Numerology
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[edit] Definition
Numerology is essentially a process of divination using numbers and numerical operations to predict the future and discover obscure secrets. The practice of numerology generally does not adhere to scientific processes and rigor, and is considered pseudoscience.
The definition of “numerology” above might seem to be an apt definition for “science”. This would be a little like defining “astrology” as “the observation of the heavens”, and claiming that it is essentially the same as “astronomy”.
Like astrology vs. astronomy, numerology and mathematics were not always distinct, and one encompassed the other. In the same way, they began to diverge only as scientific rigor separated the mystical aspects from those with verifiable predictive power.
[edit] Gematria
- “Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is six hundred threescore and six.” (Rv 13:18)
An early form of numerology was gematria, used by Hebrew writers. In the Hebrew writing system, the same characters are used to represent both sounds in the language, and numbers. Thus, a person’s name, or any word at all for that matter, could be interpreted either as a spoken word or as a number. The character of a word or a name could then be properly divined by examining the mathematical properties of the number it represented.
This technique was adapted to the later Greek and Roman numeral systems, in which the same symbols were also used for letters and numbers. For example, anyone who has ever seen a Roman-numeralled wristwatch knows that the letters "XII" stand for the number 12. Certain letters in the Roman alphabet had numeric values associated with them, and reading a Roman numeral was a matter of adding together (or in some cases, subtracting) the numeric value of each letter. In the Greek numeral system, though, every letter of the Greek alphabet had a numeric value. As with Hebrew, every Greek word or name could also represent a number. Greek was the language in which the New Testament books of the Bible, including Revelation, were written.
It is likely that the Number of the Beast ‘666’ of the Bible refers to an individual identified through the number equivalent to their name. This particular number was subsequently adapted to the various political and ecclesiastical tyrants of any given age.
Coming to modern times, we no longer use the same symbols for letters and numbers, so a table is used to identify the letters of the Latin alphabet with the corresponding number, written in Arabic numerals:
- A: 1, B: 2…I: 9
- J:10, K:20, …R:90
- S:100, T:200, …, Z:800
Various other systems are in use.
[edit] Pythagorean Influence
- "What is wisest? Number." – Pythagorean saying
Among the Pythagorean school, numbers were associated with Platonic concepts. For example, they considered the number ‘2’ to represent the female, and the number ‘3’ to represent the male. The number ‘5’, then, represents marriage, being the union of male and female. This idea of using numbers to represent non-numeric concepts was certainly used by earlier people, notably the Hebrews, who made great symbolic use of ‘3’ and ‘7’ in their scriptures. The Pythagorean meanings were influenced in no small part by the association with the Platonic solids of geometry, which were assumed to be associated with the elements.
Today, we find different interpretations, but a similar theme of assigning meanings to the numbers. For example, ‘2’ may represent cooperation, ‘3’ may represent expression, ‘5’ may represent vision and adventure.
[edit] Divination
The goal of a numerological reading is to determine, from one’s name, and possibly other vital data, such as one’s credit card number, what numbers can bring fortune to the inquirer. This may affect decisions regarding what address to live at, what lottery numbers to play, and what dates to plan major undertakings in life. Interpersonal relationships may be analyzed for compatibility based on the similarity of the numerical properties representing two individuals.
Working backwards, names for individuals, companies, rock groups, etc. can be chosen on the basis of the desired traits for those entities.
[edit] Biblical Divination
The Judeo-Christian scriptures are replete with numerical symbolism, both intentional and possibly accidental. This has led to the use of numerological techniques to uncover any obscure prophecy revealed only to the mathematically adept. For example, the radio theologian Harold Camping predicted the end of the world in 1994 based on the number of fish caught in John 21. Predicting the end of the world is made considerably fuzzy by allowing for the verse “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” (2Pe, 3:8)
[edit] Skeptical Objections
Numbers are symbols of reality, in both science and numerology. The difference lies in the way that this symbolism is applied. Properly used, a mathematical construct is chosen to represent an aspect of reality because that aspect of reality acts isomorphically to the mathematical construct. This correspondence may be tested and corrected by observing reality and comparing it to the symbolic representations. Numerology fails to do this: the original basis is never tested according to scientific methods (although it certainly may be “tested” by anecdote, selective thinking, and pious fraud). Thus, to the skeptic, the very basis of numerology is suspect, let alone its supposed value as a predictive tool.
Another objection is that the current techniques of numerology are mostly bound to a specific language and numeration system. This seems highly arbitrary to the skeptic who notes that “natural laws” can almost always be expressed independently of arbitrary cultural formats.
[edit] Dr. Irving Matrix
The numerologist Dr. Matrix was an invention of mathematician, writer, and skeptic Martin Gardner. Dr. Matrix made occasional appearances in Gardner's Scientific American column Mathematical Games. Gardner presents Dr. Matrix in an apparently uncritical way, while subtly suggesting that the doctor is a charlatan and con-man. He uses the character to illustrate amazing numerical coincidences and facts. Among his contributions to the advance of numerology was the discovery of the "Kennedy-Lincoln" coincidences[1].
[edit] Related articles
[edit] External Sites
- A tutorial on a typical technique of numerology [2]
- Advent of Dionysus, an online book heavily saturated in numerology and symbolism
[edit] References
Camping Harold; 1994 (1992) ISBN: 0533103681.
