Leonardo"s Notebook by Mattheus Mei

I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do.

Monday, February 18, 2008

Which Church Father are you?

Congratulations, You are....


Origen

I took the quiz over at FathersoftheChurch.com, and from my answers it was determined that I identify most with Origen. I'm not terribly sure how I feel about this, Origen in some circles is defended as a Father of the Church, in others he is anathematized and called Heretic.

From the quiz:

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.

Catholic Encyclopedia tends to take a more sympathetic approach to Origen and his corpus, while Wikipedia is a bit more reserved about Origen's ultimate place within the Church though they do quote the fifth ecumenical council of Constantinople where he is anathematized: If anyone does not anathematize Arius, Eunomius, Macedonius, Apollinaris, Nestorius, Eutyches and Origen, as well as their impious writings, as also all other heretics already condemned and anathematized by the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, and by the aforesaid four Holy Synods and [if anyone does not equally anathematize] all those who have held and hold or who in their impiety persist in holding to the end the same opinion as those heretics just mentioned: let him be anathema.

On the whole though I would probably side with the Catholic Encyclopedia - Origen only erred in his want and failure to amalgamize Greek Philosophy and Christian Theology. And Origen can't be held responsible for those outrages perpetrated in his name long after his death when people wildly interpretted his writings for their own gain - almost like Ronald Reagan and the modern American conservatives (barb). So I suppose ultimately I'm ok with being an "Origenist" so long as I don't have to castrate myself.

So what Father of the Church are you?

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3 comments:

Fr. Gaurav Shroff said...

I somehow doubt that there's any danger of you reaching for the kitchen shears ... :)

That Icon is interesting. It gives him the title 'O 'Agios ... Saint. He's never been canonized.

Mattheus Mei said...

Yeah, you're right - no danger here!!! - That Icon is from an American Jesuit (Creighton University) who from the rest of his work doesn't mind being very inclusive or open to making an icon for anyone so long as you request it. His body of work is very American/Native American - reminds me of a hold out for liberation theology.

St. Izzy said...

On Origin:

It has also been fairly well established now that the specific teachings for which Origin was (way posthumously) anathematized were not actually his own teachings, but those of some who claimed to be followers of his teachings.

Not to say that he didn't have his problems.

Oh, and if you don't like the wiki article, you can always change it.

Izzy
afraid to take the quiz