Common Grace is defined as "the goodness of God shown to all, regardless of faith, consisting in natural blessings, restraint of corruption, seeds of religion and political order, and a host of civilizing and humanizing impulses, patterns, and traditions" (Plantinga 509). How has your study of "Mathematics and Beauty" demonstrated common grace and what does this concept of common grace motivate you to do? Remember: you must use specific details from class discussions and our readings as you develop your answer, and you must illustrate your answer with an example that relates to our course topic.

In mathematics, we see a natural purity arise. This purity is seen as a restraint of corruption, while we see evidence of corruption in mathematics (how difficult it can be to understand), the natural purity is a sign of common grace. Through life, however, common grace can be seen in other people, how many simply want to do good, whether they be Christians or not. This view of common grace motivates me to want to continue to see the best in people, understanding that it is that which binds us together, and, through the revelation of Christ, to God.

Your uncle is skeptical. "Mathematics is just numbers and equations. I don't thin much is gained by pretending that God-talk has anything to do with it." Using the resources you have developed during this course, explain to your uncle that understanding the implications of the Fall actually can help us better understand Mathematics and take wise action. Remember: you must use specific details from class discussions and our readings as you develop your answer, and you must illustrate your answer with an example that relates to our course topic.

We see the nature of man, that is imperfect, sinful, just not good. Mathematics is numbers, and equations, but those equations can be used to explain so much of the natural world. Through mathematics, we see the concept of entropy, the increasing randomness in the universe, loss of usable energy. This points to the Fall, the spoiling of all of God's creation. Looking at things from a more immediate and personal perspective, we see the concept of dishonest scales, that is to say weights that are not correct or true. These dishonest scales can be used to measure out quantities incorrectly, cheating someone in the end, the consumer, the producer or somewhere in between, preventing someone from their due, either in weight or in money.

"Christians like to talk about God and they like to sing and hold up their hands and sway a bit and look all spiritual, but really, they're just like everyone else. They want to get their own way, they buy lots of stuff, the can't live without their smartphones, and they just want to hang out with their own friends and get decent grades in their classes. I don't see Christians doing much for this sad old world, and I can't see how a class on developing a Christian 'mind' is practical at all." Using the resource you have developed during this course, particularly with regard to the concept of Redemption, respond to this objection. Remember: you must use specific details from class discussions and our readings as you develop your answer and you must illustrate your answer with an example that relates to our course topic.

The objection that "we don't do anything for this sad, old world" is certainly a valid one. Man Christians we see today don't do anything to affect change in our world, but it is our calling, a calling coming from our Redemption. Our world needs to be redeemed, as it is fallen and imperfect, we see so much wrong. But through the grace of God, specifically in His law, we see that so many simply don't know what to do, even Christians. That's the purpose of this class, a class to develop a Christian "Mind", to teach us, as Christians what we are to do to affect change in this "sad, old world". Even in the study of mathematics, we can affect a change, through a knowledge of mathematics, we can point out the problems in the world, using statistics, and we can then model possible solutions, providing a better way of dealing with things.

A good friend from high school is now attending the University of Michigan. While you were drinking coffee at Starbucks over the Christmas holidays, she said, "I'm glad I'm not attending a Christian College. I think this is the time in our lives when we should be thinking for ourselves, not having bible answers shoved down our throats." You weren't sure quite what to say. Now, given the resources of this class, compose a reply that explains how the concept of Vocation might help you think better about yourself, the world and other people and act more wisely. Remember: you must use specific details from class discussions and our readings as you develop your answer, and you must illustrate your answer with an example that relates to our course topic. Explain to your friend exactly how this section of DCM has helped you to think for yourself.

While I agree that we should think for ourselves, I don't think that at a Christian college you have Bible answers shoved down your throat. Rather, I see a Christian college as a training ground, teaching us to think for ourselves, but also giving as a logical framework within which to deal with the world. While a non-Christian college may teach you to think for yourself, it may not give you that framework, something that is vital if we are to be effective within the world, effecting change, and carrying out our vocations, that which we are called to do.