Interesting (for a formal heretic, that is)

Credo quia absurdum.

"There are things I submit that are foolish enough, those concerned with the reproaches and sufferings of God. For which is more beneath God's dignity, more a matter of shame, to be born or to die, to carry about a body or a cross, to be circumcised or to be crucified, to be fed at the breast or to be buried, to be laid in a manger or to be entombed in a sepulcher? You will be wiser if you also refuse to believe these. Yet wise you cannot be, except by becoming a fool in the world through believing the foolish things of God. Whatever is beneath God's dignity is for my advantage. I am saved if I am not ashamed of my Lord. The Son of God was crucified: I am not ashamed- because it is shameful. The Son of God died: it is immedietely credible- because it is silly. He was buried, and rose again: it is certain- because it is impossible."

I do wonder if my impression of what Tertullian is getting at is actually what he was trying to express. The feeling I get is this... the idea of the Fall, the Chosen People, the Incarnation, the Death and Ressurection of a God-Man, Baptism, salvation, all of it, is just too ridiculous to be made up. It is absurd. Its far-fetched... so far fetched it can't be made up. I think that's what he was trying to say... not sure though...