Campus CrossWalk Magazine: 2005 Fall Issue -- Are You Postmodern? (Quiz)

For the following items, choose either option 1 or option 2 for which one fits you best. Give yourself 1 point every time you choose option 1 as your answer and give yourself 2 points for every time you choose option 2 as your answer. Don't get all cutesy and choose both because it screws everything up for the scoring. Your final score will range from 26 to 52. Any score outside this range means you did not do the test as I want you to do it. That does not mean what you did is wrong, but it means that you wasted your time taking this test.

Following the test is a scale revealing something about you.

A.: 1. I seek truth.; 2. I seek meaning.

B.: 1. Most things in life are clear-cut, black and white.; 2. Most things in life are uncertain and gray.

C.: 1. Being rational makes sense.; 2. Being absurd makes sense.

D.: 1. People should be guided by their thoughts.; 2. People should be guided by their feelings.

E.: 1. 1+1=2.; 2. 1+1= ??? I do not have enough information to give you an answer.

F.: 1. I should look to authority figures for reliable information.; 2. I find that wisdom figures help me find my own answers.

G.: 1. I am supposed to be clearly defined.; 2. I find myself being intentionally mysterious.

H.: 1. History is progressive and builds upon itself.; 2. History is a stirring drama with unpredictable twists.

I.: 1. Optimism is a virtue.; 2. Uncertainty is a virtue.

J.: 1. Uncertainty is faithless.; 2. Optimism is arrogance.

K.: 1. I own my destiny.; 2. We sail or sink together.

L.: 1. I work, because if I do not, I am lazy and broke.; 2. I work because it matters, it has meaning.

M.: 1. Competition creates character.; 2. Cooperation creates character.

N.: 1. Being aggressive is effective.; 2. Being passive is respectful.

O.: 1. Logic and reason over pragmatics and what works.; 2. Pragmatics and what works over logic and reason.

P.: 1. Intolerance is discernment.; 2. Tolerance is virtuous.

Q.: 1. I can be persuaded by reason.; 2. I can be persuaded by wonder.

R.: 1. Everything in life has a truth to it.; 2. Few things are universally true.

S.: 1. Force of will is power.; 2. Relationship is power.

T.: 1. You can trust authority, position, and tradition.; 2. Trust is wise on a case by case basis.

U.: 1. Linear makes sense A+B=C.; 2. Random is reality A+ #--> )*L.

V.: 1. Proof creates belief.; 2. Story creates belief.

W.: 1. Life is comprised of a main plot.; 2. Life is collection of subplots.

X.: 1. I tend to be an either/or person.; 2. I tend to be a both/and person.

Y. If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck:: 1. It’s a duck.; 2. I can never be completely certain that it is a duck.

Z.: 1. Absolutism gives me confidence.; 2. Relativism enlightens me.

: 26: Ultra-modern.; 27-32: Very modern.; 33-38: Somewhat Modern.; 39-40: Transitional.; 41-46: Somewhat Postmodern.; 47-51: Very Postmodern.; 52: Freakishly Postmodern

Chris Gonzalez is a marriage and family therapist and freelance writer living in Jonesboro, Arkansas. He is married, with two children and has a masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and a bachelors degree in English Education and relentless thirst to learn more. Also, look for his previous articles in our archives.