Can God be proven mathematically?

[I_love_rocks]

Any trip. Feel free to discuss whatever relations you see between God and mathematics, or if you even believe such a relation can be made

Thank you,
Eugen von Böhm-Bawerk

I love the question. It’s intriguing. But I think the logic, (logic which is also mathmatical) is reversed. God created math, like He created the laws of nature (gravity, etc.). He is far above the laws He created, so He’s neither guided by them, nor submissive to them. But, He does use the natural, and use the laws He created to prove natural consequences (the parables, sermons, teachings, etc.) The question isn’t can Math prove God. The question is can God prove math? - because math is the lesser and must give way to the greater. Yes. Because it is ordered as He has ordered it (subject to Him). And like Him, it does not change. He alone, by His own power, can supercede the laws of math which He has designed to govern part of our existence. But you already know that.

 

[bmonk]

So basically those who are closer to God notice the evils of society? Morality is the result of socialization, not because it is an “equilibrium.” If Hitler was closer to the devil, shouldn’t he have realized being closer to God was a better choice? This “risk-reward” is not more than playing multiple hands to better your odds. No one, and I mean no one, will ever have their odds at one. (excluding Jesus)

Those closer to God not only notice the evils of society; they are acutely more sensitive to their own failings. Theresa of Liseaux, if I recall correctly, was often very much aware of how far she was from God due to her own sins (minor, in most persons’ eyes). Mother Theresa of Calcutta had a very difficult time feeling close to God.

It only makes sense: if our clothes are used on the farm to clean out the pig barns, who would notice another little clot of muck? But throw that same little clot onto a wedding dress or tuxedo. . . .

 

[mcteague]

There’s a great story about Leonhard Euler and the French philosopher Denis Diderot, in which they were invited to have a debate about God’s existence in St Petersburgh. Euler went up to Diderot and said: “Sir, (a + b^n) / n = x, therefore God exists. Respond!” But Diderot didn’t know anything about algebra, and was so embarrassed that he left the country.

Unfortunately it’s not a true story, since Diderot was actually quite good at math.

This is from Lacelot Hogben’s “Mathematics for the million” A wonderful single volume math primer for the average man from the early 20th century. I did not know it was not true. But Hogben was making the point that mathematics is a language. And if you just learn some vocabulary and grammar, it is not that terrifying. Well worth picking up if you missed some math basics in high school.