George posted: " My major reason for considering this whole line of
argument to be at best "mildly interesting" is, however, theological, and
can be stated in 3 parts.
1) Getting pi from Gen.1:1 & e from Jn.1:1 yields little of
theological significance. It's supposed to prove that the Bible is
divinely inspired but at most it could prove that those 2 verses are
inspired. & one could even argue from the fact that there isn't any
similar mathematical correspondence for other parts of scripture that
_only_ those verses are inspired.
2) The argument can be of value only for getting the attention
of unbelievers and suggesting to them that the message of the Bible
deserves some consideration. Has it done so? How many conversions have
begun with this argument?
3) If anybody does take this message seriously, it's going to be
very easy for them to get the idea that pi and e are the really deep
level of scripture hidden below the surface details about the history of
Israel & the church - just as in _Contact_ pi is hidden below the primes
and Hitler and
the plans for the transit device. & this would be disastrous
theologically, for the deep meaning of scripture is Jesus Christ.
Total agreement (unusual between me & George). I will only observe that
reason #3 is the key one, at least for me.
John Burgeson (Burgy)
www.burgy.50megs.com
(science/theology, quantum mechanics, baseball, ethics,
humor, cars, God's intervention into natural causation, etc.)
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