Winter Issue 3
Reading Week Rabbit Holes
By Ian Gilbert
I fell into a reading week rabbit hole whilst browsing a more unusual theology book, written by a man making some more unusual claims.
But the one claim that really caught my eye was that this author consistently referred to himself as “Dr” and cited in his bio “ThD”. Yet nowhere, not on his bio, his website, or his speaking events could I see any mention of where this enormous achievement came from.
So I email his website contact form looking for info on this elusive ThD. His response:
“Ian,
Thank you for your email. We will prayerfully consider your request, and should we feel to move forward, we will be sure to contact you. We pray God's richest blessings over every area of your ministry!
Blessings,”
All follow up emails asking where this ThD came from go unanswered. Weird, right?
Much googling leads me to a single reference of this ThD coming from a certain university, which for liability’s sake we will call “Cactus University.”
So I jump on their website. There is no program or degree information, just some jargon about how Cactus University is unlike other universities and that it converts life experience into credits.
The application form does include some costs, listing a “Bachelor’s Degree Program” for $5875 and a “Doctoral Degree” for the low cost of $6975.
So I contact “Cactus University’s” contact number, which is answered by a woman who gives her first name, which she prefixes with the title Doctor.
The doctor says unfortunately she can’t answer any questions unless I am a current student. She does say I can email her any questions, which I do.
No response to any of my follow up emails or calls. Weird, right?
Luckily the doctor has answered similar questions in the past via email stating: “Many times when a student candidate with 20 or more years in full time ministry applies, we are able to assess the total amount of credit requirements through their lifelong learning experiences….Each degree program is tailored specifically for the education goals of the student and takes into consideration prior learning and experience; therefore, there are no set class requirements.”
I decide to Google Street View “Cactus University” and it’s a completely different university. Weird, right?
So, I call this school, hundreds of miles away and am told by the registrar that Cactus University accesses their library, but don’t actually have an office there.
She gives me the contact number for the doctor if I want to know more. I doubt the doctor wants me calling her with something she probably already knows.
Its then that I discover the term diploma mill. An unaccredited school offering degrees for cash with no actual classes.
UNESCO states you can spot a diploma mill by several factors including offering credit for life experiences, minimal academic requirements, no physical address of the institution and a set fee for a degree. Or as one website describes them, “a degree is just a click and a cheque away.” Diploma mills (like most things that make money) are not exactly illegal, just regulated by varying bodies. Now I’m not saying Cactus University is a diploma mill, maybe it’s just a busy time of year for them to reply, but diploma mills themselves are very real.
Diploma mills dangerously affect every industry, are present in almost every country and are an increasing issue given the rise of online studies. Religious degrees from the United States are particularly vulnerable thanks to some controversial court findings. In 1998 Tyndale Theological Seminary & Biblical Institute was sued by the state of Texas for issuing awards such as “Master of Arts, doctor of philosophy…whilst being completely unaccredited by the state.”
In 2007 the US Supreme Court found in favour of the school, stating that “restricting the language religious schools used to refer to themselves or to their degree programs violated the freedom of religious exercise”.
Basically in the United States, big government telling schools what to call their religious awards is an infringement on their freedom of religion.
The result described by the school’s triumphant president: “It was a monumental thing, the government has no authority to dictate what is quality religious education. The biblical text — that’s our authority; that’s our standard.”
Amen. Right?
Cactus University states it’s accredited by an organisation known as the Association of Independent Christian Colleges & Seminaries (AICCS), which claims to be one of the largest non-government accreditation bodies in the world. With that many accredited schools I have no doubt there are some fantastic ones within this body. But AICCS is strong in its rejection of formal accreditation, stating “Because of the AICCS Board of Directors’ convictions in support of religious freedom, Christian liberty, and the separation of church and state, AICCS has never applied for affiliation with any federal government agency. AICCS, therefore, is not recognized by the United States Department of Education.”
All this to say, Regent is hard work for a reason. I am thankful of our affiliation with UBC, our Canadian Government accreditation, the stringent accreditation process and the standards upheld by Regent College, as well as the thousands of hours that go into course reviews, assessment grading and vetting of academic staff.
Any student of Regent should be proud of the high standards set for us to get that elusive A + or even simply pass. I believe, and have seen, Regent students are better prepared than most to Biblically engage the culture, no matter what that may look like, even if it’s just strange encounters with men bearing strange ThD’s.
The Five Best Breweries in East Van
By Alex Strohschein
I recall going to pub night at The Wolf and Hound my first year at Regent College and hearing an older student tell another, “I’ve only ever purchased two of my textbooks so I have more money for booze.” I was stunned by that declaration, not only because I didn’t drink, but because I am also a bibliophile.
For a long time I did not drink alcohol at all. There were never any prohibitions against it in my church tradition or my family and my father would occasionally try to get me to try a sip of his beer. Drinking just never held much of an appeal to me, it’s expensive, and I was happy to spend my money on books or my dozens and dozens of obscure Christian alternative rock albums.
Then I went on the Walking Where Luther Walked tour in 2017 for the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation(s). Needing to wash down all that spätzle and schnitzel, I was shocked to discover that beer was cheaper than Coca-Cola. Purely in the interests of being fiscally responsible, I ordered a pint of dark beer (I believe it was Krombacher Dark). This was delicious beer! It did not taste anything like the lagers and IPAs my father would offer. Since Germany I have been an avowed devotee of stouts and porters.
East Vancouver has an abundance of breweries, with many of them being within walking distance of one another. Here are my five favourites around the Grandview-Woodland neighbourhood (this area is nicknamed “Yeast Van”):
5) Callister Brewing — It took a while for me to warm up to Callister Brewing but on my most recent visits I have been impressed. They have some of the best artwork adorning their walls and also have craft soda available.
4) Parallel 49 — I am perpetually getting Parallel 49 (beer) mixed up with 49th Parallel (coffee). Parallel 49 is one of the larger breweries in East Vancouver with a huge list of beers on tap. Parallel 49 features by far the best array of food (many of the breweries in East Van, if they offer food, only have snacks on hand such as pepperoni sticks and pretzels) that they cook up in their food truck located inside the brewery.
3) Bomber Brewing — I most appreciate Bomber for its coziness; there are seats for at most twenty people. One Saturday night when we had too many relatives over I went for a walk and enjoyed reading my book along with a pint of Bomber’s Choqlette Porter with only a handful of other people around. They have board games available, will sometimes show movies on a big screen, and recently renovated their interior.
2) East Van Brewing Co. — My ten-year high school reunion was held at East Van Brewing Co., a spacious brewery located on Venables. They serve up some light fare but they also have a partnership with DownLow Chicken Shack half a block away; you can order some delicious fried chicken (the best in East Van!) for take-out and then go to East Van Brewing where you can enjoy not only your take-out but a bit of money off of your first beer. Though I work at a theological school dedicated to cultivating devotion in its students, I must say that my favourite beer from East Van Brewing is The Unholy One served on nitro.
1) Storm Brewing — Far and away my favourite brewery in Yeast Van, and also the neighbourhood’s oldest. You walk into a side door and enter something like an industrial garage. Unlike all of the other breweries in the area, Storm doesn’t have a license to serve pints; instead, you pay $7 and they give you a plastic cup that you use to try six samples. Their lineup changes every week; along with typical brews such as the Pineapple Paradise Pilsner, they also offer up more adventurous creations such as the Turkey Dinner IPA (tasted like rosemary) and Citrus Jalapeno Pilsner. They also brew my all-time favourite beer – the Vanilla Whiskey Stout.
I would’ve never explored these breweries (and many more!) without the Protestant Reformation(s). So thanks Martin Luther – and cheers!
The Gift
By Heather Kaufmann
Last night the veil of pretense
caught itself on a paradox
and through the snag I saw a flicker
of a softly felted field.
The vision sheared me clean
of the woolly choices I’ve made
that have kept me from remembering
I am what you are
since you were what I am*
and I am once again
born into the arms of grace.
*Reference to Gerard Manley Hopkins’ poem, “That Nature is a Heraclitean Fire and of the Comfort of the Resurrection”