 | ||
|
| |    Numerology by Robert Needlman, M.D., F.A.A.P. reviewed by Laura Jana, M.D., F.A.A.P. The idea that your name determines your personality may seem like a trendy New Age concept, but it is actually quite old. The roots of numerology--a system that uses names and birth dates to reveal character traits and predict the future--may stretch as far back as ancient Mesopotamia. In the Jewish mystical tradition called kabbala, the Creation is linked to the letters of the Hebrew alphabet, each of which also represents a number. A numerological system that is still popular today is said to have originated with the Pythagoreans of ancient Greece. Clues to fates and traits Pythagoras, the sixth-century B.C. philosopher famous for his musings on the "music of the spheres" (not to mention the Pythagorean theorem that haunted us all in geometry class), believed that everything in the universe consists of vibrations that correspond to particular numbers. It's not entirely clear if Pythagoras himself was a fan of numerology, but his disciples certainly were; they believed that each individual also has unique vibrations that can boiled down to a set of numbers that shed light on his personality and help divine his fate. To find a person's numbers, the numerologist analyzes his birth date and name (with each letter corresponding to a certain number). There are many different ways of doing a numerological reading; sometimes only a first name is analyzed, sometimes everything from a person's middle name to maiden name or even nickname is used in different configurations to flesh out a complex personality profile. A skeptical note Numerology has been around for a long time, and many people find it meaningful. That said, I remain skeptical. For one thing, I really don't understand how certain numbers came to be associated with specific qualities in the first place. I've looked at several comprehensive sources but I've yet to find a convincing, clear explanation. I suppose that if numerology were easy to explain, it wouldn't be mysticism. But this justification leaves me a little cold. Also, as a developmental and behavioral pediatrician, it's clear to me that a lot of different factors combine to give each person his unique identity. Among these are genes, parent-child relationships, sibling relationships, peers, community factors, life traumas and opportunities, and possibly even birth order. How can the name one receives at birth predict the combined result of all of these different factors? The only way is if everything in life were in fact determined ahead of time. Since I believe in free will, I have to reject this on philosophical grounds. Also because I believe in free will, I'm well aware that you can make up your own mind about this interesting and long-lived theory. So whether you're a believer or a skeptic, you might want to visit a numerology website to see what it has to say about your own name. Two interesting ones to try: numerology.com and the collection of sites listed on about.com. A particularly clear, critical look at numerology is available at The Skeptic's Dictionary. More information: Talk about:
| |  | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| About Us |
Contact Us |
Our Partners Privacy Policy | Ethics | Advertising Policy | Terms of Service © Copyright 2004 The Dr. Spock Company. All Rights Reserved. THIS SITE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. The information drSpock.com
provides is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for
professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your health care
professional if you have a specific health concern. Mention or advertisement
of any product, service, or brand does not constitute endorsement, guarantee,
or recommendation by The Dr. Spock Company. Please read our full
Terms of Service. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
