Dr. Nathaniel Urshan
 

I was watching the UPCI vs. Classic Christianity debates (Ankenberg show) the other day. They addressed Brother Urshan as Dr. Nathaniel Urshan.

My family has been acquainted with the Urshans for 40 years. I was not aware he had earned a graduate degree. Does anyone know where or when this took place?

Re: Dr. Nathaniel Urshan
 

That is probably in recognition of a conferred honorary degree. Just a guess.

I too am unaware of any degree.

Re: Dr. Nathaniel Urshan
 

That's what I thought. It does seem strange to use a Doctorate on a national, scholarly debate when it is not even real. Brother Sabin was actually the scholar in the debate.

Re: Dr. Nathaniel Urshan
 

Perhaps he didn't have that degree, but he does, after all, have a college named after him now so...

Re: Dr. Nathaniel Urshan
 

The debate was a great disgrace for the UPCI in multiple ways. I just did not want a false doctorate making the whole fiasco even worse.

Re: Dr. Nathaniel Urshan
 

From http://oof.upci.org/inductees/nurshan.asp :

"Honorary doctorate degrees were conferred upon Brother Urshan from Apostolic Bible Institute, Gateway College of Evangelism, and Christian Life College."

It should be noted that none of the institutions listed have ever been accredited, let alone recognized as having the authority to confer a "real" doctorate. For that matter, none of these institutions even have post-graduate studies programs - accredited or not. It is rather shaky.

I worked for Bro. Urshan briefly many, many years ago. I never knew him to use any sort of title other than "Rev." - and even that was a formality. I don't know why they pulled "Dr." out of the bag for the Ankerberg debates. In my opinion, we should not have even had the GS go on the show - just for appearances sake.

Re: Dr. Nathaniel Urshan
 

I guess that goes to show how little I know about it. I just assumed any college that does not have earned doctorates (whether accredited or not) would not be giving out honorary doctorates.

Re: Dr. Nathaniel Urshan
 

Almost no accredited school would. It really shakes their credibility. Still, I've seen it done, but I can't think of where exactly. It is rather common among the unaccredited crowd to do things like this. Most do it for the bucks - and they charge some big bucks. Others do it to mollify their leader. Sort of like when Hugo Chavez shows up on a campus in Venezuela. You'd better put a robe on the guy and a pallium if you want to keep doing business.

... not to say that NAU ever demanded such honors, quite the opposite, from my experience. But we did have a toady culture that did such things.