My motto's always been, "When it's right, it's right."

A Reforming Layman has a challenging Civics Quiz (I only scored 50/60), so I thought I'd share another quiz, one where I scored 100%.

I don't know what mammal or Simpsons character I am, but theologically I seem to be Anselm (1033-1109), the scholastic who defined theology as "faith seeking understanding."

What say you about your theological identity?


You scored as Anselm, Anselm is the outstanding theologian of the medieval period. He sees man's primary problem as having failed to render unto God what we owe him, so God becomes man in Christ and gives God what he is due. You should read 'Cur Deus Homo?'

Anselm

100%

Which theologian are you?

On a personal note, I've always appreciated Anselm's theological contribution with the necessity of the incarnation with regard to atonement. In other words, if God sets forth to redeem from among humanity, a God-man is necessary ... due to the nature of who God is.

Some had said the incarnation was necessary because that was the way God chose, but He could have chosen another way of redemption (e.g., the death of animal). Some were saying that it was only necessary since that was the plan God came up with, but He could have come up with a different plan.

Anselm said (Gunny paraphrase), "No, based on God's character, if there's going to be redemption there has to be satisfaction of His justice. Man should do it, because it's His debt. But He cannot pay it. God could do it, being infinite, but it's not His debt. But in the Christ, in the incarnation, you have one would could do it, fully God and fully man."

For God will not do it, because he has no debt to pay; and man will not do it, because he cannot. Therefore, in order that the God-man may perform this, it is necessary that the same being should perfect God and perfect man, in order to make this atonement. For he cannot and ought not to do it, unless he be very God and very man.
-from Cur Deus Homo? (Why God became Man), II.vii

None therefore can make this satisfaction except God. And none ought to make it except man. . . . If, then, it be necessary that the kingdom of heaven be completed by man's admission, and if man cannot be admitted unless the aforesaid satisfaction for sin be first made, and if God only can, and man only ought to make this satisfaction, then necessarily One must make it who is both God and man"
- Cur Deus Homo?, II.vi