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The principles of mathematics are evidently something we discover. And as those principles are apparently not anchored in time or space or matter, one might even go so far as to suggest that mathematical principles are in some sense "eternal." Perhaps mathematics is part of the way God expresses Himself: when He spoke the Word, surely He used a language — surely He had concepts with which to express what was on His mind? And being made in His image, perhaps we're able to understand the language, too? (Not saying that math is the only part of that language....)

It seems to me mathematical principles are universals. If this guarantees them status as "eternals," then so be it.

What I do know, or rather have "remembered" thanks to the great mathematician Robert Rosen, is that mathematics is ***THE*** universal natural language. It is the very language of natural law, and also of the natural sciences.

All other natural languages are confined to given cultures. But members of disparate cultures who speak "mathematics" are instantly on the same page, regardless of the native tongue they inherited from their forebears. It's really quite a miraculous thing!

And so it seems that you and I agree that mathematics and logic are essential, and that they have divine significance.

I so welcome your excellent essay/post! My substantial reply will have to wait, however, till after Thanksgiving. I am chief cook and bottle washer of this annually celebrated family event. That means I'm probably going to be gone from FR the next couple of days.

But I'll be thinking of what you wrote!

Meanwhile, I came across something in John D. Barrow's Pi in the Sky: Counting, Thinking, and Being that seemed spot-on to the problems we deliberate here. He evinces various ways of imagining the relation of God to mathematics in a figure (page 256) which I render here:

Arrrggghhhh! I can't get the image to "flip" (invert) no matter what file format I try. I apologize: Good luck to anybody who's trying to read this image!!!

Still, It seems I'm a candidate for (a). And maybe you, dear r9etb, are a candidate for (b)! Maybe....

Anyhoot, may God's blessings be with you and all your loved ones on Thanksgiving Day!

Thank you ever so much for writing, dear r9etb. I hope to be speaking with you again soon!

Also thank you so very much for your kind words.

Arrrggghhhh! I can't get the image to "flip" (invert) no matter what file format I try. I apologize: Good luck to anybody who's trying to read this image!!!

P.S.: Please disregard the above whining. The graphic did not display well in FR preview; but it seems to render okay in the real thing....

I'd be a candidate for (a) as well.

Have a blessed Thanksgiving!