Infinites and absolutes

We are fascinated by extremes, yet we hardly understand them.  Perhaps that is part of the fascination.  

In mathematics, infinity is that which is boundless, endless, or larger than any natural number.  That sounds like something that we understand; but do we really? If some number is added to infinity, the result is still infinity.  But the two are obviously not the same; or are they?  What is the result of subtracting one from infinity?  Still infinity?  Subtracting infinity from infinity gives you zero?  Unknown?  Dividing infinity by infinity gives you one? Unknown again?  Why so many unknowns?  If infinity is not really a number, what is it?  Does anyone know?  Can we ever know?  We have similar problems with the infinitely small - infinitesimal.  

We do not seem to have the language (and the associated concepts) needed to describe and understand extremely large and extremely small numbers.  We have similar problems with extremes in many other dimensions: power, desire, revulsion, love, hatred, …  We humans have great difficulties dealing with all kinds of extremes.  

What does it mean for a god/God to be all powerful?  All wise?  Everlasting? All loving?  Fully just?  It is particularly tricky when we have to put these qualities together.   An all-loving God probably would not want anyone to perish even if that someone has been naughty; but how can God be fully just if He does not punish the wicked?  If God is all-wise, why is there so much evil in the world that He created?  

Perhaps there are some irreconcilable contradictions somewhere in there.  Perhaps it is our understanding of some of these concepts that are not up to standard.   Is our language, developed to deal with our own limited existence, fully capable of describing a transcendent God?  How can we be sure that our description / conception is correct?  

I shudder when preachers use terms such as: “absolute faith”, “absolutely sure that xxx is true”, “absolute dependency”, …, while discussing matters of faith.   Do we even know exactly what those terms mean?  I am sure we have a reasonably good understanding of those terms; but “absolute”?  How can limited human beings be “absolute” about anything, when we have such poor records in understanding extreme qualities and quantities?  The consequences of such arrogance can be dire, when people declare each other wrong, heretical, and worse, often worthy of condemnation and death.  If we are not so sure, perhaps we should cut other people some slack, when their understanding differ from us? 

Mathematicians cannot avoid using concepts such as infinity and infinitesimal; but they show humility in professing that answers to many questions are “unknown”.  I suggest that we demonstrate the same humility when it comes to matters of faith.  We should not stop seeking better and better understanding about transcendent matters; but we should profess that there remain many things on which we are not so sure.