I am delighted that ELECTRON BLUE is attracting thoughtful readers, some of whom have sent me comments. I'm even more delighted that so far the comments have all been helpful and kind. No rude remarks yet.

My Friendly Mathematicians have also been helpful in my latest tough passage. One of them explained the matter to me, and I will sum up what he said. Trigonometry is one of those kinds of math that can go on and on into years' worth of complexity, but unless I am one of those very rare people who have a passion for trigonometry itself (there may actually be some of these) I can learn the basics on my way to calculus and then go back if necessary to learn what I missed, if it's required. The Friendly Mathematicians advised me to go on into trigonometric graphing and equations, which is more "pre-calculus," after which point I can start the Big C itself.

What? You mean I don't have to do all the proofs about the half-angle re-statements of the products, sums, and differences of sines and cosines?
Well, not right now. I've had enough of this.
One of my friends once taught me an Army expression for what I must do now and the proper attitude to have. It's an acronym, spelled FIDO. It has nothing to do with someone's dog. The acronym stands for F**k It, Drive On.

So I'm getting back in my virtual shining blue Electron car and starting it up again. I've got some very winding switchback roads to travel.

Zoroastrian Connections

Those readers who know me well, or who visit my main Website, know that one of my major interests is the ancient Persian (and still-living) religion of Zoroastrianism, which may well be the first monotheistic faith. Zoroastrians come from Iran, but also from Bombay and the Gujarat region of India, where they are the famous Parsees. In the course of my religious studies I've met Zoroastrians from all over the world, and have visited Zoroastrian communities all over the USA and also in Canada.

Many of these Zoroastrians are scientists, and Zoroastrians have made major contributions to science both in India and in the countries they have emigrated to. I've met Zoroastrian physicists, chemists, doctors, medical researchers, biologists, engineers, and of course many computer professionals.

There are social reasons why so many Zoroastrians are scientists, engineers, and other professionals; the first generations of South Asian immigrants are highly motivated to enter these fields and do well in their adopted countries. But I believe there are also religious and cultural reasons. Zoroastrianism, ancient though it is, exalts rational understanding as a Divine virtue, and its scriptures, at least the earliest ones and the words of the founder, Prophet Zarathushtra, encourage inquiry and reflection, rather than blind faith. The material world shows forth the work of God's Law, and Zoroastrians are encouraged to work within the world and redeem it (from evil and chaos) rather than turn away from it.

You may have heard of Zoroastrians as "fire-worshippers," but that is an insult. Zoroastrians use fire, or a flame set in a vessel, as the central symbol of God. Their temples have eternal flames, some of which in India have been kept burning without interruption for centuries. Fire for Zoroastrians, maintained and under control, is a symbol of light, warmth, energy, and protection. They pray before it the way Christians pray before a cross or Jews before a Torah or Muslims in the direction of Mecca. It is a symbol. They don't worship it.

One of my Zoroastrian friends, who is a physical chemist, has given me a wonderful big color poster of the "Visual Elements Periodic Table." Those of you with broadband connections can enjoy this rendition of the Periodic Table of the elements, done in dazzling and colorful computer graphics with clever mythological and cultural allusions. It is a fine example of the LOGOS (the rational, abstract pure structure) of science meeting the MYTHOS (culture, color, mythology, and theater) of art.

I wish my Jewish friends a very happy Passover, and I also wish my Zoroastrian and Persian friends a happy NoRuz, or Persian New Year, whose two-week festival has just concluded.

Posted at 2:29 am | link