Darron Steele said:
Actually, Ms. Riplinger does not.
Her so-called "doctorate" is an honorary doctorate granted by what is called an unaccredited college. An honorary doctorate is not a regular doctorate, but is bestowed as an honor.
Accreditation assures all people concerned that the college has an appropriate level of rigor and quality, in order that degree earners can be assumed `up to par.' Basically, an unaccredited college is one that does not meet the standards of rigor and quality required by regional accrediting agencies. The pieces of paper that they call diplomas do not represent degrees that
1) all of higher education would accept as having any level of legitimacy,
2) government or professional agencies that require credentials would accept as legitimate.
In other words, it is a college only to itself and anyone else who voluntarily chooses to treat it as one and can get away with doing so. To everyone else, it is not a legitimate college.
In other words, she is not entitled to be called "Dr. Riplinger." The institution granting the so-called "doctorate" does not have the authority to grant any such thing.
As far as respect, to treat her as a colleague to genuine doctorate-holders would be bringing them down to a level far below the respect they deserve as experts. I wrote this post not to be mean to Ms. Riplinger, but to be fair.[/size]
I am fully aware that the Doctorate of Dr. Gail A. Riplinger is an honorary doctorate. I am also aware that the doctorates of many other individuals are 'honorary', as well.
Suppose I had mentioned, instead of Dr. Riplinger, an individual such as
Dr. B. H. Carroll (Pastor, Theology Professor, Baylor University, Founding President of Southwestern Baptist Seminary, the largest in the world),
Dr. H. A. Ironside (Noted Bible Teacher, Lecturer at Dallas Seminary, and Pastor of Moody Memorial Church),
Dr. John Gill (English Baptist Pastor of the 18th Century, pastor of Horsleydown Church for 51 years, author of
A Body of Divinity and to this day, stands as the only indivudual to write commentary on every verse in the Bible),
Dr. Reuben A. Torrey (Evangelist, later served as Superntendent - equivalent to President - of what became Moody Bible Institute, also Pastor of both Moody Church, and Church of the Open Door, and Dean of Biola),
Dr. Wilbur M. Smith (Pastor of Four Churches, Editor of Peloubet's Notes for almost 40 years, Professor at Moody, Fuller, and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Associate editor of the New Scofield Reference Bible), or
Dr. Billy Graham, [Evangelist for more than 50 years, is thought to have preached in person to more individuals than anyone in history, Co-founder of Youth for Christ, youngest individual to ever serve as a sitting College President (Northwestern College) to this day] for six other examples, instead.
Would you have offered the same opinion? Would you suggest these individuals also would 'lower' the standards? All these doctorates were also honorary, and only Dr. Torrey, had any training beyond a College Bachelor's degree (B.D.); Drs. Graham and Smith each only 'earned' a B.A., Dr. Carroll was a few months shy of his B.A., when he entered the Confederate Army during the Civil War, and Baylor awarded him that degree, anyway, saying his time served was 'worth more' than three additional months of classroom time would have been, Dr. Ironside did graduate from the 8th grade, and Dr. Gill had no formal schooling beyond the age of 11.
Please forgive me, if I do not think these served to lower any standards,
rather I would say they raised them to a fairly lofty level. Incidentally, I could rather easily add another score of individuals along these same lines. I suggest it is the individual, that is the difference, hence I have no problem with calling any individual by that title, when it has been bestowed.
Ed
