Question…Can the Bible be
true, even though it's not based on mathematics?
A question came in from a vistor:
I had this one dude say that
the logic is the language of mathematics and since the Bible is not based on
mathematics, it cannot be true.
I replied:
A couple of quick comments:
1. Logic is NOT THE SAME as
mathematics, nor is "mathematical logic" the only KIND of logic.
There are several "types" of logic, and 'classical logic' extends WAY
beyond mathematics, to supposedly ALL types of reasoning.
2. Math is a language of
its own--logic is not necessarily its 'language' at all. when I write a series
of simultaneous equations, and solve them using transformation rules, NONE of
that is expressed in canonical logic forms (e.g. no syllogisms, no predicate
calculus formulations).
3. Logic is about FORM and
not about content--it is NOT about 'truth' at all, but rather 'validity' of
form. Any logic textbook will explain this in the Introduction.
4. Logic is VERY LIMITED in what it can even 'talk about'--see my discussion in http://www.webcom.com/ctt/decidel.html, skip down to the section that begins with "I admit that I have no 'strictly logical' reason for seeking the truth. And I shudder at the thought that..."
5. MOST of what we know to
be true has nothing to do with logic or mathematics, and therefore things can
be 'true' without being mathematical at all. Consider these true, non-math,
not-stated-in-logical-form statements:
a. "Mary speaks
French."
b. "George Bush is the
current president of the United States."
c. "Water molecules
are composed of hydrogen and oxygen atoms."
d. "Logic deals with
form and validity."
e. "Only math things
are true."
f. "Jealously eats
one's soul from the inside."
g. "Death happens to
all"
h. "I am depressed"
i. "All colored
objects are extended."
j. "All effects
require causes"
k. "There are an
infinite number of points within a circle of finite diameter"
This ought to be enough to show that the other
fellow's statement is just too 'narrow' (as stated in your email) to represent
the reality in which he/she/we live...