When Francis Su, Ph.D., looks at the world around him, he sees more than trees, clouds, and stars. The Benediktsson-Karwa professor of mathematics at Harvey Mudd College sees invisible laws and mathematical structures that shape all we see, all pointing to a beauty that many experience as divine.
Su is the author of Mathematics for Human Flourishing, a book that weaves together parables, puzzles, and personal reflections to show how mathematics cultivates virtues essential for human flourishing.
As part of Indiana Wesleyan University’s (IWU) Common Learning Theme, which explores the Christian imagination during the 2025–2026 and 2026–2027 academic years, Su visited IWU’s campus to share how mathematics shapes both the mind and the soul.
Mathematics trains us to see what is not immediately visible, to imagine what could be true, and to pursue it with disciplined curiosity.
Su draws a clear connection between mathematical thinking and faith: “Having an imagination for what’s possible is a huge part of what it means to do math. We hold to this idea that there are mathematical laws you cannot see that have direct influence on the universe, and that’s similar in a life of faith. We have this idea that God, who we do not see, yet has power to shape the moral universe.”
Yet for many people, math is something they would prefer to keep hidden. Whether demoralized, disenchanted, or disillusioned, this reaction often traces back to a familiar childhood memory: sitting at a kitchen table with a parent and growing frustrated over a homework problem. But Su says that struggle is fundamental to learning.
“Learning is not possible without struggle, without pushing yourself in ways that feel at first uncomfortable. A mind that’s ready to tackle hard problems,” Su says, “is one that actually experienced hardness before.”
The same persistence and contemplation given to a difficult math problem is comparable to the attention given in fervent prayer.
“You might wrestle with a scripture, and then one day through divine epiphany, you’re like ‘Okay, God. I get it now. I see a bigger perspective,’” explained Su. This longing to experience the divine is what keeps both the mathematician and the Christian coming back for more.
One reason Su believes people lose their connection to mathematics is because they’ve lost sight of its connection to meaning.
“Every mathematical concept has its grounding in something. When students push symbols around without understanding what it means, that’s where things can go awry. Mathematical laws are not arbitrary. They reflect something true about the universe and should make sense when you ponder them deeply.”
In both mathematics and faith, then, imagination is not about escape. It is about deeper understanding. For mathematicians, that means returning to the foundational ideas that give concepts meaning. For Christians, it means remaining rooted in the truth that anchors belief.
Su’s visit invited students and faculty alike to consider how intellectual curiosity and spiritual formation are deeply connected pursuits. In learning to see what is not immediately visible and wrestling through difficult questions, there is an opportunity to grow in understanding and awe of the One who holds the world in His hands.
Discover how mathematical thinking can deepen your understanding of truth, creativity, and faith. At IWU, you’ll be challenged to think critically, pursue meaningful questions, and grow both intellectually and spiritually through a Christ-centered education.
