MormonMatters Article: Squaring the Circle & Temple

[Brian Johnston]

I published an article at MormonMatters today related to temple symbolism and religious metaphor.

http://mormonmatters.org/2010/01/29/squaring-the-circle-balance-and-ideals/

Any thoughts on this topic or viewpoint?

[just me]

I think it is a neat concept. I have on my “to read” list the book A Beginner’s Guide to Constructing the Universe: Mathematical Archetypes of Nature, Art, and Science, by Michael S. Schneider.

This concept has been used in crop circles found in England.

Quote:

It is said that all truth (a square) can be circumscribed (a circle) into one great whole (perfection and enlightenment).

I like this quote.

I don’t understand why I never heard of this concept until this past year. It is not something currently spoken of AT ALL through church channels.

Why is our compass upside down? What do you suppose that is symbolic of?

Oh, and here is a link to our other threada while back about this topic-it’s pretty short but has some interesting comments.

[hawkgrrrl]

Great article. Well worth the read.

[Heber13]

I think the similarities or connections I quickly see with similarities to masonry and the temple ceremony to me, make me think they are all based on symbolic meanings that stand the test of time.

Whether Joseph Smith “borrowed” them from masonry or “borrowed” them from revelation from God or masonry “borrowed” it from whomever, they still convey the same deep meaning to us personally if we think about them and try to benefit from the symbolism.

If all we needed was a left brain to figure out life…why would we have a right brain? There is beauty in both.

Thanks Brian. I think your thoughts are brilliant. (but it does make my head explode 😮 ).

[Brian Johnston]

There is certainly evidence to suggest that Joseph was inspired creatively by his contact with masonry. I strongly disagree that the LDS temple is just a copy of masonry. That is far far too much of an oversimplification. Sure there are core symbols that are the same, but that is about as far as it goes. The story and initiation experience are completely different. They certainly relate in the sense of pointing towards similar transcendant ideas, that of building, perfection and enlightenment.

[Orson]

Wow Brian, you so perfectly explained and expounded on the idea that I tried to have my avatar represent. I love it! I only wonder, if the square represents our physical world – it seems to me maybe we’ve already made the circle too “square.” Should we instead of Squaring the Circle be trying to “circle the square.” 🙄 Sorry, you know how I like to play with terms!

Thanks for that!

[MWallace57]

That is a fascinating post. Thanks for sharing it. I can’t say that I can yet understand it and perhaps I never will.

I have been pondering buying the book: “Born on a Blue Day”. This is the story of the “Human Rosetta Stone”, a young man with Asberger’s Syndrome (high functioning Autism). Daniel Tammet can recite the numbers in Pi and has an unusual gift for language and geometry.

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/387151/daniel_tammet_born_on_a_blue_day/

I do believe that these are true “gifts of the Spirit” and that JS and others have possessed them. It is very interesting to ponder their meanings. Perhaps we were all born with these gifts, but the natural inhibitory neurotransmitters in our brain suppress them.

[RebelProperty]

Fantastic article, Thanks for sharing Brian!

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