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Sharon K. Robbert, Professor of Mathematics
Christianity and Mathematics
Devotionals connected to mathematical contentSingle-variable Calculus | Multivariable Calculus | Discrete Structures
Linear Algebra | Differential Equations | Statistics
Statistics
Devotional Title Course Topic Scripture References Should we collect data? Data collection Numbers 1:1-3, 17-19a, 44-47; 1 Chron 21:1-14 For the sake of 10 Sampling of a population Genesis 18:17-33 Dusty Writings Pictorial Representations of Data John 8:1-11 No Margin for Error Standard Deviation Romans 3:21-24 Bypassing Predictions Chebyshev's Theorem & Empirical Rule Genesis 30:25-34, 31:6-9 Offering Economics Bivariate Data Mark 12:41-44 Probability Defied Probability/odds Judges 7:1-8, Matt 19:16-26 Don't Be Average Measures of central tendency Rev. 3:14-22 Success in God's Eyes Binomial Distribution Luke 18:9-14, Mark 9:33-35 Was Jesus Average? Normal Distribution Isaiah 53:1-6 Repeated Samples of Character Central Limit Theorem Judges 3:7, 3:12, 4:1, 6:1, 10:6, 13:1; Deut. 4:32-40
Should we collect data?Numbers 1:1-3, 17-19a, 44-47; 1 Chron 21:1-14God-ordained Israelite census vs. Pride-induces census of fighting men
For the sake of 10Genesis 18:17-33The evil cities of Sodom and Gomorrah would have been spared if a sample of the population yields ten righteous men
Dusty WritingsJohn 8:1-11Jesus wrote in the dirt--was it pictures or words?
No Margin for ErrorRomans 3:21-24There is no margin for error in righteousness, but God places us in righteousness through faith in Jesus' redemption.
Bypassing PredictionsGenesis 30:25-34, 31:6-9God can bypass predicted distribution: Jacob's spotted and speckled flocks.
Offering EconomicsMark 12:41-44Comparing offering size to economic status in poor widow's offering
Probability DefiedJudges 7:1-8, Matt 19:16-26The probability of success is determined mathematically by looking at the empirical ratio (number of successes)/(number of possibilities), where the number of successes and possibilities are taken from a theoretical sample space. For example, if you want to calculate the probability that you will roll a seven with a pair of distinct dice, you note that there are 6 ways to roll a seven (1-6, 2-5, 3-4, 4-3, 5-2, and 6-1) from among all the 36 possible combinations. So the probability of rolling a seven is 6/36 or 1/6. This ratio is always a number between 0 and 1, inclusive. The larger the number in this interval, the more likely the event is to occur. Less likely events have a smaller number in the interval.
God is able to beat the odds, however. He proved to Gideon that this is the case by systematically eliminating a large portion of his fighting men, selecting only 300 out of 32,000 to fight the Midianites. Jesus also used probabilities to teach his disciples. He says in Matthew 19:24 that "it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." [Note: some Biblical scholars take the eye of the needle to be a small but busy gate into the city of Jerusalem.] So, the probability of salvation for a rich man is given as very small. He comforts his disciples in verse 26 of the same chapter by letting them know that God is more powerful than probabilities---"with God all things are possible."
Don't Be AverageRev. 3:14-22When we study numerical data in statistics, we organize the data, draw visual summaries, rank the data, and calculate measures of central tendency, among other things. With measures of central tendency, we calculate the mean (arithmetic average) and the median (middle value) to try to get a meaningful way to describe the data. Most teachers use mean and median and other descriptive statistics on test results to decide if students are performing as we expect in a class. Most students are happy if they are near or above the middle of the pack on a test score.
However, God want more than a middling performance in terms of our Christian behavior. He wants our behavior to be far away from that of the average "good" person. In Revelations 3:14--22, John is told to write to the Laodicean church that their lukewarm performance is causing them to be in danger of eternal rejection. Likewise, we must not be content with our current state as a Christian. We must always work to be even more "extreme" for God.
Success in God's EyesLuke 18:9-14, Mark 9:33-35A "success" with God needn't be a worldly success. Jesus inverted success: the first shall become last!
Was Jesus Average?Isaiah 53:1-6Christ was not above average in beauty.
Repeated Samples of CharacterJudges 3:7, 3:12, 4:1, 6:1, 10:6, 13:1; Deut. 4:32-40Repeated sampling of the character of Israel demonstrated evil tendency. But a repeated sampling of the character of Jesus demonstrated his divinity. Among the accounts of his miracles, there are 23 healing events, 8 power over nature events, and 4 resurrections. Surely Yahweb is truly God!
Project Overview
Devotionals connected to mathematical contentSingle-variable Calculus | Multivariable Calculus | Discrete Structures
Linear Algebra | Differential Equations | Statistics
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skr--Spring 2003
Robbert Profile Math Triathlon Christianity & Mathematics Vita Mathematics | Sharon Robbert | Triathlon | Christianity & Mathematics | Vita