F... "Everything Happens for a Reason"

I was tempted to approach this from a physics standpoint, but I couldn't even figure out how to explain it. You did a pretty good job.

One thing I would add: Due to the principle of uncertainty, nobody can ever know the outcome of every event (even though all events are based upon natural laws). As we discover more about quantum physics it seems that there is a great deal of chaos in the universe, and not as much order as we thought. Then there's that idea of order in chaos -- that a state of chaos is the most ordered state -- I still can't comprehend that one.

But is it really chaos? I'm not saying I'm right, but to me chaos is a good label for things that we don't understand.

But is it really chaos? I'm not saying I'm right, but to me chaos is a good label for things that we don't understand.

It's definitely just a label. I don't know much about chaos, or the uncertainty principle, so I'm pretty much talking outta my ass. We are so obsessed with answers, we've got to make some up. I'm willing to believe we don't know, and that we made some lame excuse for being ignorant. Why can't we just be satisfied with not knowing? I like mysteries. :)

i was going to post something, but after reading some of this, i am not sure if im on this level. let me say, that i am not sure about predetermined fate. but on the flip side, i do think that good things happen to good people. if its those good people making it happen....

That's just not true. Many religions (Christianity included (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Predestination#Predestination_in_Christianity)) believe their respective God possesses infinite intelligence (i.e., omniscience). With omniscience, everything that will happen is known. Thus, we are free to "choose", but, in fact, someone knows how it will all turn out. You can argue semantics, but a known ending, even if we believe we are "choosing" it, is fate.

It's a topic that confuses people far more intelligent than me, but certain religions are intertwined with fate. When someone says "Everything happens for a reason," it can often be a statement of faith.

If you read down a bit further through that very link, you see all the conflicting thoughts and views on predestination in Christianity. It's all over the map, there is not one generally accepted view.

i was going to post something, but after reading some of this, i am not sure if im on this level. let me say, that i am not sure about predetermined fate. but on the flip side, i do think that good things happen to good people. if its those good people making it happen....

Not intended as an argument, dmek, but good things happen to bad people with about as much regularity as good people. Bad things happen to good people with about as much regularity as bad people.

I'll stick with my trusty stand-by:

"Shit Happens"

Whether it's good shit, bad shit, or indifferent shit, shit happens. Does it happen for a reason? Sure. Does it happen because of fate? Sure. As far as I know, I'm along for this roller coaster ride called life, and whatever happens...happens.

I'll stick with my trusty stand-by:

"Shit Happens"

Whether it's good shit, bad shit, or indifferent shit, shit happens. Does it happen for a reason? Sure. Does it happen because of fate? Sure. As far as I know, I'm along for this roller coaster ride called life, and whatever happens...happens.

UGH.

NO. Shit just happens. Period. That bumper sticker never said anything about fate. It just meant Shit Happens, deal with it. Roll with the punches.

If fate is predetermined, please go outside right now, get in your car, and run over the first police officer you see. If there is a grand master plan for you, and none of your choices matter, then who cares if you run over a police officer? You're going to end up with the same situation, no matter what you choose to do, right?

Better yet, hey guess what, your fate is predetermined! Might as well drink and smoke and eat McDonalds everynight! After all, fate already knows how you're going to die right? So doing all those things won't affect anything. It won't increase your chances of a heart attack, it won't increase your chances of emphysema, it won't increase your chances of lung cancer. Just do whatever you want, your free will has no affect on your fate. How many doctors would say that makes any sense?

F that kind of thinking.

The God Delusion (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_God_Delusion) makes perfect sense to me. Just remember kids, everyone is trying to f'you out of your hard earned dollars and God is the friend of scam artists.

p.s. I use to be religious until I started thinking for myself instead of soaking the BS my parents were feeding me.

I never said a thing about fate being predeterminded, and there being a grand master plan...I think you are clearly looking way too deep into what I said. Ask AMD. I'm a pretty simple guy, with simple intentions, and I try to lead a pretty simple life.

All I'm saying is that whatever floats your boat, however you see the world is fine by me. If you think it's fate, good for you. If you think there's reason behind everything, good for you. If you think you have the worst luck in the world, so be it. All I know is, I stand by my decisions, no matter what, I rarely regret the decisions I make, and I'm just livin' life. L-I-V-I-N'.

My decisions guide me onto the path that's best for me. If it's predetermined, so be it. If it's fate, great. I am in control of my own destiny, as my destiny is best suited by the choices I make. I can either blindly believe that my decisions are already decided for me, or I can throw a goddamn curve ball at life. Either way, I gladly stand behind what I decide.

Everything does happen for a reason. It's each of us that determines what that reason is.

I never said a thing about fate being predeterminded, and there being a grand master plan...I think you are clearly looking way too deep into what I said. Ask AMD. I'm a pretty simple guy, with simple intentions, and I try to lead a pretty simple life.

All I'm saying is that whatever floats your boat, however you see the world is fine by me. If you think it's fate, good for you. If you think there's reason behind everything, good for you. If you think you have the worst luck in the world, so be it. All I know is, I stand by my decisions, no matter what, I rarely regret the decisions I make, and I'm just livin' life. L-I-V-I-N'.

My decisions guide me onto the path that's best for me. If it's predetermined, so be it. If it's fate, great. I am in control of my own destiny, as my destiny is best suited by the choices I make. I can either blindly believe that my decisions are already decided for me, or I can throw a goddamn curve ball at life. Either way, I gladly stand behind what I decide.

Everything does happen for a reason. It's each of us that determines what that reason is.

OK you confused me. The post I reacted to said "shit happens. Does it happen for a reason? Sure. Does it happen because of fate? Sure."

You clearly said things happened because of fate. Maybe poor choice of words and you were trying to say something like "if you want to think of it as fate, be my guest?"

I'm on the same page now though. You determine your fate based on what you decide to do.