‘Mathematics is the only religion that can prove itself to be one’
Interpreting John D. Barrow’s popular statement from ‘The Artful Universe’
Mathematics is, arguably, the most important and useful tool that we use to understand the universe. From small atomic and sub-atomic interactions to the phenomena that occur in huge clusters of galaxies and black holes, mathematics has helped us understand them in a way that nothing else has. Physicists and mathematics use intense math to develop a consistent hypothesis, which is then tested using math experiments. The proof of any scientific idea, primarily in physics, depends on two major factors:
Mathematical consistency
Experimental evidence
String theory, for instance, has a significantly great mathematical consistency but we haven’t been to prove it with our experiments, with the current technology. Einstein’s general theory of relativity is one of the foundations of modern physics that is mathematically consistent and experimentally proven. Hence, it is well-established fact.
On the other hand, religion has systems of beliefs and faiths on the supernatural that rely on the scriptures. While it might not be true for all religions, it is certainly true for most of them. Islam, for instance, believes in…
