When Matt Lunsford decided to write on what it means to be a Christian in Mathematics, he modeled his extended essay, A Christian Mathematician's Apology, after an earlier essay, A Mathematician's Apology, by G. H. Hardy. The first described finding his vocation, the second on the integrated life, and the third on redeeming the discipline. In this final part of his essay, he addresses what it means to "think Christianly" about both his scholarship and his pedagogy. We appreciate Matt sharing this essay with us. Let … [Read more...] about A Christian Mathematician’s Apology: Thinking Christianly
mathematics
A Christian Mathematician’s Apology: Redeeming the Discipline
When Matt Lunsford decided to write on what it means to be a Christian in Mathematics, he modeled his extended essay, A Christian Mathematician's Apology, after an earlier essay, A Mathematician's Apology, by G. H. Hardy. This is the third of four parts, the first describing finding his vocation and the second on the integrated life. Building on his ideas of the integrated life, in this article Matt outlines his ideas of what "redeeming the discipline" looks like for him as a mathematician. While freedom of … [Read more...] about A Christian Mathematician’s Apology: Redeeming the Discipline
A Christian Mathematician’s Apology: Integrating Faith and Mathematics
Last week, math professor Matt Lunsford wrote about his journey of discerning his call to teach mathematics. This week, he describes what it means for him to be a "Christian mathematician" and what it means for him to live the integrated life. ______________________________________ Circa 1996, I embarked on a journey to discover and then to live out the integrated life. I realize that I have not arrived at the final destination. As with most journeys, a guide is invaluable. I found my mentor in a most unusual … [Read more...] about A Christian Mathematician’s Apology: Integrating Faith and Mathematics
A Christian Mathematician’s Apology: Finding My Vocation
We appreciate receiving this extended essay from Matt Lunsford, a professor at Union University. His story is a wonderful example of a journey of thinking Christianly about one's field of study and work in academia. In this first of four parts, Matt describes how he discerned his calling to study and teach mathematics. ___________________________________________ The idea of writing about my goal of living an integrated life as a Christian mathematician grew out of a desire to respond to G. H. Hardy's … [Read more...] about A Christian Mathematician’s Apology: Finding My Vocation
Science Corner: Message in (?) a Klein Bottle
Although not a mathematician myself, I find math endlessly fascinating about for the way one can take a seemingly impossible problem and translate it or express it in another context, and all of a sudden that hard problem can become easy. Of course, you have to make the right choice of a new context, a task which is itself not always easy or predictable. And "easy" may be relative. Still, when it works, the result is intriguing and inspiring. For example, see how a proof involving rectangles and curves was worked out by … [Read more...] about Science Corner: Message in (?) a Klein Bottle