Things a Computer Scientist Rarely Talks About, Donald Knuth

The dis-oriented author is a Christian. I am also of course a fan of Donald Knuth. His seminal work The Art of Computer Programming is required reading for everyone in the field. Knuth is often called the father of computer science and his career has spanned computing from almost the start to the present.

So I thought it was interesting to read this book about Knuth's belief in God and the Bible. Things a Computer Scientist Rarely Talks About is the transcript of a series of lectures Knuth delivered at MIT's Center for the Study of Language and Information.

Knuth uses these lectures to describe some aspects of his faith and what he learned in researching and writing, 3:16 Bible Texts Illuminated.

Donald Knuth is a Lutheran and some years ago he had opportunity to teach a Sunday School class. Rather than focus on a specific book of the Bible or the whole Bible he chose, as any good mathematician might, a sampling. Knuth's sample was to take a look at all the 3:16 verses in the Bible. Since not all books have a verse 3:16 he was left with 59 verses out of 66 books.

Of course this sample is not random and Knuth knew this. The best-known verse in the Bible is John 3:16. In evangelical circles 1 Tim 3:16 is also quite well known. Since the verse numbers were added some centuries after the texts were written the sample is not bad.

Knuth's 3:16 book presented his commentary on each 3:16 as well as an illuminated work made form his own translation of the verse. Knuth is author of the TeX publishing system so he understands fonts and calligraphy. For the project he got many of the world's best calligraphers to create illuminated versions of each of his translated 3:16 verses, reminiscent of the Scriptoriums of old.

Knuth shares his method for researching and translating these verses. He describes the lessons learned and how the study changed his understanding of God and the Bible.

In response to a post lecture question, Knuth conjectures that only 5-10% of computer scientists believe in God. Part of his goal is to show his colleagues how someone who thinks like a computer scientist deals with issues of faith, God and the Bible.

A unique approach to a fascinating topic.

Things a Computer Scientist Rarely Talks About 3 of 5 dis-oriented smileys

Purchase Just Americans from Amazon.com.