":600,"height":600,"url":"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/572\/2017\/03\/Diploma.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"Dave Armstrong","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Dave Armstrong","Est. reading time":"13 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2017\/03\/james-whites-bogus-doctorate-degree-part-ii.html","url":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2017\/03\/james-whites-bogus-doctorate-degree-part-ii.html","name":"James White\u2019s Bogus \u201cDoctorate\u201d Degree, Part Two","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/#website"},"datePublished":"2017-03-14T21:33:32+00:00","dateModified":"2017-04-18T22:06:10+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/#\/schema\/person\/471eaa20e441eca4bb1ea50393cf632e"},"description":"Another substantive discussion of the nature of the alleged \"doctorate\" degree claimed by James White. 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Formerly a campus missionary, as a Protestant, Dave was received into the Catholic Church in February 1991, by the late, well-known catechist and theologian, Fr. John A. Hardon, S. J. Dave\u2019s articles have appeared in many influential Catholic periodicals, including \"This Rock\" (now called \"Catholic Answers Magazine\"), \"Envoy Magazine\" (Patrick Madrid), \"The Catholic Answer,\" \"The Coming Home Journal,\" \"Gilbert Magazine\" (American Chesterton Society), and \"The Latin Mass.\" He also writes a featured column for every issue of \"The Michigan Catholic\": published by the archdiocese of Detroit, and was editor for most of the apologetics tracts published by the St. Paul Street Evangelization apostolate. Dave\u2019s apologetics and writing apostolate was the subject of a feature article in the May 2002 issue of \"Envoy Magazine.\" He served as the staff moderator at the Internet discussion forum for The Coming Home Network, from 2007-2010. Dave has been interviewed on many nationally syndicated Catholic radio shows, including \"Catholic Answers Live\" (twice), \"Faith and Family Live\" (Steve Wood), \"Kresta in the Afternoon,\" \"Son Rise Morning Show,\" \"Catholic Connection\" (Teresa Tomeo), and \"The Catholics Next Door.\" His large and popular website, \"Biblical Evidence for Catholicism,\" was online from March 1997 to March 2007, and received the 1998 Catholic Website of the Year award from \"Envoy Magazine.\" His blog of the same name (now transferred to Patheos), begun in February 2004, contains more than 1,500 papers, at least 500 debates or dialogues, and over 50 distinct \"index\" web pages. Unsolicited correspondence has indicated many hundreds of conversions (or returns) to the Catholic faith as a result, by God's grace, of these writings. Dave's conversion story was published in the bestselling book \"Surprised by Truth\" (edited by Patrick Madrid; San Diego: Basilica Press, 1994). Sophia Institute Press has published six of his books: \"A Biblical Defense of Catholicism\" (Foreword by Fr. John A. Hardon, S. J., 1996 \/ 2003), \"The Catholic Verses\" (2004), \"The One-Minute Apologist\" (2007), \"Bible Proofs for Catholic Truths\" (2009), \"The Quotable Newman\" (editor: 2012), and \"Proving the Catholic Faith is Biblical\" (2015). He is co-author (with Dr. Paul Thigpen) of the inserts for \"The New Catholic Answer Bible\" (Our Sunday Visitor: 2005), and editor for \"The Wisdom of Mr. Chesterton: The Very Best Quotes, Quips, and Cracks from the Pen of G. K. Chesterton\" (Saint Benedict Press \/ TAN Books: 2009). \"100 Biblical Arguments Against Sola Scriptura\" was published by Catholic Answers in May 2012. His \"Quotable Wesley\" compilation was published by (Protestant \/ Wesleyan publisher) Beacon Hill Press in April 2014. Several of his 49 books are bestsellers in their field. Dave maintains a popular personal Facebook page, a Facebook author page, and has a Twitter account as well. He offers almost all of his books in e-book form on his own Biblical Catholicism site (http:\/\/biblicalcatholicism.com\/), at a permanent deep discount: only $2.99 for ePub, mobi, and AZW, and $1.99 for PDF. His writing has been enthusiastically endorsed or recommended by many leading Catholic apologists, authors, and priests, including Dr. Scott Hahn, Fr. Peter M. J. Stravinskas, Marcus Grodi, Patrick Madrid, Steve Ray, Tim Staples, Devin Rose, Mike Aquilina, Al Kresta, Karl Keating, Fr. Dwight Longenecker, Brandon Vogt, Marcellino D'Ambrosio, and Fr. John A. Hardon, S. J. Dave has been happily married to his wife Judy since October 1984. They have three sons and a daughter, and reside in southeast Michigan (metro Detroit).","sameAs":["https:\/\/biblicalcatholicism.com\/","https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/dave.armstrong.798","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@LuxVeritatisApologetics"],"url":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/author\/davearmstrong"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10527","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2331"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10527"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10527\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10528"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10527"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10527"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10527"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}