Math is of the Devil. No really, it is,

Description: A short essay on the nature of Math as a study created by the Devil for the purpose of being a stumbling block to man.


I must confess, this blog post will be quite saturated with bias, but that's what blogs are, right? There's only been one time in my life when I loved math, and that was in the 3rd grade. My twin brother and I began learning about times tables in the grade previous and it was at this time that our teachers expected us to be masters of those tables of times. They tried using all manner of tricks to make it exciting, and, well, it worked. "Around the World" was the big hit of the year, requiring one student to stand up next to another to compete, sweating, shaking, mumbling numbers under your breath, for you knew that this determined your coolness amongst your peers in a single question. In a battle of speed, one would answer a times table question correctly to move on to the next student. Stay up and challenge every student in the class and you win...champion status. In addition, my brother and I prepared long and hard for the epitome of times table perfection that was "The Test". The test was simply this, each student receives a worksheet with all times tables 0-9 (100 total) and after a count of 3, you flip the paper over and begin working on them as fast as possible. The first to get done once again achieves...champion status, which at the time was enough to entice our feeble minds into such a race. My twin brother ended up winning that competition, and I came in a close 2nd. The Berrett twins dominated, 'nuff said. But what had we really gained out of this? What would we be using this new found talent for? I submit that it was trickery!

A quick glance at the many ways we can find ourselves in fault with one another and/or ourselves, math can be found at the root. Lets take a look at some of those ways.

Currency: Trade and consumables have been the root of any civilization since the world began. In fact, no civilization might need exist if it were not for the need of trade. Consider this: We consider civilization purposeful in our sharing of resources, defense, and social relations. However, what was the commandment that Adam and Eve were left with when they were cast out of the Garden? Multiply and replenish the Earth. Well, that fills one of those purposes of civilization, social relations, but what of the other two? Mathematics is to blame for those. See, in the cunning devises of Satan, a way was created for man to exert power, one over another. The Earth was made with plenty of resources, and ways for us to go about attaining those resources. By the sweat of our brow were we to go and work the earth, using our dominion of the animals as well, to find subsistence for ourselves and our loved ones. However, though unrecorded, as soon as mathematics was used to judge performance, divide lands in distances, delegate work by hours and number of workers, and so forth, the struggle against working by the sweat of our brow began. Classes are spawned and victory is determined by wealth (summation), land owned (total area), and your might, which we will come to later. All of the sudden, math is put at the forefront of whether or not a man might find happiness as  his neighbor does. Once currency is introduced into a civilization, that property suddenly has mathematical value. That number of acres now means much more than just the food that can be put on the table. That number of acres has a value, and adjusting other numbers and equations such as the number of workers needed, how many hours they can work in a day, how many pints of water they will have to drink, what food can I feed them with that won't cost me too much, is there a less-profitable piece of land that I can sell to one less-fortunate than I, etc. changes relationships forever; our purpose is no longer the same. We lose sight of the end goal, but instead focus on the worldly happiness provided by dominance of one over the other.

Dehumanization: Let me draw your attention back to what it is that necessitates civilization. Recall that I listed defense as a reason for civilization to be born. Why do we need defense? Because one civilization finds reason to enact force upon another for gain. That gain is usually found in possessions, such as land, resources, technologies, etc. The charge we were given, to multiply and replenish the earth is in stark contrast to this, yet man still finds reason to conquest. Would man feel the need to conquest if there was no value, or monetary placement on goods, and if mathematics did not determine the greatness of one over another? What if a man never said "Hey, that guy has more sheep than me!" Conquest might also come out of blood lust though, which creates an interesting scenario. How does a commander choose his or her victim? Often by the gains that would be reaped. However, it is also by numbers. The number of miles that must be trod, the number of supplies that must be carried, the number of troops in the opposing force, the area that must be occupied, the speed at which a march must consistently hold for surprise. Geometry determines angles of attack, arcs of arrow falls, and patterns of troop deployment for efficiency. As you can see, it is by the numbers that a commander wins his or her victory, though they find those bonds with their soldiers, classes were still created, and mathematics say that some must fall. Was it not a numbers game when deciding on the use of the Atomic bomb in World War 2?

In addition, politicking is included. Administration of the Nations we have created are expected to mathematically solve all of our problems now. Say there is a food shortage (which there always is, hmm, wonder why), calculations and computations say increase the output of farms, hire more workers, expand its borders, increase the rate of lobbying, and even improve donations of....what? That's right, money. Statistics, that's what is at play here. Statistics that make the difference between the livelihood of one against the other. Who "really" is in need is determined by statistics, suddenly we know time lines, ratios, graphs, charts, diagrams, and bell curves. Gerrymandering, a practice construed by politicians based on statistics to increase votes in election time, is not even found in the constitution and yet is a wide spread practice that would make you and I embarrassed of our country if more people knew about it. Statistics does this! Instead of putting the strength into the hands of the parents, we hand over the education and health of our children to the statisticians to determine what it is that they need. "There is a drop in the English scores this year" they say, and all of the sudden the child that you thought had a voluminous vocabulary is having to be held back to wait for the rest.

Time: Technology has solved a lot of problems for us. Granted, it has created others as well. However, mathematics is all about solutions. Time and time again, we all come to the same solutions. No matter how many times the problem is worked, 4+4 is still equal to 8, -1 + 1 is still equal to 0, and Pi is still the most ridiculous number ever construed. Pi is the perfect example for my point though. Yes, Pi is used extensively in many equations, however, for some reason, many perfectly intelligent people every year take it upon themselves to find as many numbers behind the decimal as possible. Why? Because they are mathematicians and they can. What would it solve? Absolutely nothing. Would it get us more accurate solutions to equations using Pi? Yes. Does that change anything? No. We are a smart people, mathematics happens to be one of those things that quite easily visibly proves that. Yet here we are stuck, calculating the same equations over and over again for students so that they can see how we came up with those equations. But why? Did someone forget to tell the math teachers that we have calculators? Would not any equation requiring the use of a complex calculator be equated likely in a professional setting and thus the equator have the funds to purchase a calculator capable of equating such an equation, rendering the equator the time he or she needs to move further in their project? Mathematics is one field where history cannot be erased. There is certain truth in the solutions. And though as explained above, it would be nice if we didn't have to use those solutions, we do now, and we need not keep ourselves restrained to the relearning of what we already know. Use the calculator. Satan would have has waste our time, not necessarily just with mathematics, but that is a way of doing it. He would have us spend so much time learning about the different ways taxes can be calculated, supply and demand be balanced, and statistics influence for good or for bad. 

Inspiration and Creativity: Finally, mathematics limits inspiration and creativity and many fields. True craftsmen of centuries ago needn't a ruler with inches, needn't a chalk line, or a template. Instead they got so good at what they did, that they could, with speed mind you, create the products necessary for development. Coupled with politicking and men feeling the need to exercise authority, one over the other, buildings have codes, factories have parameters, and everything is made for efficiency to turn the best profit. No more is product development about a love and a passion about a trade. The cabinet maker gives in to Ikea. The journalist that had a passion for truth must settle for what news is profitable to share. And NASA chooses not to pursue Mars because it's too many miles, too much money, too many years, and too few volunteers. What happened to the days when we pursued our dreams  no matter the cost? Through blood, sweat, and tears we imagined up amazing things and succeeded! Do you think Thomas Edison really counted every light bulb he attempted? Instead of training our workers to read instructions, follow the numbers, and complete the number of items we demand of them in a certain number of hours, let creation thrive! When did everything start to get drab? When mathematics said efficiency over creativity. Cooking is another great example! Many of the great foods we have today did not begin with measured ingredients. Either the foods were made by accident, or through experiment, and people just remembered how to make them!

Finally, I submit to you, that in the life to come, mathematics will be of no use. We are here on this Earth to learn, to grow, to become as our Father in Heaven. His work and His glory is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. Numbers do play some role within the church of God here on the Earth: 12 Apostles, 10% for tithing, ages such as 8, 12, and 19. This list goes on. However, those are always constant, and a means of recovering the Saints, to lead them in righteousness. Consider however, in the Spirit world, our relationship with our Father, and how math seems to become void in every possible way. Our Father in Heaven does not count His children. All of us are important to him, no matter our size, weight, age, how fast we can run, the number of times we've prayed, how many blessings we've given, how many times we've gone to church, how much time was put into service, etc. He still loves us. It is our choice to do all of that because we love Him. He's already made the sacrifice for us, His grace is sufficient, and we either have faith or we don't. If we start counting things in relation to our salvation, I reckon we really don't consider our salvation already accomplished. When we arrive in Paradise, you will not enter the gate and have the angels at the gate say "this one is number 15, 456, 234, 481, we're half way there!" No, we are the ones that determine how many are there to be with the Father in the Celestial Kingdom, and we don't get there by the numbers. Years no longer have effect, the Universe is in fact infinite, and quality does in fact rule over quantity, for quantity will take care of itself.

Math has become a stumbling block for us. It does have it's benefits, such as setting ridiculous world records, making for "equal" teams in sports, and epic New Years Eve countdowns. But I for one, can do without.

How was your day, Father?

How was your day, Father (in Heaven)?

a poem and prayer by Evan Berrett

My dearest Father in Heaven,

I kneel this night before Thee

It is Thy son, Evan

Do you remember me?

I'm that son you know,

the one that's always asking,

the one that can't forgo,

a familiar cry for saving

I say I am thankful

for all that I have,

and I am wishful,

for safety of those I love,

I always renew my vigor

to begin anew each day,

I repent of each error

knowing it'll all replay

It's always about me, Father

how I am doing today

But that will be no longer,

my pride now is at bay

How was your day, Father?

are those that you love, 

are they safe and stronger?

What do you see from above?

Where did you need me today?

Was I ever watching, 

or did I go on my way?

Father, I am listening.

What child of yours, 

can I bring comfort to,

or share remorse?

What would Thou have me do?

Who would you like,

for me to show, Father,

the Holy Spirit's light

that will change another.

Tonight I listen to Thee,

Father, I am here

It is not about me,

not about my tears.

I will do for You,

what You do for me, 

I will come through,

go and do for Thee

Tonight is not the same,

I'll be a little smaller, 

I ask Thee in shame, 

How was your day, Father?