Math and Ministry?? Is it possible?

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Noose

Senior Member
#21
Apr 18, 2016
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#21
My comp is very slow, and i can't respond directly, sorry.

Think of it this way, -2 is a value way way less than +2, lesser than 0 in fact- if you multiply it by another value (-2) which is also way less than +2, you'll get a value. The value you get can not be the same as when you take +2 (higher value than -2) and multiply it with another higher value (+2). IT IS ILLOGICAL.
 
EarnestQ

EarnestQ

Senior Member
#22
Apr 28, 2016
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#22
According to the rules of Logic (a field of study all in its own), two negatives make a positive.

For instance, "I don't not want to do that", actually means that I do want to do that.

Is this where we have the issue?
 
Isny

Isny

Senior Member
#23
Jan 15, 2017
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#23
EarnestQ said:
According to the rules of Logic (a field of study all in its own), two negatives make a positive.

For instance, "I don't not want to do that", actually means that I do want to do that.

Is this where we have the issue?
Click to expand...
.......but a double negative is very poor grammar. An English teacher in grade school would have a heart attack. lol
 
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Noose

Senior Member
#24
Apr 18, 2016
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#24
EarnestQ said:
According to the rules of Logic (a field of study all in its own), two negatives make a positive.

For instance, "I don't not want to do that", actually means that I do want to do that.

Is this where we have the issue?
Click to expand...
Yes, we should all have a problem with that.
Even a number line should show some flaw with this mathematical law.
 
D

Depleted

Guest
#25
#25
Angela_grace said:
Hey, everyone!

So I have not been on here much lately and do not post much at all, but I had a random question I thought that I would ask y'all (Yes, I am a Texan). I am currently a college student at a private university majoring in mathematics. Yes, that dreaded thing most everyone hates. I am about to finish my second year, and thus have two more years left. I grew up in ministry and that is where I feel at home. Yet I do not know how one can use math to serve God and minister directly. Hence, my question: What is a profession/career in which you can both serve God and use math. And when I say math I mean like beyond just numbers. I've racked my brain trying to think of something. Who knows maybe it's not something for me to figure out, but for God to reveal. Feel free to throw out your suggestions and have fun with it. :)
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You're thinking too small. Everything you do is to serve God. It's not just your job that serves God. I've washed dishes for the Lord, pulled weeds, helped kids in trouble, sold IT manuals to techies, helped tenants get something dealt with in their apartments, and even did bookkeeping, but all of that was for the Lord.

Why are you getting that degree? What do you want to do with it? What's your passion? Do that for the Lord!

If I had mad math mojo, I can see me being the brains behind how to make a much-needed dam. I'd love to be the person who figures out how accurate carbon dating really it. I'd love to be the person who could make an easy-peasy amortization app for folks who'd like to work out how to pay down their mortgage faster. Of course, since I've got little math mojo, (unless you convert numbers into money lol), I have no idea what you can do with your degree.

So, what did you want to do with it?
 
posthuman

posthuman

Senior Member
#26
Jul 31, 2013
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#26
Noose said:
There are so many ways to get the value 4, but focusing on the value -2 and +2 and the expression/path multiplication- if the expression (multiplication) is constant and the values which are being multiplied by themselves are different, we can not have a result value that is similar in both equations.

Try a number line, it still doesn't work.
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Try drawing a graph of x squared. Of y = x*x
 
D

Depleted

Guest
#27
#27
posthuman said:


you really only get taught "logic" in college if you're in a couple of fields -- philosophy, to a certain degree in computer science ((they're really doing math tho)), and in math. the whole concept of 'proof' in ethics & philosophy & debate et al, which can be a hurdle for a lot of people in those departments, is wrapped up in a class that goes through Euclid's geometry. i can't even begin to list all the seemingly-unrelated arguments i've been able to see clearly through by understanding what it takes to prove existence and uniqueness, which i learned simply in terms of the intersections of a circle and a line.

how useful is logic!?
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Hubby went to community college when he was in his late 30's. First semester, so didn't have to declare a major, but one of the course he took was logic. (Would have been interesting too, if the prof didn't think he had to prove to two dumb kids that a cat has nine tails doesn't mean there really is a cat with nine tails somewhere for most of the semester.)
 
Dude653

Dude653

Senior Member
#29
Mar 19, 2011
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#29
i hate math.
its tedious and annoying
 
Lynx

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
#31
Aug 13, 2014
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#31
On the other hand... Math can sometimes really mess up a job.



Hi, I'm your new, new meteorologist, and a former software developer. Sorry about those last two guys.

Say, when we say 12pm is it the hour from 12 to 1 or the hour centered around 12:00, like 11:30 to 12:30? Or is it just a snapshot at exactly 12:00? Because our 24-hour forecast has midnight at both ends, and I'm concerned that we might have an off-by-one error here...
 
Angela_grace

Angela_grace

Senior Member
#32
Jan 3, 2016
196
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#32
Depleted said:
You're thinking too small. Everything you do is to serve God. It's not just your job that serves God. I've washed dishes for the Lord, pulled weeds, helped kids in trouble, sold IT manuals to techies, helped tenants get something dealt with in their apartments, and even did bookkeeping, but all of that was for the Lord.

Why are you getting that degree? What do you want to do with it? What's your passion? Do that for the Lord!

If I had mad math mojo, I can see me being the brains behind how to make a much-needed dam. I'd love to be the person who figures out how accurate carbon dating really it. I'd love to be the person who could make an easy-peasy amortization app for folks who'd like to work out how to pay down their mortgage faster. Of course, since I've got little math mojo, (unless you convert numbers into money lol), I have no idea what you can do with your degree.

So, what did you want to do with it?
Click to expand...
I guess that is the problem. I did not have a real passion for what I wanted to do with my degree when I decided to major in it. I honestly had no idea what I wanted major in, varied from engineering to counseling. I decided on math since I have been very good at it since a young age. And my logic was/is that if God blessed me with the ability to understand math as well as I do he blessed me for a purpose. Thus, I am majoring in mathematics. Leaves my options open. And I enjoy what I am learning. It doesn't take a whole lot out of me to learn new math concepts. I am not saying everything is easy but a lot of the math is. It makes sense to me and it is fun. It's like an art my brain runs away with it.
 
Angela_grace

Angela_grace

Senior Member
#33
Jan 3, 2016
196
10
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#33
Noose said:
My comp is very slow, and i can't respond directly, sorry.

Think of it this way, -2 is a value way way less than +2, lesser than 0 in fact- if you multiply it by another value (-2) which is also way less than +2, you'll get a value. The value you get can not be the same as when you take +2 (higher value than -2) and multiply it with another higher value (+2). IT IS ILLOGICAL.
Click to expand...
I understand what you are saying. But if you think of a negative as the opposite of the number, it makes some sense. If you have -2 it is basically the opposite of 2. If you multiplied -2 by itself, you are making it the opposite value of itself and then multiplying the value by a factor of 2. Thus, why you end up with the number 4. I think it's logical. Could just be that I'm a math freak though. :)
 
Angela_grace

Angela_grace

Senior Member
#34
Jan 3, 2016
196
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#34
posthuman said:



does this carry over to the faith, too? absolutely, IMO. no, you can't get a job as a 'Biblical numerologist' in all likelihood, unless you write a best-selling book about it. but your'e gonna have to do something for a living while you write your book, haha. it carries over to the faith in terms of the way learning number theory, analysis, and modern algebra makes you look at, and think about things in an abstract, but rigorous and systematic way. i used to work as a tutor, and i had to learn to explain the fundamental theorem of calculus, or the basics of probability etc. in like 10 different ways, because there would be 10 different people asking me for help with their HW, and each of them wouldn't get it if i tried to tell them 9 ways, but 1 way, it would click. i was being taught to see these theorems from 10 different angles, all describing the same fundamental truths. the Bible, like math, is describing truth, and describing the same truth in various ways: the scripture is all about Christ, and with calculus, for example, you are taking one theorem: the fundamental one, and applying it to an infinite number of equations. because you understand the fundamental theorem, you can take derivatives and integrals of any smooth, continuous function. in a similar way with scripture, comprehending the Messiah and the message of salvation, you can 'integrate' all kinds of scripture and see Him, the Answer, written in it. you can 'derive' Christ from many different 'expressions' by knowing the basis of God's message to us, just like a single generalized theorem applies to a vast number of specific instances. it's a way of training your mind to search out and reveal truth, and understanding. to see and describe patterns and relationships. we might not know it, but we're doing a kind of spiritual algebra when we understand the gospel in the scriptures :)


and you know, if you haven't heard the joke yet, you can always 'put your math degree to work' in culinary arts ;)
feed the poor !
Click to expand...
Really liked how you used all those math terms to define the Bible and Christianity.
 
N

Noose

Senior Member
#35
Apr 18, 2016
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#35
Angela_grace said:
I understand what you are saying. But if you think of a negative as the opposite of the number, it makes some sense. ...
Click to expand...
If your statement is correct then the mathematical expression; 4=-4 should also be true.

IMO, numbers are not just numbers but have a sense of direction.
 
EarnestQ

EarnestQ

Senior Member
#36
Apr 28, 2016
2,588
310
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#36
Angela_grace said:
I guess that is the problem. I did not have a real passion for what I wanted to do with my degree when I decided to major in it. I honestly had no idea what I wanted major in, varied from engineering to counseling. I decided on math since I have been very good at it since a young age. And my logic was/is that if God blessed me with the ability to understand math as well as I do he blessed me for a purpose. Thus, I am majoring in mathematics. Leaves my options open. And I enjoy what I am learning. It doesn't take a whole lot out of me to learn new math concepts. I am not saying everything is easy but a lot of the math is. It makes sense to me and it is fun. It's like an art my brain runs away with it.
Click to expand...


Solving math problems requires a special type of thinking process. You have to be methodical and think through things step by step. It also requires a certain type of troubleshooting skills. You may find that those same thinking skills can be applied to computer programming.

I invite you to try two or three computer programming classes and see if you enjoy that type of procedural and problem solving work. Make sure at least one class is in an "object oriented" language like C++ or JAVA.

If you want to start teaching yourself, which is an easy and interesting to do for those with the aptitude for it, start by watching video tutorials about Python programming. If you find it to be fun, keep at it.

(Being in the field myself, I invite you to eventually look into programming in Qt5, which is a GUI programming layer on top of C++. With all the new technology that will be coming out in the future, there will be [is already] a need for people who can design attractive GUIs for that technology. It is something that can be learned on your own if you work at it.)

You don't need to really understand what I am talking about. Just start educating yourself about it on youtube and see if it strikes your fancy.

If you have any specific questions about pursuing this, you can IM me.
 
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