Have you ever gone to a butcher whose name was Trevor Lamb, or had a school-teacher called Ms. Chalke? Someone whose name has a fit \u2013\u00a0ironic or otherwise \u2013 with the job they do? It\u2019s a common enough occurence that the phenomenon even has a name: aptonyms<\/i>.<\/p>\n
Aptonyms are, of course, a great source of humour. Although he didn\u2019t actually invent the flush toilet, Thomas Crapper was<\/i> a plumber in 19th Century London, as well as a manufacturer and purveyor of lavatorial equipment. And what other career could Doctor D Weedon have pursued, but urology?<\/p>\n
But aptonyms raise serious questions also about nominative determinism<\/i>. Could somebody\u2019s name actually determine their career choice? Or is it just random chance \u2013\u00a0try enough lawyers and you\u2019re bound to come across one called Crook?<\/p>\n
To bring this topic a little closer to my early morning TV viewing habits, I want to ask, \u201cDid Rolls-Royce-driving, private-jet-flying, Prosperity-Gospel-preaching, quality-dental-work-advertising, televangelist Creflo Dollar become the multi-millionaire Senior Pastor of World Changers Church International and CEO of Creflo Dollar Ministries (offices in the USA, Australia, the UK, Nigeria and South Africa) because his surname is Dollar? Or because Jesus told him to?\u201d<\/p>\n
Now, I can’t decide what I think. Sure, this is exactly the kind of thing Jesus got up to back in the day. He had nowhere to lay his head except an uptown Nazareth condo. His last supper was caviar and truffles and imported wines from the Roman Empire\u2019s western provinces. And, of course, his ministry received the clearest sign of God\u2019s abundant blessing when he was executed. Because nothing says, \u201cGod wants you to experience release and prosperity in every aspect of your life \u2013 financial, physical and spiritual\u201d better than getting hung on a cross until you are dead.<\/p>\n
But still, I\u2019m left with some lingering doubts. Maybe I\u2019d be able to figure it out if I had a different surname.<\/p>\n
File under:<\/i> prosperity pyramid scheme | ok, so how do you explain prince aka love symbol aka the artist formerly known as prince?<\/p>\n