He explained in great detail how one can be obsessed with mathematics, and gave numerous examples of mathematicians throughout history who displayed tremendous affinity for the subject. After commenting on various uses of mathematics in biology, physics, art, engineering, etc., he concluded that mathematics, both in its precision and in its myriads of areas of application, is both a wonder and mystery.
Although the concluding thoughts were good, the talk overall was disappointing. I hoped to hear more about the brief conclusion than about all the mathematical anecdotes he spent an hour telling. Because it often appears that mathematics is an elite discipline that a very selected population can appreciate, I was hoping to get some insight into how other Christians, who may not dedicate their lives to studying mathematics, can know and experience the beauty and order of mathematics in order to know and experience God and His world better... But at the end of the day, it seemed again to reaffirm a certain scholastic gnosticism, that indeed such deep knowledge was attainable only by the chosen few. We spent more time talking about fractal geometry, Archimedes' weird perks, and mysterious, aristocratic quotes such as this, than about how they relate to God or about how a non-math person can see their beauty:
"Mathematics, rightly viewed, possesses not only truth, but supreme beauty — a beauty cold and austere, like that of sculpture, without appeal to any part of our weaker nature, without the gorgeous trappings of painting or music, yet sublimely pure, and capable of a stern perfection such as only the greatest art can show. The true spirit of delight, the exaltation, the sense of being more than Man, which is the touchstone of the highest excellence, is to be found in mathematics as surely as poetry." - Bertrand Russell
I don't object to appreciation of mathematical beauty or serious academic endeavors. I do wince at gnostic tendencies and elitism within Christian circles of scholarship. In the future, I hope to see dialogue between mathematical scholarship and Christian reflection that is both respectable in its work yet humble enough for a common child like me to understand.
I understand (and totally agree with you!) what you mean about order and how it reflects God, although I can't say I can find order in mathematics. I wish it was talked about more in Bible studies. I remember reading a verse last year about order and God, and I really, really wanted to post it, but I can't find it. =( I think it's in Isaiah.....
ReplyDeleteHmm. Could it be Isa 40:12 by any chance? He referenced it last night.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it was. I thought it was a little bit more blatant. Something like "God likes order," (HA! Ok, so it was probably not that outright, but it would be cool if it was) but it definitely could be Isaiah 40:12. I like that verse, too.
ReplyDelete