[NYer]

Some of the greatest Christians of the past, admired for their learning, such as Origen and Tertullian, gave way to selfish enthusiasm. From being the scourge of heresy, they became heretics themselves. It is a lesson to those would cling to tradition not to become like the Pharisees who were the ultra-traditionalists of their day, but only in an outward and hypocritical manner.

A "pensee" on the martyrdom of St. Thomas More

[eastsider]

Some of the greatest Christians of the past, admired for their learning, such as Origen and Tertullian, gave way to selfish enthusiasm. From being the scourge of heresy, they became heretics themselves. It is a lesson to those would cling to tradition not to become like the Pharisees who were the ultra-traditionalists of their day, but only in an outward and hypocritical manner.

IMO, Origen is getting an unfair rap here. I'm not aware that Origen ever held up his self-mutilation for emulation.