Fractions as extreme evil?

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I’m not talking about superstitious behavior involving numbers, but those that are published within the Holy Bible. The number 3,042, for example, does not interest me because it’s not in the Holy Bible.
Seriously, many of us do not take a tithe very seriously…even more so, neither do we a tenth of a tenth.

God’s peace

micah
 
At least forty five forty fifths of this thread relate to the OP.
 
Numbers in the Torah have mystical properties. I suspect they do in Catholic mysticism too.
 
We all know that numbers, such as the numbers three and 40-days, have biblical meaning, but what about fractions? I heard that fractions represent extreme evil.
I heard that Pythagoreans believe Irrational Numbers were evil, something like that. But I haven’t hear that about fractions. And when you think about it when Jesus broke the twelve into groups of two (or 2/12ths) the were given the authority to cast out evil spirits, so maybe the opposite is true?

[BIBLEDRB]Mark 6:7[/BIBLEDRB]
 
More sarcasm. Can we get back to my OP?
Robert, you may have something to support your question (to a degree). The bronze laver of Solomon’s temple is described as being 10 cubits in diameter and 30 cubits in circumference. (1 Kings 7:23) We know that C= D x p.
10 x 3.14 = 31.4 cubits, not 30 cubits.

There was a lip to the laver of one handbreadth. If a handbreadth is 3 inchs and a cubit is 18 inches, then the actual diameter from which the circumference was measured beneath the lip of the laver would have been about 9.66 cubits.
9.66 x 3.14= 30.3324 cubits and not 30 cubits.

On the other hand, the laver may not have been circular.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molten_Sea

Regardless, it seems probable that the scriptures round off numbers, rather than use fractions.

God’s peace

micah
 
I heard that Pythagoreans believe Irrational Numbers were evil, something like that. But I haven’t hear that about fractions. And when you think about it when Jesus broke the twelve into groups of two (or 2/12ths) the were given the authority to cast out evil spirits, so maybe the opposite is true?

[BIBLEDRB]Mark 6:7[/BIBLEDRB]
Yes, that is true. In order to avoid irrational numbers, they would find a fractional ratio which fit the number. They did not like decimal numbers of any type, as a matter of fact. So 3.5 would be 7/2, etc.
 
We all know that numbers, such as the numbers three and 40-days, have biblical meaning, but what about fractions? I heard that fractions represent extreme evil.
Define “extreme evil.”
Who did you hear it from?
Are numbers not written in the Bible evil?
 
Robert, you may have something to support your question (to a degree). The bronze laver of Solomon’s temple is described as being 10 cubits in diameter and 30 cubits in circumference. (1 Kings 7:23) We know that C= D x p.
10 x 3.14 = 31.4 cubits, not 30 cubits.

There was a lip to the laver of one handbreadth. If a handbreadth is 3 inchs and a cubit is 18 inches, then the actual diameter from which the circumference was measured beneath the lip of the laver would have been about 9.66 cubits.
9.66 x 3.14= 30.3324 cubits and not 30 cubits.

On the other hand, the laver may not have been circular.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molten_Sea

Regardless, it seems probable that the scriptures round off numbers, rather than use fractions.

God’s peace

micah
It is far more likely that the Israelites simply didn’t know what pi is. I believe it was the Greeks who discovered that precise ratio…
 
You mean *precise **irrational *“pi.”
Well, if we are using Euclidean geometry, then we can define it as the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. But you are right in saying that it is irrational, because the two numbers in that ratios are not integers.
 
Robert, this isn’t meant as a slight against you. I struggle with OCD, so I’m just coming at it from that perspective.

Years ago I heard a joke about the number 6 being evil, since it was part of the number of the beast. As I already had OCD, it was just more fuel for the fire. I used to repeat things, like closing a door, turning lights off, etc., and after I thought of that, I avoided the number 6. Either repeat my actions 5 times, or 7 or more. But never 6. For a time I even worried about multiples of 6, like 12. 6 is two 12s, so I thought it was closer to the number of the beast, and had to be avoided. For a while I even thought 3 might be wrong, because it divided into 6. I know this sounds like a joke, but I’m completely serious.

I don’t know if you suffer from scrupulosity, but if you do, please talk with your priest. He can help you, and if you ever want to talk, feel free to PM me. 🙂
 
Robert, this isn’t meant as a slight against you. I struggle with OCD, so I’m just coming at it from that perspective.

Years ago I heard a joke about the number 6 being evil, since it was part of the number of the beast. As I already had OCD, it was just more fuel for the fire. I used to repeat things, like closing a door, turning lights off, etc., and after I thought of that, I avoided the number 6. Either repeat my actions 5 times, or 7 or more. But never 6. For a time I even worried about multiples of 6, like 12. 6 is two 12s, so I thought it was closer to the number of the beast, and had to be avoided. For a while I even thought 3 might be wrong, because it divided into 6. I know this sounds like a joke, but I’m completely serious.

I don’t know if you suffer from scrupulosity, but if you do, please talk with your priest. He can help you, and if you ever want to talk, feel free to PM me. 🙂
I use to put a lot of faith into numbers too. For me it was the number 13, and 6:16 on the clock. The number six is equal to the points on the Star od David, and hence holy.
 
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