Should We Be Surprised?
Posted by tom | Jun 12, 2008Check this out: I came across Mathematical Devotions through the Association for Christians in the Mathematical Sciences. Take some time to reflect upon the below devotional and rejoice in the blessing of mathematicians seeking to embrace and offer their calling with passion and creativity.
Should We Be Surprised?
Psalm 8:3, Gen 1:31, 1 Corin 13:12Wow! Look at that! How amazing that mathematical equations can be effective at modeling the physical world. But is is truly amazing? If we believe that God created order out of something formless and empty, then what is surprising about finding order in our world? Maybe we should be surprised (but also grateful) that God included people in His creation who are able to appreciate the beauty of his world. However, we should not be so arrogant that we think our mathematical models can capture the entire essence of His complex creation. We are told that now we know in part, a poor reflection; but then we shall know fully! What will be amazing is knowing fully at the time of Christ's return!
PS. I came across in Tony Watkins' Dark Matter: Shedding Light on Philip Pullman's Trilogy His Dark Materials (Downers Grove, IL: 2004) that Philip Pullman's struggles with mathematics ended his pursuit of scientific studies [taken from Philip Pullman, "Science: A Very Short Introduction," in Mary Gribbin and John Gribbin, The Science of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials (London: Hodder, 2003), p. xvi]. ... I wonder if the Subtle Knife could open up another world in which Pullman perservered and took much different view of the creation and the Creator.
