Ravi Zacharias and the Case of Christian Credential Inflation

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Christianity Today

Religion, Christianity, Religion & Spirituality

4.3 • 622 Ratings

🗓️ 7 December 2017

⏱️ 38 minutes

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Summary

Earlier this week, Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM) released a statement addressing its namesake’s credentials, which have recently been under fire. “In earlier years, ‘Dr.’ did appear before Ravi’s name in some of our materials, including on our website, which is an appropriate and acceptable practice with honorary doctorates,” stated RZIM. “However, because this practice can be contentious in certain circles, we no longer use it.” From CT’s report: "According to the biography currently posted on RZIM’s website, Zacharias received a master of divinity degree from Trinity International University and 'has conferred ten honorary doctorates, including a Doctor of Laws and a Doctor of Sacred Theology. "Up until earlier this year, the RZIM bio had not used the phrase 'honorary doctorates;' instead, it had stated that Zacharias had been 'honored with the conferring of six doctoral degrees.' The site also previously referred to him as 'Dr. Zacharias' through 2014, as did multiple press releases, news features, and event postings." Apologist and religious studies professor John G. Stackhouse wasn’t surprised by the news. “There’s a long and not very edifying tradition of Christian evangelists and speakers inflating their credentials,” said Stackhouse. Stackhouse says that he personally confronted two RIZM employees about problems he saw with Zacharias’s credentials but that no changes were made after the conversation. “Ravi Zacharias is the biggest name in apologetics currently,” said Stackhouse. “As he goes, so goes apologetics so it’s really important that he be scrupulous in everything he does.” Stackhouse recently joined associate digital media producer Morgan Lee and editor in chief Mark Galli to discuss the temptation for Christian leaders to inflate their credentials and achievements, what responsibility the church has in encouraging that sort of behavior, and how we might better hold each other accountable. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	This episode is brought to you in part by The Apologetics Guy Show, the podcast that helps you find clear answers to tough questions about Christianity.
0:11.0	Learn to explain your faith with courage and compassion.
0:14.5	Join Moody Bible Institute professor Dr. Mikhail del Rosario at apologeticsky.com.
0:28.4	Music Michael Del Rosario at Apologeticsguy.com. You're listening to Quick to Listen. Each week we go beyond hashtags and hot takes to discuss a major cultural event. I'm Morgan Lee, and I am an associate digital media producer
0:39.2	here at Christianity today, and I'm joined, as always, not really, though, by editor-chief
0:45.0	Mark Alley. Good to be with you, even though I'm not here always. I'm not always with you.
0:51.3	Now you're turning into church lingo. Only Jesus is always with you. Right on. Okay. Who's joining us?
0:56.8	John Stackhouse is joining us. He's the professor of religious studies at Crandall University in New
1:02.1	Brunswick. He's the author of 10 books, the most recent being Why You're Here, Ethics for the Real
1:07.3	World. And most importantly, he is a frequent contributor to Christianity today and someone
1:12.2	whose emails, I read carefully because he always has such thoughtful things to say. So welcome, John.
1:17.9	Great to be with you guys. John, I know you appreciated those rare kind words from Mark. I'm sure.
1:22.6	Oh, Mark is a flowing fountain of a fusion. You know that, Morgan. Yeah. Well, I save my kind words for people
1:29.0	that are super thoughtful like John Stackhouse. Oh, okay. You're the special one, John.
1:34.4	Thank you. John, I just wanted to bring up one thing before we start. Okay, so obviously,
1:39.7	you know that Americans are obsessed with your government, specifically your prime minister, and many
1:45.6	Americans are also obsessed with British royalty. Are Canadians also obsessed with their
1:50.3	prime minister and with British royalty, or is this an American thing? Yeah, it's an American thing.
1:54.8	We have to deal with our prime minister, of course, for real, not just when he makes lovely
2:00.4	appearances, but when he actually makes policy.
2:03.0	So while some people are still crashing on Justin, most of us aren't now.
2:07.9	The honeymoon's over.
	...

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