# What's The Fascination of Fundies With The Number "666"? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 4, 2015, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fascination-of-fundies-with-the-number-666/729901 "2015-09-04T13:55:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2015, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fascination-of-fundies-with-the-number-666/729901/1 "2015-09-04T13:55:25Z")
I know-it is from the last book of the NT (Apocalypse). It is (supposedly) the “number of the beast”-I saw it on a Vermont license plate yesterday. Is it some kind of anagram? Exactly what is its significance? ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2015, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fascination-of-fundies-with-the-number-666/729901/2 "2015-09-04T14:26:21Z")
Relevant passage from Revelation: > [@](#): > > 17and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name. 18Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six. The significance is that all commerce will be denied to anyone who does not submit to the antichrist. This submission will be signified by bearing the name or number of the beast. So, the choice in that interpretation is “choose God and starve or choose the antichrist (beast) and be able to buy food”. The fascination, I think, derives from the unsolved riddle aspect. There has been much speculation over the millennia about who (or what) the number represents, but no one knows for sure. The same reason that the identity of Jack the Ripper still gets so much attention today, people become obsessed with solving what they see as a puzzle. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2015, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fascination-of-fundies-with-the-number-666/729901/3 "2015-09-04T15:41:50Z")
In Hebrew, letters have numeric values. If you write Emperor Nero in Hebrew, the letters add up to 666. Eschatological literature like _Revelation_ has multiple meanings, so it is difficult to give an exact answer. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2015, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fascination-of-fundies-with-the-number-666/729901/4 "2015-09-04T16:02:47Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > Is it some kind of anagram? Yes. Further, no matter how the numbers are arranged, they _remain_ 666. Spooky. ---
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2015, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fascination-of-fundies-with-the-number-666/729901/5 "2015-09-04T16:29:20Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > In Hebrew, letters have numeric values. If you write Emperor Nero in Hebrew, the letters add up to 666. . . . And several dozen other people. Maybe the Antichrist will be a cabal of 666 proposed candidates. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2015, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fascination-of-fundies-with-the-number-666/729901/6 "2015-09-04T18:14:44Z")
In **War and Peace** , Tolstoy has Pierre working numerology and concluding that _l empereur Napoleon_ worked out to 666 precisely – if he left the “e” out of “le”. I’ve seen proofs that HITLER = 666, and someone has pointed out that the number of letters in RONALD WILSON REAGAN are 6 6 6. If you work at it, you can get any of your enemies’ names or titles work out to 666 somehow. Or maybe even your _friends_. (Trust no one) ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2015, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fascination-of-fundies-with-the-number-666/729901/7 "2015-09-04T18:22:17Z")
[What’s up with 666, the “mark of the beast”?](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2245/whats-up-with-666-the-mark-of-the-beast) ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2015, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fascination-of-fundies-with-the-number-666/729901/8 "2015-09-05T00:18:40Z")
666 = Number of the Beast 668 = Next-door Neighbor of the Beast 999 = Number of the Australian Beast 665.9997856 = Number of the Beast on a Pentium 0.666 = Number of the Millibeast 1010011010 = Binary Number of the Beast 29A = Hexidecimal of the Beast 00666 = Zip Code of the Beast Form 10666 = IRS Tax Form of the Beast 666-66-6666 = Social Security Number of the Beast 1-666-666-6666 = Phone Number of the Beast 1-866-666-6666 = Toll-Free Phone Number of the Beast 1-900-666-6666 = Live Beasts, available now! Only $6.66 per minute! ---
**Author:** ![Marion\_Wormer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d07c76/32.png) [@Marion\_Wormer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marion_Wormer)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2015, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fascination-of-fundies-with-the-number-666/729901/9 "2015-09-05T00:42:14Z")
I’ve had the number 666 come up a few times in my life. My favorite was when I went to register my dog at the city hall of a small town. I turned over the forms from the vet and my driver’s license and the clerk took the next tag off the wire loop. “Oh, this is number 666.” she looked at me anxiously, “I can get you a different tag. If you don’t like _that_ number.” I’m Catholic, we don’t hold with that 666 shit. I just told the lady, “No that’s fine, she’s a devil dog, it’s the perfect tag.” ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2015, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fascination-of-fundies-with-the-number-666/729901/10 "2015-09-05T03:04:22Z")
The explanation I admire the most – and believe almost not at all – is from Robert Graves, who, in “The White Goddess,” said that DCLXVI, 666 in Roman numerals, is an abbreviation for the Latin sentence “Domitianus Caesar Legatos Xti Violenter Interfecit,” or “The Emperor Domitian violently killed the envoys of Christ.” Graves was one of the great masters of making up really plausible garbage. ---
**Author:** ![Gretchion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8edcca/32.png) [@Gretchion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gretchion)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2015, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fascination-of-fundies-with-the-number-666/729901/11 "2015-09-05T04:53:30Z")
If you take the phrase “CUTE PURPLE DINOSAUR”, change all the U’s to V’s, and count the Roman numerals, they add up to 666. So obviously, Barney is the beast. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2015, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fascination-of-fundies-with-the-number-666/729901/12 "2015-09-06T22:18:52Z")
> [@Flyer](#): > > . . . And several dozen other people. > > Maybe the Antichrist will be a cabal of 666 proposed candidates. Yes, but Nero has another distinction: the original number was 616, and a variant spelling of his name fits that, too. In fact, it’s guessed that people who knew the code changed it to the more common version of his name. There are also historical reasons to interpret Revelation as a coded allegory about Rome, so the head of the Empire (and symbolic enemy of all Christians) fits more than other candidates. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2015, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fascination-of-fundies-with-the-number-666/729901/13 "2015-09-06T23:35:42Z")
I rolled a 666 in my bowling league last week. Actually had people tell me I should have fouled on the last shot so that I wouldn’t have the devil’s number and get bad luck all week long. I had great fun pulling out my driver’s license and showing them that the last three digits are 666, and telling them that I’ve this number since I was 15 and it hasn’t bothered me a bit. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2015, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fascination-of-fundies-with-the-number-666/729901/14 "2015-09-06T23:41:23Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > 665.9997856 = Number of the Beast on a Pentium I don’t get it. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Angry\_Badger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b38774/32.png) [@The\_Angry\_Badger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Angry_Badger)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2015, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fascination-of-fundies-with-the-number-666/729901/15 "2015-09-06T23:47:12Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > I don’t get it. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentium\_FDIV\_bug](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentium_FDIV_bug) Original Pentium processors had a bug that meant they would calculate decimals incorrectly. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2016, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fascination-of-fundies-with-the-number-666/729901/16 "2016-06-15T22:31:25Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > 666 = Number of the Beast > 668 = Next-door Neighbor of the Beast > 999 = Number of the Australian Beast > 665.9997856 = Number of the Beast on a Pentium > 0.666 = Number of the Millibeast > 1010011010 = Binary Number of the Beast > 29A = Hexidecimal of the Beast > 00666 = Zip Code of the Beast > Form 10666 = IRS Tax Form of the Beast > 666-66-6666 = Social Security Number of the Beast > 1-666-666-6666 = Phone Number of the Beast > 1-866-666-6666 = Toll-Free Phone Number of the Beast > 1-900-666-6666 = Live Beasts, available now! Only $6.66 per minute! 2.823474223 = Log of the Beast -0.80916994375 = Sin of the Beast 0.0015015015… = The Beast doing a headstand ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fascination-of-fundies-with-the-number-666/729901/17 "2016-06-16T01:07:59Z")
I have read that when the Reagans left Washington and moved back to California, the address of the house they bought was 666 St. Cloud. They had it changed to 668. I always thought that if someone was so upset about 666, that just calling it 668 wouldn’t change the inherent “evilness” of the place, but I guess the Reagans didn’t feel that way. ---
**Author:** ![Zeke\_N.Destroi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/4af34b/32.png) [@Zeke\_N.Destroi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeke_N.Destroi)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fascination-of-fundies-with-the-number-666/729901/18 "2016-06-16T01:27:41Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > In **War and Peace** , Tolstoy has Pierre working numerology and concluding that _l empereur Napoleon_ worked out to 666 precisely – if he left the “e” out of “le” My understanding of French is that when you have le preceeding a word beginning with a vowel sound “le” and “la” become " l’ ". Kind of like in English it is “_a_ radish” but “_an_ apple”. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fascination-of-fundies-with-the-number-666/729901/19 "2016-06-16T02:25:22Z")
> [@Pai325](#): > > I have read that when the Reagans left Washington and moved back to California, the address of the house they bought was 666 St. Cloud. They had it changed to 668. > > I always thought that if someone was so upset about 666, that just calling it 668 wouldn’t change the inherent “evilness” of the place, but I guess the Reagans didn’t feel that way. Many places don’t have a 13th floor because of that same reasoning. Skipping one and calling it the 14th floor does not change that it is the 13th floor. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fascination-of-fundies-with-the-number-666/729901/20 "2016-06-16T04:13:22Z")
> **[Pope Francis rejects donation from Argentinian president with 666 in sum](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jun/14/pope-francis-mauricio-macri-argentina-charity-donation-666)** > > Centre-right leader Mauricio Macri gave 16,666,000 pesos to educational foundation backed by pope, reports say > [@](#): > > …Pope Francis rejected a charitable donation from the government of President Mauricio Macri – at least partly – because the sum included the figure 666. > > Earlier this month, the centre-right president made a donation that totaled 16,666,000 pesos (slightly under $1.2m) from the Argentinian government to the Scholas Occurentes educational foundation, which is backed by the pope and is based on a similar organization founded by Francis when he was cardinal of Buenos Aires. > > \ > > But according to the Vatican Insider – a publication specializing in papal affairs published by the Italian newspaper La Stampa – Francis wrote to the Argentinian branch of the foundation, asking them to return the money. In a postcript, he wrote: “I don’t like the 666.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fascination-of-fundies-with-the-number-666/729901.md?page=2)