Social media, particularly Facebook, has introduced a phenomenon that has captured the attention of millions of people with too much time on their hands: the “Which one are you?” online survey.
You’ve seen them, haven’t you? For example, there is one called “Which Disney Princess Are You?” You answer a series of questions, and based on your responses the survey results identify you as most like one of Disney’s famous female characters such as Cinderella, Princess Jasmine, Belle or Pocahantas. Not being the father of daughters, I’ve never been forced to answer such questions or shell out big bucks for some overpriced princess outfits suitable only for Halloween or a visit to the Magic Kingdom.
Yet it doesn’t stop there. More recently, tied to the launch of the newest episode in the Star Wars saga, there was the one called “Which Star Wars character are you most like?” Again, you answer some questions, and a computer somewhere interprets your responses to identify you as a hero such as Luke Skywalker, a rogue such as Han Solo or a bucket of bolts such as R2-D2. Although I’m a fan of Star Wars, I haven’t taken the quiz, perhaps fearful it will inform me I am most similar to an Ewok.
My wife recently introduced me to IsideWith.com, an online survey that evaluates your opinions on various political and cultural issues and tells you with which presidential candidate you are most aligned. I took the quiz, responding to a series of question on economic, national security and social issues and discovered my preferred candidate is Calvin Coolidge.
It strikes me that some enterprising young youth pastor should come up with a website or app that would ask, “Which preacher are you?” There might be questions such as, “Where are you most comfortable preaching?” Depending on your answers…
• “Behind a pulpit” (you favor David Jeremiah)
• “Next to a video screen” (you favor Andy Stanley)
• “In a former basketball arena” (you favor Joel Osteen)
• “In my own private jet” (you favor Benny Hinn)
I would take a quiz called “Which magazine are you?” but with my luck, instead of getting Preaching I would learn I most favor AARP Journal.
Michael Duduit is founder and executive editor of Preaching and dean of the Clamp Divinity School of Anderson University in Anderson, South Carolina.