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How Would You Answer this Question? (Part 2)

Cover of 'The Onion's' 'Weekender' magazine: 'They Tried to Teach My Baby Science'.

In a previous post, I asked how you would respond to the following:

Are their [sic] any Godly uses for higher math?

I’ve come to realize that probably one reason I struggled with algebra, geometry et.al., was that

it seemed to me that these were basically atheistic academic disciplines, useful for promoting evolution or

other Godless leftist sciences, but not with any obvious Christ-centered or positive, conservative uses.

If I’m wrong about this, I’d appreciate it if people could show me how this discipline can have Godly uses.

I also feel this could be useful in developing better ways of teaching higher mathematics

if such uses could be found.

The statements above are the sort of thing that we’ve come to expect from a certain portion of the

political right: less educated yokels, mistrustful of science or any sort of empirical analysis, preferring

to go with their gut and a literalist interpretation of the Bible.

For the comedy writer (or even a sarcastic blogger, such as Yours Truly), it’s a gold mine of

material.

And Now, a Twist…

However, the statements above were never made (hence the phrasing of my question).

Well, they were made, but I did a little search-and-replace

of some key words.

The actual statements, made by one Ken Burch, come from this thread on Babble,

the discussion forum for Rabble, a strongly left-leaning Canadian

political site.

Here’s the item as it really appears, with the words I changed highlighted:

Are their [sic] any progressive uses for higher math?

I’ve come to realize that probably one reason I struggled with algebra, geometry et.al., was that

it seemed to me that these were basically reactionary academic disciplines, useful for

designing weaponry or potentially repressive computer technology, but

not with any obvious humanistic or social positive uses.

If I’m wrong about this, I’d appreciate it if people could show me how this discipline

can have progressive uses.

I also feel this could be useful in developing better ways of teaching higher mathematics

if such uses could be found.

Now how would you respond to the statements?

(My thanks to Colby Cosh, from whom I found out about the Babble thread.)

4 replies on “How Would You Answer this Question? (Part 2)”

I would try to help this person understand that it is “reactionary academic disciplines” that have allowed him to expect a lifespan longer than 35, travel further than his immediate neighborhood, and post his thoughts about politics on the Internet (not to mention TV, radio, etc.) Isn’t proselitizing doing “progressive work” in this person’s mind?

I’d be getting self righteous all over this commie luddite granola eating pin head, and gently let him know that he should pull his head out of his ass; Before he gets run over by the technology/science/math that he decries.

I probably wouldn’t respond at all, I’d just do the eye rolling and the *pfft* while I walked away mouthing, “b-a-a-a-a-a”. Ok, perhaps all of that is a response.

I think the guy has a valid point. Math has no socially pragmatic qualities… I mean really, you can’t teach racial harmony through integration… umm, wait a second.

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