Theometry's Story
I grew up learning that math existed on one side of an imaginary fence and religion was on the other. I honestly thought of them as distinct subjects that were completely separate from each other and were not to be mixed. I knew they didn't contradict and were both useful to know. In fact, I felt strongly that they filled in each other's gaps. Yet, I never once thought during calculus class, "Wow, I wonder how this relates to God!" Nor did I ever think in Sunday School, "I wonder what Christ's Atonement can teach me about mathematics."
I grew up learning that math existed on one side of an imaginary fence and religion was on the other. I honestly thought of them as distinct subjects that were completely separate from each other and were not to be mixed. I knew they didn't contradict and were both useful to know. In fact, I felt strongly that they filled in each other's gaps. Yet, I never once thought during calculus class, "Wow, I wonder how this relates to God!" Nor did I ever think in Sunday School, "I wonder what Christ's Atonement can teach me about mathematics."
Not too long ago, I was serving a proselytizing mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly nicknamed "the Mormons".) During my mission, I came to a stunning realization: God is a God of math! My lifelong mental separation of math and religion was merely a lack of understanding! I am quite the math nerd, and I am especially fond of mathematical modeling. (Mathematical modeling is making equations that describe real-life phenomena.) So, I quickly got to work making equations that describe gospel principles. I got a couple friends to help out. Since I had just discovered a new branch of mathematics, I just had to give it a classy name. After months of spinning the gears in my head, the perfect name came to me: THEOMETRY. "Theos" is Greek for god, and "-metry" is a Greek-derived suffix that means "to measure". Thus, "theometry" would be defined as the branch of mathematics that deals with measuring the things of God. (Not to mention, there is just a special ring about the word! It sounds like a mix between the words geometry and theology.)
I am learning so much great stuff from theometry, so I have wanted to share it with the world for over a year. A few nights ago, I had the brilliant idea of giving theometry its very own blog. I just know this blog is going to be revolutionary, so be sure to become a blog follower.
What in the World is Theometry?
I know your curiosity is now peaked. What in the world is theometry?! How do math and God go together? Is God really a God of math?
Theometry is everywhere. There are many different ways that math and God relate. To see what I mean, let's take a look at the holy scriptures.
The scriptures are packed full of relationships between different things. An equation is defined as a relationship between 2 or more things. Therefore, every time a relationship is established, it can be described with a math equation. Since religion and math are being blended, these equations fall under the scope of theometry.
As a simple example, the Book of Mormon (a book of LDS scripture that goes alongside the Holy Bible) states:
"Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil (2 Nephi 2:27)."
This verse teaches that we have the freedom to make choices. If we use our freedom wisely, our freedom will increase. Otherwise, our freedom will decrease. There is a clear relationship between our choices and our freedom. Thus, there must be an equation to describe how our choices and freedom relate. (In a later post, I will discuss the actual math behind this verse, but for now I just want to demonstrate that it contains math.)
Modeling gospel relationships is only the tip of the iceberg. As will be discussed in future blog posts, math can be used to analyze the scriptures' and modern-day prophets' literary structures, self-consistency, progression of civilizations, name derivations, and so on. Looking at scriptural writings from a mathematical perspective enables us to test their plausibility. Math can be used to determine the likelihood that life on this planet occurred by chance rather than having been created intentionally by a Divine Power. The possibilities are truly endless.
Is Theometry of the Devil?
As I have worked to develop theometry and have told some of my close friends about it, I have met a lot of resistance. As an example, one person told me that theometry is in complete opposition to the will of God. He argued that God wants us to live according to faith, not according to mathematical formulas. He further contended that it is a sin to try and measure God.
Is theometry really a sin? I do not believe it is. The scriptures teach us that "God created all things (Book of Mormon, Mosiah 4:9)." If this is true, did not God create math? The scriptures also teach that "all things...are made for the benefit and the use of man (Doctrine and Covenants 59:18)." We must conclude that God made math for our use and benefit. Any time that math is used to solve a real-world problem, one or more of God's creations are being measured. So, in a sense, one is measuring the things of God. If theometry really was a sin, then no math should be engaged in. However, as I already showed, God made math for our use and benefit. Furthermore, the scriptures teach that "all things which are good cometh of God (Book of Mormon, Moroni 7:12)." Engaging in theometry has done nothing but build my faith (contrary to what my one friend said would happen.) Is it not then of God?
Many incorrectly think that faith is completely blind. That notion is completely contrary to the Lord's teachings on faith found in Alma 32 and Hebrews 11. Yes, we need to take a step into the darkness, trusting that the Lord will take care of us if we follow Him. But, where does this trust come from? We gain the trust to follow God from the evidences we have seen up to that point. Faith is evidence-based belief that motivates us to act even when it is difficult. Therefore, seeing mathematical support for God will increase our faith if we are yielding our heart unto Him.
Stay Tuned
As I previously stated, I know this blog's future content will cause a paradigm shift. No reader of it will ever think about math and religion in the same way again. So, I am once again petitioning you to become a blog follower.
Be sure to check out my other blog that gives answers to life's tough questions at mormonanswersforlife.blogspot.com
