May I suggest that the metaphor of 'the two books' (ie 'Nature' and
'Scripture') used by Gingerich needs adjusting. There exists a
much-neglected third book - the 'Book of Number' - which, clearly,
predates these: this book involving the 'natural' (or 'counting')
numbers and their simple derivatives.
It is significant that implied in the SETI endeavour is the
understanding that the one common currency of sentient beings is number.
Thus, prime numbers and perfect numbers are prime and perfect
everywhere; they have ever been, and will ever continue to be, prime and
perfect! Further, from the perspective of the Bible-believer, their
properties must extend to the supernatural realm. They represent 'pages'
of a 'book' that cannot be ignored by those who claim to earnestly seek
Truth.
Features relevant to the 'origins' debate are readily revealed. For
example, ten - principal 'collective unit' from the earliest times (and
now firmly established as radix in our primary system of number
representation) and basis for 'metrication' and 'decimalisation' - has a
significance that is quite independent of 'thumbs, fingers and toes'.
Indeed, it may justly be considered a significant component of the 'fine
tuning' associated with our existence. Again, the 'figurate numbers'(in
which the concepts of 'number' and 'form' are combined) represent
absolutes which, in certain situations, can lead to a better
understanding of matters raised by the Books of Nature and of Scripture.
I am currently working on a module that I hope to place on-line shortly
at the first of the URLs below. This will demonstrate that the number
structure underlying Genesis 1 and Creator's Name is founded on solid
extra-biblical principles.
Sincerely,
Vernon
Vernon Jenkins MSc
[musician, mining engineer, and formerly Senior Lecturer in Maths and
Computing, the Polytechnic of Wales (now the University of Glamorgan)]
http://homepage.virgin.net/vernon.jenkins/index.htm
http://www.compulink.co.uk/~indexer/miracla1.htm