Tuesday, May 07, 2013

Kent Hovind's resume derived from public documents

This is a short examination of creationist Kent Hovind's phony "Doctorate," and claims of being a "high school science teacher for 15 years." Between 1976 and 1989, Hovind was the "teacher" of unaccredited church schools he often started himself. Plus, he rarely lasted long even then. I am linking this from "Big Daddy is Dead," in recognition that Hovind is essentially cited as a co-author of "Big Daddy." and nearly all of the pseudoscience found there is referenced to Hovind's video "seminars."

Hovind opens his public presentations, videos, and weirdly, his bogus dissertation with nearly the same words every time, "Hello, my name is Kent Hovind. I am a creation science evangelist. I live in Pensacola, Florida. I have been a high school science teacher since 1976." He added "I have a doctorate in Education," starting in 1991.

Kent Hovind's Teaching Experience



Recorded in Public Records 08/10/2005 at 1:30 PM OR Book Page 878, Instrument #2005406964, Ernie Less Magaha, Clerk of the Circuit Court Escambia County, FL.


"In 1972 I transferred to Midwestern Baptist College, in Pontiac, Michigan." Midwestern Baptist College is an unaccredited Bible school.

"I completed by (sic) Bachelor of Religious Education at Midwestern in 1974" Ordained by Emmanuel Baptist Church in Pontiac, Michigan, May 25, 1974.

Bethel Baptist Academy, Pekin, Illinios [1976-1978]
"I returned to Pekin, Illinois and became Assistant Pastor of Bethel Baptist Church. In 1976 the Pastor resigned and I was voted Pastor (Bethel Baptist Church). My first accomplishment as Pastor was to start a Christian school, Bethel Baptist Academy."

Faith Baptist Academy, Bourbonnais, Illinois [1978-1981]
"In 1978 my family and I moved to Bourbonais, Illinois, where I continued to minister for the Lord as a teacher."

Longview Christian Academy and Texas Baptist College, Longview, Texas [1981-1985]
"1981 we moved to Longview, Texas, where I took position teaching science and math at Longview Christian Academy and at Texas Baptist College." Today, LCA is a K-5 - 12th grade school that uses A Beka creationist curriculum. The entirety of "Texas Baptist College" is a single building that houses the dormitories, classrooms, library (if any), and laundry. Married students are forced to enroll their children in the unaccredited "Christian Academy."

Calvary Baptist Christian School, Fairfield, California [1986-1989]
"... we moved the family to Fairfield, California, where I became Assistant Pastor and principal at Calvary Baptist Christian School as well as a science teacher." This school has a current enrollment Pre-kinder to 12th grade of 59 students. The most students they ever had was 149. EVER!

East Hill Christian School, Pensacola, Florida [1989-?]. This is another church school created by Hovind. (A commenter, JohnLake has posted that East Hill Christian School was founded in 1958. They expanded to a K-12 in 1987. This of course raises the question of how long did Hovind teach there?)

"In 1989, I took a vow of poverty and to commit all my resources to spreading the word of God and truth about God’s hand in creation. That event gave birth to Creation Science Evangelism."

Hovind went on to boast that he was soon on the road giving lectures, sermons, and debates nearly full-time. Hovind verbally amended his biography in several videos recorded in the early 2000s to add 16 years after 1989 as a full time evangelist. In his 1991 "dissertation," Hovind claimed to be making 400 creationism presentations to schools and churches around the nation. He filed a fraudulent bankruptcy petition in 1996 claiming to have been a full time evangelist since 1989. There is also the question of "academic years, versus "calendar years." For example, Hovind's first teaching was at a church school he started in 1976 and left in 1978. That could be counted as 3 calendar years, but only 2 academic years: Sept. 1976 to June 1977, and Sept. 1977 to June 1978. Even giving Hovind the broadest interpretation, and allowing him the sham title of "science teacher," 1976 to 1989 is not 15 years.


Kent Hovind's "Doctorate"


Hovind claims a doctorate in "Christian Education." Hovind's dissertation is a bad joke written at a low high school grammar and vocabulary level. This vacuous work was sold to Hovind from "Patriot University," an unaccredited mail order degree shop.

In fact, Patriot U. has had to publish the following disclaimer regarding their "degrees."

DISCLAIMER

ACI accreditation (Accrediting Commission International which is as phony as Patriot U. and has been successfully sued for fraud) is not to be confused with regional accreditation which is governed by the U.S. Department of Education. A school or employer which requires a regionally accredited degree will likely not accept a non-governmentally accredited degree. Patriot Bible University nor ACI are responsible for a student's employability.

Student Advisory:

1. PBU's accreditation may or may not allow you to receive transfer credits to a secular school. If you are seeking a secular education degree, you would be best served to attend a secular institution. We grant Bible and religious degrees. If you hope to apply your Bible degree towards a secular degree at some time later on, the PBU courses and degrees are not likely to be fully applicable.

If you are going to seek employment with a particular church denomination or wish to transfer to a certain Christian college or university, you might confer with them first. Please consider what YOUR educational goals are.

2. A Patriot Bible University degree is recognized by many churches and ministry organizations. It will demonstrate to employers a higher level of study through the attainment of a degree. We have trained thousands of students during the last 30 years.

3. PBU's accreditation with this agency is a religious non-governmental accreditation, rather than secular - voluntary, rather than mandatory. The laws of Colorado give us the authority to grant religious degrees. The authority to grant degrees comes from the individual State, not the school's accrediting agency.

4. ACI monitors educational and religious standards for PBU, and their accreditation is accepted by many religious organizations. However, this accreditation would not be accepted by some secular organizations, as ACI is not recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as one of the seven official regional accrediting agencies.

This non-recognition may have some implications that include, but are not limited to:

1. Patriot Bible University is not eligible to participate in the Federal Student Loan/Financial Aid program.
2. Patriot Bible University is not authorized to accept the GI Bill.
3. Patriot Bible University is unable to guarantee acceptance of its degrees in other postsecondary institutions, except those also accredited by ACI
4. Corporations are not required to recognize degrees from Patriot Bible University.
(down loaded on 8 April, 2013 from Patriot U.'s website).

I downloaded Hovind's "dissertation" from wikileaks. To anyone familiar with Hovind's videos, the text will be very familiar. It is in most ways a transcript of Hovind's standard presentations. I am always impressed by how consistently bad it is.

Kent Hovind's Current Career


Kent Hovind, Federal Prisoner Register number 06452-017, began serving a ten-year prison sentence in 2007 following his conviction on 12 tax fraud offenses, one count of obstructing federal agents, and 45 counts of illegally structuring cash transactions. He is scheduled for release from prison on August 11, 2015 after serving the minimum allowed portion of his 10 year sentence. If you have a taste for court documents, this court's reply (PDF) to a petition filed by Jo (Mrs. Kent) Hovind gives the business structure of Kent Hovind's fortune.

Recently, Patriot Bible University has sold another doctorate to Kent Hovind. He has claimed to have gotten two masters and three doctorates in education, theology, and divinity (honorary). He now claims to have added a doctorate in "biblical ministry."

His most recent 'dissertation' titled "What on Earth is about to happen for Heaven's Sake," is available on-line as a PDF. I think it is better to Google for a current URL in case there are copy right issues.


Obviously Kent Hovind's account of his "doctorate" and "15 years teaching high school science" are as bogus as his creationism, and tax filings. As the courts found repeatedly, the numbers don't add up.

Kent Hovind released to Home Confinement, July 8, 2015.


There are several people who have been writing detailed reviews and assessments of Kent Hovind's legal woes. Rather than rehash what they have documented, I suggest you read their sites. Two I particularly recommend are Hovindology, and income tax expert Peter J Reilly. Mr. Reilly has two separate blogs, one for Forbes dot Com, and "Your Tax Matters Partner."

Kent Hovind is fresh out of prison. He has a one month home confinement up in August 2015. However, he has wasted no time in posting YouTube videos that contain many of his old lies. The first is of course that he "was a high school science and math teacher for 15 years."


22 comments:

Christian said...

Its ridiculous that this guy was ever a part of creationism (not that creationism is science anyway) as all he studies was the bible.....not one bit of science. Yet there are people that still think he knows what he is talking about.

Just shows you cant do much to frighten away them theists.

Gary S. Hurd said...

Hovind was a very good public speaker. He should have been a used car salesman.

Anonymous said...

Let me tell everyone why this idiotic article is ironic.

Charles Darwin was never a scientist. He was never trained as a scientist. In fact? He never graduated from
any college EVER. He attended Edinburg with the hopes of going through their medical school. He could not pass the classes and he quit. Then he decided to go into taxidermy and eventually decided he wanted to be a minister in the Church of England. Well just like in his medical school venture he could not pass those classes either and he flunked Seminary TWICE. Yes TWICE. He was not on the USS Beagle on an expedition. He was not there to observer finches. He just happened to be there because out of embarrassment he imposed a self exile for himself and stowed away on the Beagles which was his uncles boat.

Now read this stupid article about Kent Hovind and keep the above in mind.

I dare THE author to make a comment.

Gary S. Hurd said...

Here is a link to a short review of Charles Darwin's education, Notes on Charles Darwin’s Education.

Needless to point out that Mr. Mayo is a troll.

Unknown said...

Actually, Kent Hovind is correct, I did some research and he has not lied about anything. Accreditations are only there if the school paid the money and put up the cash to support the institutions. Darwin has no education at all. Kent Hovind is a hero and a man of God.

Unknown said...

This page is just a tool used by the Devil. Kent is a true Man of God, don't believe the deception.

Gary S. Hurd said...

Here is a link to a short review of Charles Darwin's education, Notes on Charles Darwin’s Education.

It should be obvious that Mr. DeRoch is mentally impaired.

Unknown said...

Here's another link of Charles Darwin's "education":

http://www.notablebiographies.com/Co-Da/Darwin-Charles.html

Everything in life comes down to faith. Maybe sounds delusional and brainwashing at first, but eventually everything comes down to faith, to what we believe in. And i choose to believe in Creation Science Evangelism and Dr. Kent Hovind.

Unknown said...

"Everything in life comes down to faith."

Baloney! There are those who believe what they want to believe and those who strive always to believe what is demonstrably true.

If you choose to believe someone who has been proven to have lied about his education, employment, income and most of what he teaches, that is up to you. But do not try to equate that with someone who tries very hard to thoroughly understand the natural world around them.

Unknown said...

Faith and the Scientific method are not even similar. Kent doesn’t follow the “scientific method” – he lies, misquotes and just basic lying for Jesus nonsense! Faith is believing in something you can’t prove. All of Kent’s arguments are easily debunked – really “dragons” and man living on the earth at the same time?? Dragons on Noah’s Ark? Really Noah’s Ark – you’re joking?

“The scientific method is an ongoing process, which usually begins with observations about the natural world. Human beings are naturally inquisitive, so they often come up with questions about things they see or hear and often develop ideas (hypotheses) about why things are the way they are. The best hypotheses lead to predictions that can be tested in various ways, including making further observations about nature. In general, the strongest tests of hypotheses come from carefully controlled and replicated experiments that gather empirical data. Depending on how well the tests match the predictions, the original hypothesis may require refinement, alteration, expansion or even rejection. If a particular hypothesis becomes very well supported a general theory may be developed”

Unknown said...

First of all, i dont see how i struck such a nerve? All i posted was a different source showing different version of Darwin's"education". Which one of those sources you choose to believe, is upto you, what you believe is your own choice.
Second of all... Instead of proving Dr. Hovind is a fraud, why don't you answer and refut his claims? I've seen a lot of trash talk, a lot of quoting definitions, but not a single one answer to his claims! Hovind's this, Hovind's that, he teaches religion... guess what? He does! And he openly admits it! Do you? Don't give me that crap about what majority thinks... give me evidence to refut his claims! For example... show me an example of macroevolution. Just one, please.

Gary S. Hurd said...

First, I read the alternate biography for Darwin that Mr. Titiev linked to above. It was generally poor.

One of the best "quick and easy" ways to debunk any creationist's falsehoods is to use the Index to Creationist Claims.

As for "macroevolution," I have posted dozens of examples on this blog. For a larger discussion including molecular, paleontological, as well as organismal biology, see: "29+ Evidences for Macroevolution: The Scientific Case for Common Descent" Version 2.89 by my colleague Prof. Douglas Theobald.

Unknown said...

What makes the source i gave "generally poor"? The fact it gives an alternative view to yours "established" belief?
And as for my question... Why can't i get a straight answer from an evolutionist? Ever? Not interested in your indoctrination (which is always your goal in these threads), i asked a very simple question. Show me ONE example of macroevolution. Till then, i rest my case.

Gary S. Hurd said...

I will not waste more time with you, Mr. Titiev. I gave you three sources that debunk the frauds and lies of creationists.

You characteristically have ignored them. You will need to address them specifically, and individually to post here again. And they must be on the appropriate pages. If you deserve any more attention, post on the Darwin's Education, or Emergence of New Species posts.

JohnLake said...

East Hill Christian School in Pensacola, Florida was not created by Kent Hovind, the school was founded in 1958.

JohnLake

Gary S. Hurd said...

Thanks for the information JohnLake. I was going from court documents submitted by Kent Hovind in either is 1996 "bankruptcy" filing, or his 2005 tax fraud case(s).

I corrected the text above.

Unknown said...

What does kent hovind and Darwin have to do with each other. Moron's regardless of Darwin's education his theories have been proven and proven over and over again. And Ole kent the lying creationist hovind is a proven liar with nothing is science what so ever to back him up. Even if I never heard of darwin and only went on the science of evolution that still makes hovind a massive liar and tax dodger.

Unknown said...

Mentally impaired is an understatement for these Hovind cult followers

ScientiaPerceptum said...

The charlatan, "Dr." Kent Hovind uploaded "What on Earth is about to happen for Heaven's Sake," book to his 2Peter3.com website back in 2013 as a PDF which you can download from FREE here... https://web.archive.org/web/20130701015539/http://www.2peter3.com/Books/What%20on%20Earth.pdf
...instead of paying the $248 the "Dr." is asking for on Amazon.

Unknown said...

A hypothesis is a testable theory. Evolution is not testable. When you ask someone why you don't see it happening they say it's because it takes millions of years. Ok but why don't we see any of the links between monkeys and men? Why do we still have monkeys? Why aren't we seeing any of the transitional species? Dinosaurs were called dragons before they were ever called dinosaurs. Archeologist have found foot prints of a dinosaur and a man right next to each other fossilized in the same layer of limestone.

Gary S. Hurd said...

I once again broke my own rule against Anonymous posts to the comments.

This time I did it because it is a perfect example of the gross stupidity of Kent Hovind's infection spreading to others.

9 stupid falsehoods. The only reason to not post this spasm of stupidity is the likelihood that is a Poe Troll trying to make creationists appear even more stupid than they are. There is not any real need to do this.

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.