I read recently that the introduction of the concept and numeral "zero" led to the philosophy of atheism. Prior to the usage of 0 in mathematics, the "starting point" of numbers was "1". This was in line with many religious beliefs that there is One beginning force, God, or Unity. I'll have to post back again when I read through the essay enough times to truly understand the implications of "zero" on our world view. But it's interesting.
Another essay in this same book, "Sacred Geometry" (can't recall the author) posits that all the "stuff" that we encounter is vibrations. Sound waves are interpreted by our ears, light waves (or particles behaving as waves... whichever) are interpreted by our eyes, etc. Atomic particles are vibrating. Even the "empty space" between planets is now thought to be some stuff that is slightly vibrating. And the spiral patterns of the galaxies are the residual shape of the pattern created by a sonic boom. There was some primal original beginning of the vibrations, as if the stars themselves were spoken into existance. :) Another thing that I want to read more about.
Today, when I was waxing poetic about these two subjects, one of my math students asked me, "Why do you like math so much?" How do you answer that? I stared at her for a moment, then replied that I just think it's so cool that math is actually in everything: architecture, astronomy, biology, chemistry, computers, design, economics, electronics, engineering, food science, Graphic art, music, quilting, sculpture, physics (WAY cool), radio technology, satelite usage. But I think it's really cool that the proportions of pi, phi, and the Fibonacci sequence are mathematical forms that are found so often in the natural world, it can't be an "accident." So, I guess that make me quite the geek. (I actually have 2 different books entitled "Sacred Geometry" and one called "Mathematics: Is God Silent," that I read for personal enrichment and enjoyment.) Yikes! But I also let my teenager dye her hair purple, repeatedly! And have been contemplating tatoos (even though Oropher disapproves). So, maybe I'm more balanced than the "White and Nerdy" guy.
