If I had worked hard enough to get a PhD I would be well vexed: what a joke!
I credit Ken Hovin claiming he has a PhD to those who claim (aka lied) that they had medals which they did not actually earn or were in wars or military campaigns that they never participated in aka 'Stolen Valor'. This behavior is a form of narcissism and inflated-ego along with flat out dishonest deceptiveness. It is remarkable any moral person, religious or not, would excuse, condone or defend this behavior. Absolutely appalling!
One of the saddest lessons of history is this: If we've been bamboozled long enough, we tend to reject any evidence of the bamboozle. We're no longer interested in finding out the truth. The bamboozle has captured us. It is simply too painful to acknowledge -- even to ourselves -- that we've been so credulous. - Carl Sagan, The Fine Art of Baloney Detection
"You can't convince a believer of anything; for their belief is not based on evidence, it's based on a deep seated need to believe." - Carl Sagan
"It is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring." - Carl Sagan, The Demon-Haunted World