Monday, April 16, 2007

Which Church Father Are You?

Origen of Alexandria.

According to this quiz (via Diane at Bringing Home the Word), I am Origen, which is cool philosophically, though I am concerned about his taking "make yourself a eunich for Christ" way too literally... I mean, at least with Abelard, it wasn't his idea...









You’re Origen!


You do nothing by half-measures. If you’re going to read the Bible, you want to read it in the original languages. If you’re going to teach, you’re going to reach as many souls as possible, through a proliferation of lectures and books. If you’re a guy and you’re going to fight for purity … well, you’d better hide the kitchen shears.


Find out which Church Father you are at The Way of the Fathers!




13 comments:

crystal said...

Psssst .... your hair's on fire :-)

Yikes - I'm Origen too.

Liam said...

I went back and answered all the questions as grumpily as possible and yes -- no surprise -- I was St Jerome.

Anonymous said...

I came out as St. Melito of Sardis. I suppose the positive thing is that now I feel a need to go find out who the heck St. Melito of Sardis was! Save the bonobos...
All the Best,
-B

cowboyangel said...

Weird, I came out as Al Sharpton. I must have been at the wrong web site.

Actually, I came out as Tertullian.

"You possess many gifts, but patience isn’t one of them. You’re tough on yourself — and on others. You’re independent, too, and you don’t like to be told what to do. You wish the Church would be a little tighter in discipline. As for the pagans, you’ve pretty much written them off. Sometimes you think the Church would be a better place if you were in charge."

Well, that's actually pretty accurate, with the exception of the discipline part. I say it's time for the Church to embrace Free Love. Forget the damn celibacy bit. I am hard on myself and others, as my poor friends know. And, wouldn't you know it, I don't particularly like being told what to do. And, yeah, I do think the church would be better off if I were Pope. Pope Billy Bob I. First edict - tamales and Shiner Bock beer are REQUIRED on Fridays. I don't care if the tamales have meat in them or not. Your choice.

I didn't know Tertullian left the Church.

Oh, wise Latin master, any relation between Tertullian and "tertulia"?

Origen, eh? Hee, hee. Now I know what to get you for your birthday! But something more advanced, with lasers. I'm sure the Sharper Image has something.

cowboyangel said...

And I'd skip the Old Testament reading once a month and replace it with a clip from Fred Astaire.

Anonymous said...

I am St. Justin Martyr! As the results explain:

"You have a positive and hopeful attitude toward the world. You think that nature, history, and even the pagan philosophers were often guided by God in preparation for the Advent of the Christ. You find “seeds of the Word” in unexpected places. You’re patient and willing to explain the faith to unbelievers."

Spot on, really. How uncanny is that? Although the portrait of the saint on the site gives him a totally rockin' beard that I don't think I could make work.

Jeff said...

Jerome! The grumpy, irascible old bastid...

"You’re a passionate Christian, fiercely devoted to Jesus Christ and his Church. You are willing to labor long hours in the Lord’s vineyard, and you have little patience with those who are less willing or able to work as you do. Your passions often carry you into temptation zones of wrath, lust, and pride."

Well, at least the last sentence is partly right.

I blame it on the lousy weather this week.

Then again, in one of Paula's quizzes - "Which Pope are you?", I came out as Pius X. Maybe I'm just a closet trad after all...

Liam said...

B. -- Congratulations, you win most obscure church father. Vivan los bonobos! (I recommend that everyone check out B's post on bonobos on his blog, btw).

Cowboy -- That's perfect, you ARE Tertullian! According to the dictionary of the Real Academia, the origin of the word "tertulia" is "uncertain." According to a website that gives no citation, however: "En estas reuniones se discutían obras de autores clásicos, entre quienes gozaba de especial predilección por parte del público Quinto Séptimo Florencio Tertuliano (160-240)."

Brian -- Good to see you! I'm glad you're happy with the results, though I'm not sure you would want to cover that chiseled chin with a rockin' beard.

Jeff -- Jerome! How did that happen? You're grumpier than I thought.

cowboyangel said...

Oh, Can I be St. Justin Martyr? I really WANT to have a "positive and hopeful attitude toward the world." Doesn't that count? Bummer that I'm such an SOB. But that's a nice description. "You find 'seeds of the Word' in unexpected places."

Liam said...

Well, at least you're not Jerome (like some people... heh, heh).

cowboyangel said...

Let me know which one you prefer, and I'll have Sharper Image gift wrap it.

Cordless Electric Knife with LED Lights.Convenient electric knife runs on batteries!
Dual serrated blades move easily and precisely through meats with virtually no effort on your part; just press a button. Ergonomic handle is beautifully designed for comfortable use. Two bright LED lights ensure you see exactly where you're slicing.

Survival Knife With High-Inensity White LED Flashlight. 3-in-1 survival MiniTool features a razor-sharp 2-inch folding blade made of high-quality 420J2 stainless steel; a super-bright, waterproof LED flashlight; and a built-in, high-decibel emergency whistle. Ergonomic handle is made of ultra-strong, lightweight Zytel® nylon and includes a handy stainless-steel belt clip and lanyard loop. Ideal for camping, hiking, boating, fishing and more.

Leatherman Surge Tool. Stainless steel Surge multitool features stronger, redesigned jaws to deliver more squeezing force with less effort, helping you maintain a firm grip. Features longer blades, stronger scissors, tougher pliers and a new awl."

Or, instead of the Surge, maybe you need the Squirt: Leatherman Squirt E4 Multitool. Keychain size multitool features high-quality pliers with serrated edges that provide a firm grip on fuses, small cables and any hard-to-reach items. Includes extra-small screwdriver; small screwdriver; Philips screwdriver; clip-point knife; wood/metal file; tweezers; and bottle opener. Slips easily into a pocket, or fasten to a keyring or backpack with the handy lanyard loop.

Liam said...

Hmm... As I said, I'm not that fond of that aspect or Origen's story. If I had to choose... Maybe the survival knife. It's the manly way to unman one's self. Although the leatherman products are attractive as well...

Garpu said...

I came out as Jerome. I didn't think it fit, but the Hoopy Frood is cracking up. Ah well. :)