Sunday, October 9, 2016

Bob Thiel: The King of "irrelevant and superfluous degrees, studies and titles"


...why do false teachers have such a love for strings of titles? 
After all, there are worldly religious figures I respect more than you, 
who themselves are doctors, but they do not obscure it 
with a long list of irrelevant and superfluous other degrees, studies and titles.



Several people have recently sent me emails concerning Almost Arrested, Doubly Blessed, Elisha, Elijah, Amos, Joshua, Chief Overseer, Apostle, Prophet, Mayan Authority and End Time Witness Bob Thiel and his constantly changing story about his "theological" education and the Ph.D  and Th.D he attaches to his name to legitimize his prophet status in the eyes of his deceived followers in Africa and gullible media personalities that include him on there radio broadcasts.

As one reader here points out, the self-appointed false prophet got his Ph.D from a diploma mill in Cincinnati called Union Institute and University.  It does not take much searching online to find out that UIU has some serious issue with their diploma's, particuarly with the Ph.D's it issued at the time the self-appointed false prophet claims he was earning his.

The false prophet has this posted on his "Who is COGwriter?"
I have studied graduate level Early Church History from Fuller Theological Seminary and other schools in and out of the USA, and after a lot of writing, was granted a foreign Th.D. in early Christianity. A doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) degree was earned from the Union Institute and University (1993) where I studied various biological sciences and research methodologies. I also have other degrees/training, and have studied theology, both formally and informally.
By lumping a few classes at Fuller Seminary close to his "Th.D" it gives the impression his "theology" Th.D degree is from Fuller.

Compare this to the story Ambassador Watch posted in April of 2016 after Thiel said he had a Th.D from TCU, which if you are from the U.S. means Texas Christian University.  One of AW's readers contacted TCU and this is what transpired:
...in the endeavor to "prove all things" I called the Registrar's Office (817-257-7825) of Texas Christian University located in Ft. Worth, Texas – and talked to one Kristi Harrison at the Registrar’s Office. She informed me of the following facts: First of all, Texas Christian University does NOT have a doctorate of theology (ThD) program. They do have a Masters of Theological Studies program, a Master of Divinity program, and a Master of Theology program – but not a ThD program. And second, the name of Bob (or Robert) Thiel does NOT show up on ANY student listing the university has. They have a computerized file dating from 1984 forward – and Thiel is NOT on this one. And they have a microfiche file for students who attended before 1984 – and Thiel doesn’t show up on this one either.
Thiel, then changed his web site to state this:
...I have studied graduate level Early Church History from Fuller Theological Seminary and other schools in and out of the USA like T of CU, where a Th.D. in Early Christianity was earned). A doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) degree was earned from the Union Institute and University where I studied various biological sciences and research methodologies. I also have other degrees/training, and have studied theology, both formally and informally.
It was then discovered that Thiel got his diploma from another diploma mill in India, even though it is essentially attached to a fundamentalist Calvinist belief system:
Bob may have acquired a mail order degree from Trinity School of Apologetics & Theology in Kochi.
Kochi?
TRINITY??
Following up on an anonymous tip in the previous comments section, a web search revealed that Trinity is a fundamentalist institution in India which has a Calvinist orientation, and offers "Free Apologetics/Theology Graduate Distance Programs." It's listed in places like Conservapedia and Creationwiki, and is sited next to Cochin University, but from what I can tell is definitely not part of that institution (although to read the Trinity website you might assume it was!) T of CU would then mean Trinity of Cochin University, which seems to be a clear misrepresentation.
Not only did Ambassador Watch take on Thiel's bogus degrees, but a Living Church of God member, who knows more about Thiel's shenanigans than most, also laid into Thiel's lies.
Take his “doctor” title. Doctor of what? If I came to you and said I was a doctor and gave medical advice, wouldn’t you assume by my actions I was a doctor of medicine? Likewise, if I went around putting “Dr” on my books, and the books were on religion, would you not assume my doctorate was in theology? And, if those things turned out not to be true, wouldn’t you believe I was a fraud? And, rightly so! 
Buried deep within his website is the admission that “I have studied graduate level Early Church History from Fuller Theological Seminary and other schools in and out of the USA, and after a lot of writing, was granted a foreign Th.D. in early Christianity. A doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) degree was earned from the Union Institute and University (1993) where I studied various biological sciences and research methodologies.” 
Not that it matters, which makes it even more curious that he would use such a means to elevate himself. However, his pride in his research is obviously flawed...
Which makes you wonder why anyone would follow such a person who claims to hold the truth dear when they obviously do not. Thiel twists COG current events and the Bible in a similarly deceitful manner.
A quick check of the internet pulls all kinds of stuff up on the Union Institute  and University.  One of the more telling things is how UIU lost their ability to issue Ph.D just a couple years after Thiel claims he got his.  This means his "degree" was "earned" without the expectations that normal doctorate students have to follow.  Plus, being a self study program basically let Thiel do whatever the wanted to claim his expertise in.
The Union Institute's Ph.D. program came under scrutiny by the Ohio Board of Regents in the late 1990s, early 2000s which culminated in its 2002 Reauthorization Report. The report was critical of the Union Institute's Ph.D. program, noting in particular that " ... expectations for student scholarship at the doctoral level were not as rigorous as is common for doctoral work ... " (OBR 2002 Reauthorization Report, page 13) As a result, The Union was put on probation, the Union Graduate School was dissolved and the Ph.D. program was restructured.  The Gist
Thiel has this to say on his Doctors's Research site where he peddles herbs and vitamins:
The research group at Doctors' Research is directed by Robert Thiel, who holds a Ph.D. in nutrition science. He is licensed as a naturopath by the State of North Carolina, registered as a naturopath by the District of Columbia, and is licensed as a naturopathic physician within Idaho. He maintains a natural health clinic in Arroyo Grande, California.
His UIU PH.D that was "earned" under less than desirable doctoral research.

Thiel uses this Ph.D and his questionable Th.D every chance he gets.  The gullible Africans might fall for it, but COG members do not.

Thiel also claims he has other qualifications:

Dr. Bob Thiel holds a Master's degree from the University of Southern California and a Ph.D. from the Union Institute and University. His writings have made him a sought-after expert in the fields of philosophy, religion, research, science, and prophecy. In the past twelve years, he has published scores of articles on these topics in a variety of respected print publications. Dr. Thiel has also received several awards for his research.

Dr Thiel is a Christian who relies on Bible prophecies. He has been married to his wife Joyce since 1981. They travel extensively to ancient and prophetic sites throughout the world, including Mayan sites, Asia Minor, Greece, Asia, Africa, Fatima (Portugal), the Vatican, and Washington D.C. Armageddon Books
Thiel uses his travels as if he is the authority upon all the areas he goes to.  Just because he has been to Cappadocia, Turkey, Israel, the Vatican and scores of other places does not make him an authority these places.

I have been to England many times have have had private tours of Westminster Abbey and personal conversations with historians and vergers working there. I have an extensive library filled  antique and modern books on UK and Anglican history, but that no more makes me an authority on Westminster Abbey, the UK or Anglicanism, than Thiel is an authority the Cappidocians, Ephesus, Asia Minor.

I know what he is doing though.  He is following in the myth that Herbert Armstrong used as his excuse for not getting a theological or college education.  He earned his degree in the School of Hard Knocks.  Even Thiel's spiritual Daddy, Rod Meredith has used that phrase for decades.

The Church of God Perspective site asked Thiel the following:

You yourself stated that your PhD was not in Theology. If that has changed, then so be it.  However, I know it will go above your head the fact that this makes you an even smaller man that even I could have imagined. Please, tell us, Dr Thiel, why do false teachers have such a love for strings of titles? After all, there are worldly religious figures I respect more than you, who themselves are doctors, but they do not obscure it with a long list of irrelevant and superfluous other degrees, studies and titles.
Title's and studies have been very important to certain COG leaders over the decades.  Every single one of them ended up being liars and false prophets.  

For more see:

Bob Thiel and his remarkable PhD

Bob Thiel: Is Still a Liar and False Prophet 

COGWriter Bob Thiel is a seriously delusional character.


Thiel's personal sites:

Nazarene Books

Doctors' Research








22 comments:

James said...

Thiel is as transparent as Hillary Clinton of the Barry Obama administration fame...

Unknown said...

So if Thiel can get away with all his titled delusionment , can I put "Graduate of Ambassador College" on my resume' because I took the 12 part "Correspondence Course" and they mailed me a "Certificate of Completion"??

Thiel's credentials are about as good as these old schemes from when we were kids... "send in 3 box tops & one dollar and you too can be a Jr. FBI agent"

NOTE TO BANNED--- You forgot to include in Thiel's "extensive" title list... "Almost Audited Bob Thiel".

Unknown said...

Yes Connie you can have that title since you learned about as much as I did and I did graduate from AC

DennisCDiehl said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
DennisCDiehl said...

When an EMT at an accident scene a man who said he was a doctor jumped in to help. Doctor of what? we asked. English lit...
Thanks..well take it from here....

Anonymous said...

You mean he cheated somewhat like his bro Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg?

We can't help it... this brings up his bromance and as disgusting as it is, we're sure it's innocent and pure -- among Phds:

[Bromance YouTube video has been redacted!]

Anonymous said...

Banned also forgot to add "doublely blessed" in Bob's L O N G title list.Big slip up there.

Byker Bob said...

This use of titles baffles me completely. When everyone takes on titles, then they no longer have any meaning.

Why, even Mr. Methane, of youtube fame realizes this, and his message has considerably more value than that of Bob Thiel.

BB

eddby said...

Banned also forgot to mention "expert in all things Mayan".

Hoss said...

Did Bob ever reveal his military rank, and did he get an Honorable Discharge?

I remember a story of a man from India who attended Oxford but failed to pass. His name on his business card included BA (Oxon) failed.

Anonymous said...

eddby said:

Banned also forgot to mention "expert in all things Mayan".

Sounds like he has something in common with Dave Pack, who also thinks "all things are mine."

Anonymous said...

Mr. Methane, What a gas! He should bottle it.

Anonymous said...

Wouldn't it be a fun little exercise if someone from Banned were to make a visit to Dr. Bob's "natural health clinic" in Arroyo Grande? With a hidden microphone? That could be a lot of fun.......

Miguel de la Rodente said...

It's not unusual for people to occasionally falsify their credentials, or to use bogus or fake ones to enhance their careers. Nobody ever says anything if the faker pulls it off, his behavior and accomplishments convincing others that the credentials are valid. Bob is in no way pulling it off. His activities scream BOGUS!!! But, in a culture where people pass off bogus, unaccredited Ambassador College degrees as meaning something, I guess Theil's activity doesn't raise any red flags.

Hoss said...

falsify their credentials

It was reported in AR that Dr Hoeh had his transcript altered for no apparent reason. He gave himself credit for some AC courses that weren't offered at that time.

In the WN in the late 1970s, there was a story that RCM was going to humble himself and stop being called Dr Meredith. He previous said in a FOT sermon that he didn't care if people called him doctor or mister.

Back in GTA's radio days, I can only recall one time when stated that he had a PhD. However, there was a report that in the CGI he wanted to be called Dr Armstrong.

Anonymous said...

What part of ...thou shall not lie does Thiel not understand?

Anonymous said...

I found out long ago that questionable and bogus credentials are easy to come by, contrary to the aura we all tend to take for granted. I did. It's natural to assume that when you see a framed license or diploma on a wall that it really means something. Not necessarily. I spent a couple thousand to get an ordination from an interfaith group back in 1997 based on the assumption that I had to have some legal basis for claiming to be a minister so I could do wedding ceremonies. Since then, I've gotten free ordinations online from several sources. Seldom does anyone question my credentials. They just want to get legally married, and the state of Arizona has never bothered to ask me for proof of my status. That "REV" in front of my signature is all that's required. To cover myself, I even have an atheist and humanist ordination.

Once you choose a name and file it legally here in Arizona, you can do business under that name. It did cost $10 a few years ago. Don't know if that's increased. Just don't stand in awe of anyone's claims of authority. They're often rather fictional and nebulous, and so are the claims of those issuing the necessary documents. I often think of the Jews demanding of Jesus his basis of authority while they were absolutely convinced of their own basis which was in reality just as nebulous.

Allen C. Dexter

Anonymous said...


Hoss said...“Back in GTA's radio days, I can only recall one time when stated that he had a PhD. However, there was a report that in the CGI he wanted to be called Dr Armstrong.”


For sure, GTA would want to play “Doctor” with the girls.

Anonymous said...

That's interesting, Allen.

You mentioned, "here in Arizona", so I guess that's where you live.

Having read about governmental shenanigans in all 50 states, I'd have to say the worst of the worst has been from Jan Brewer, the nutcase Governor of Arizona.

My sympathies to any and all who live there and have to deal with her craziness!

Hoss said...

We mustn't forget that Almost Graduated Middle School HWA claimed his business experience was equivalent to a PhD.

As Festus (in Acts 26, not Gunsmoke) said, You're mad! Your great learning is driving you insane!

Anonymous said...

Hoss,
Ya'll sure that waren't Gunsmoke?

One other Arizona comment: Thankfully, it looks as if Deplorable Sheriff Joe is going to lose the election this time around.

Anonymous said...

I can see now why Rod Meredith kicked Thiel out of LCG.