The Importance of the Number 7

Posted by hmarvin on Thu, 02/07/2008 - 03:16

In class we brought up the emphasis of seven in the book of revelation, but our discussion swerved before it's origin was discussed. There are seven heavenly bodies that can be seen moving in the night sky with the naked-eye, from the Moon to Saturn.I couldn't remember in class, but now that I have everyone knows! That is the magic of the internet.

Snow White had seven friends

Snow White had seven friends too and it's a lucky roll of dice. Astra's point about the 7 planets seems to be the consensus of most scholars for why seven became a sacred number in antiquity. Their visibility was reflected in the numbers of deities, buildings of worship, creation stories, etc. Coupled with the fact that 7 is comprised of 4 and 3, signifying the square and triangle as perfect forms, it is pretty enticing. But these would establish cultural patterns rather than cognitive traits per se. They might come together in certain ways though. Have any of you come across more information on links between cognition and the meaning of the prominent symbols from Revelation?

Posted by lquinby on Wed, 02/13/2008 - 16:26

More late sevens

I find the thing about 7 pieces of info in the cognitive memory very interesting.

But there's more...7 times to be dipped in the river to be cleansed, 7 times round the walls of Jericho, 7 days in a week, the world was created in 7 days. The number 7 has been a sacred number for a while. Even more so the number 3.

Posted by anoel on Wed, 02/13/2008 - 06:53

Short Term Memory

I'm taking a cognitive psychology class, and yesterday we learned a person can hold 7 (+/- 2) peices of information in their short term memory. This is probably old news to most people, as it was for me, but in light of all this discussion about 7, it got me thinking.

Might Christianity's preoccupation with 7 be related to the capacities of our short term memory?

--
Dan
dblondel@hunter.cuny.edu

Posted by dblondell on Fri, 02/08/2008 - 17:55

7 pieces of information? I

7 pieces of information? I wish! The connection between cognitive function and belief is a promising one, though, even if I don't think it is direct in this case (not until you convince me further, anyway). There are studies that try to show correlations between certain kinds of brain connections and what we call mystical experiences. One question about that is whether it is more an attempt in the contemporary, scientized world to understand things ordinarily beyond our comprehension as entirely explainable, leaving no room for mystery or the ineffable.

Posted by lquinby on Sat, 02/09/2008 - 22:03

well I think its difficult

well I think its difficult to see illogical things logically. that statement itself is probably a product of our scientific world.

Posted by rbenmoshe on Fri, 02/15/2008 - 15:35

The seven virtues, seven

The seven virtues, seven deadly sins...

Posted by jdrouin on Thu, 02/07/2008 - 05:02