Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Finding God In Math
The blog of Chuck Colson staffers, The Point had some interesting posts a while back. It started with a Homer Hickam story and ended in a discussion of beautiful equations. They caught my eye with the equation stuff.
Most people think it strange that we science types call equations "beautiful." I think that is because such people view math as a chore rather than a description. The world is full of ways to share what we see. Some do it with speech, others with painting, some with the camera, some in dance..., and some of us with equations. When describing what we see with equations is done well, it is, just as art is, beautiful.
A great painting can place the viewer in the location depicted, and create the sensations the artist felt there. So too can a great equation, launch a rocket, and with but a single equation, f=ma, I can tell you where that rocket will be a week from now, within fractions of an inch. Such is the descriptive power of the equation.
So, why do we see art enshrined in our houses of worship, but not equations? Why do we see the beauty of the painting celebrated in the church, but not the beauty of mathematics?
Well, comphrehendibility would be one answer. Most people can appreicate on some level the beauty of a painting, but for some reason, they cannot so appreciate mathermatics. Noted science fiction writer, and atheist, Arthur C Clarke said this:
But we should not be fooled, for the true mystery of religion lies in its supernatural, and therefore genuinely incomprehendable, origins. Science, while appearing myterious, is the creation of the fully comprehendable man.
The church must embrace science, even teach it. In the teaching, in the understanding, lies the answer to the debate. Understanding destroys mystery, and without mystery, only faith lies wholly true.
Related Tags: science, religion, mystery, authority, truth
Most people think it strange that we science types call equations "beautiful." I think that is because such people view math as a chore rather than a description. The world is full of ways to share what we see. Some do it with speech, others with painting, some with the camera, some in dance..., and some of us with equations. When describing what we see with equations is done well, it is, just as art is, beautiful.
A great painting can place the viewer in the location depicted, and create the sensations the artist felt there. So too can a great equation, launch a rocket, and with but a single equation, f=ma, I can tell you where that rocket will be a week from now, within fractions of an inch. Such is the descriptive power of the equation.
So, why do we see art enshrined in our houses of worship, but not equations? Why do we see the beauty of the painting celebrated in the church, but not the beauty of mathematics?
Well, comphrehendibility would be one answer. Most people can appreicate on some level the beauty of a painting, but for some reason, they cannot so appreciate mathermatics. Noted science fiction writer, and atheist, Arthur C Clarke said this:
Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.Because most people do not understand mathematics, science, and technology it gains the aura, if you will, of shamanism. With that aura, far too many people have capitalized to gain personal political power. Because that power has roots in apparent mystery, it battles the truly mysterious, religion, for legitimacy.
But we should not be fooled, for the true mystery of religion lies in its supernatural, and therefore genuinely incomprehendable, origins. Science, while appearing myterious, is the creation of the fully comprehendable man.
The church must embrace science, even teach it. In the teaching, in the understanding, lies the answer to the debate. Understanding destroys mystery, and without mystery, only faith lies wholly true.
Related Tags: science, religion, mystery, authority, truth
