January 21, 2008

  • Context-Sensitive Theology, continued:

    Serious Numbers

    “When times are mysterious
    Serious numbers will always be heard.”

    — Paul Simon

    Recent events in world financial markets suggest a return to this topic, considered here on October 13, 2007.

    That day’s entry, on mathematics and theology, may be of use to those who are considering, as their next financial move, prayer.

    Some related material:

    1. The review in the Jan. 22 New York Times of a book by mathematics vulgarizer John Allen Paulos refuting arguments for the existence of God.

    2. Arguments in a less controversial area– for and against the consistency of elementary number theory:

      FOR: Kurt Gödel, Steven H. Cullinane, and John Dawson (See Log24– Nov. 30 and Dec. 2, 2005–  and “Gödel, Inconsistency, Provability, and Truth: An Exchange of Letters” (pdf), in the American Mathematical Society Notices of April 2006.)

      AGAINST: E. B. Davies, King’s College London (See above.)

    3. André Weil: “God exists since mathematics is consistent, and the Devil exists since we cannot prove it.”
    4. God: “605.” (NY Lottery, mid-day Jan. 20, 2008) This can, of course, be interpreted as “6/05″– which is