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Everything Happens For A Reason. - 3/30/2008 1:23:31 PM   
UncleNasty


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This is a phrase I've heard used throughout my life. I'm curious how folks here feel about it.

Do you believe everything happens for a reason?
If so, why?
If not, why not?

I haven't put this in the poll sections as I'm interested in the discourse.

I'm with holding my own views for the time being as I want open and unbiased posts in response. Eventually I'll weigh in.

Uncle Nasty
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RE: Everything Happens For A Reason. - 3/30/2008 1:25:03 PM   
KatyLied


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No, sometimes things just happen randomly, with no reason.  Are we supposed to learn some sort of lesson from it?  I don't know.  

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RE: Everything Happens For A Reason. - 3/30/2008 1:36:50 PM   
ShareMyDream


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Some spiritualist types use this as an argument for their god’s failure to prevent tragic events, such as Tsunamis.

If everything happens for a reason then why bother to converse with God through prayer?

I suppose you look at the bad things that have happened in life and ask yourself who they benefited? If you can say they helped you then you can subscribe to the logic that bad things happen for a reason. Maybe someone you know died in a car accident after not wearing a seatbelt so now you always wear one. Begs the question why does anyone have to die from not wearing a seatbelt? Can’t God prevent seatbelt related deaths or is he just a mean bastard that likes to think up new rules for people to follow or risk facing death?


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RE: Everything Happens For A Reason. - 3/30/2008 1:44:30 PM   
celticlord2112


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Desire begets choice begets act begets consequence begets desire.

This is the order of things.


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RE: Everything Happens For A Reason. - 3/30/2008 1:46:47 PM   
Gemini1766


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It depends on your spiritual beliefs,
looking back at my life, I can see that every notable event in my life has guided me in my life to bring me where I am today.


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RE: Everything Happens For A Reason. - 3/30/2008 1:55:05 PM   
KatyLied


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quote:

Desire begets choice begets act begets consequence begets desire.


So a baby who is born with a terminal illness created his own fate (consequence) through desire/choice?


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RE: Everything Happens For A Reason. - 3/30/2008 2:00:00 PM   
meatcleaver


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There is no reason for anything, we live in a chaotic universe governed by chance. However, we appear to be hardwired to see patterns and intent. This appears to have both positive and negatives. Many evolutionary psychologists argue that seeing patterns and intent were there aren't any must have more positives than negatives for it to be so prominent in humans. I once listened to a lecture given by a neuro scientist/pathologist (can't rememebr anymore) on how the brain (appears) to function and he said more creative and depressive people (appeared) to at times, break this need to see patterns and intent, which then appeared to cause them anxiety and psychosis. It seemed to me he was saying in a long winded way, humans need to view the world through rose coloured spectacles. Well, I guess there is nothing new in that.

< Message edited by meatcleaver -- 3/30/2008 2:02:14 PM >


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RE: Everything Happens For A Reason. - 3/30/2008 2:04:02 PM   
Gemini1766


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quote:

ORIGINAL: meatcleaver

There is no reason for anything, we live in a chaotic universe governed by chance.
That's your take, it doesn't match mine. Then again, I have a life filled with spiritual experiences that say otherwise. Chaos is not totally random, it just has more options.

quote:

ORIGINAL: KatyLied

quote:

Desire begets choice begets act begets consequence begets desire.


So a baby who is born with a terminal illness created his own fate (consequence) through desire/choice?

Depending on who you talk to and their spiritual beliefs, yes. And it is not about what they will experience, but the lessons they teach others coming into the world like that.


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RE: Everything Happens For A Reason. - 3/30/2008 2:07:22 PM   
CalifChick


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I think it's a trite phrase that is just a bunch of crap. I whined about it in a journal entry a while back.

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RE: Everything Happens For A Reason. - 3/30/2008 2:08:25 PM   
colouredin


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No, we can read reason into everything but the belief that everything happens for a reason is a really good way to hate yourself, a better saying is everything that happens can teach you something, and thats what i take it to mean, everything in life gives you the chance to learn and therefore have a better shot at it the next time something similar comes along. Life is what you make it.


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RE: Everything Happens For A Reason. - 3/30/2008 2:08:38 PM   
Gemini1766


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We all have our own opinions on it Cali.
Best if we all simply agree to disagree.
I see no reason at all for us to be at odds over what ultimately are personally held beliefs.
HUGS


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RE: Everything Happens For A Reason. - 3/30/2008 2:16:27 PM   
ShareMyDream


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quote:

ORIGINAL: Gemini1766
Depending on who you talk to and their spiritual beliefs, yes. And it is not about what they will experience, but the lessons they teach others coming into the world like that.


What lessons are to be gleaned from watching a helpless child die?

Life is precious, not to god obviously? 


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RE: Everything Happens For A Reason. - 3/30/2008 2:23:23 PM   
BitaTruble


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I do believe that most things happen for a reason but we mightn't have the knowledge or know how to figure out why. Somethings are easy: If I rear end the guy in front of me, I probably wasn't paying attention or I was following to close. That's the reason I rear ended him. Perhaps I wasn't paying attention because I was thinking about something else, so that's why I wasn't focused on my driving when I should have been. You can often go backwards from the effect to the cause and get to the bottom line. I think, too, that sometimes when we get to the baseline reason, it can pretty much suck, but, there is still a reason for whatever happened.

Celeste



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RE: Everything Happens For A Reason. - 3/30/2008 2:25:21 PM   
meatcleaver


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quote:

ORIGINAL: Gemini1766

quote:

ORIGINAL: meatcleaver

There is no reason for anything, we live in a chaotic universe governed by chance.


That's your take, it doesn't match mine. Then again, I have a life filled with spiritual experiences that say otherwise. Chaos is not totally random, it just has more options.



We pretty much know the reason why we tend to give inanimate objects intent, it is a side affect to our need for quick reflexes and recognizing danger. If our brains had to figure out exactly what a situation is before it responds, it could well be too late, the tiger would have had you for dinner or the paramedics would be scrapping you off the tarmac.

Good look with your deep and meaningful life full of spiritual experiences. I prefer a good whiskey and a Cuban cigar to turn my world pale pink.

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RE: Everything Happens For A Reason. - 3/30/2008 2:31:00 PM   
meatcleaver


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quote:

ORIGINAL: Gemini1766

quote:

Desire begets choice begets act begets consequence begets desire.


So a baby who is born with a terminal illness created his own fate (consequence) through desire/choice?

quote:


Depending on who you talk to and their spiritual beliefs, yes. And it is not about what they will experience, but the lessons they teach others coming into the world like that.



Of course you do realise this is codswallop. What possible lessons could 'they' (whoever 'they' are) possibly have to teach anyone? We live in a world where life feeds off death where everyday in an idylic landscape, quiet savagery is taking place. Yet these wonderful spirits of yours that are so benevolent they need all this blood, guts and cannabilism to teach us something deep and meaningful? If they are so benevolent, why don't they just teach us using a blackboard?

< Message edited by meatcleaver -- 3/30/2008 2:33:32 PM >


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RE: Everything Happens For A Reason. - 3/30/2008 2:32:12 PM   
bipolarber


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It's not a very useful bit of philosophy.

One that works better, is the "how do you know?" story from Taoisim. (It's written out very well in the book "Te of Piglet" by Ben Hoff. It was also used as the resolution in the movie "Charlie Wilson's War." [they changed the original ending because it basically told the truth how republicans fucked up the Middle East, inadvertantly causing 9/11]) Often, the things that happen that you think are wonderful in your life... aren't really. And often, the horrible things that happen are just the gateway to something far better...

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RE: Everything Happens For A Reason. - 3/30/2008 2:33:27 PM   
Gemini1766


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It's your position, and you will respect that fact and that we do not agree.


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RE: Everything Happens For A Reason. - 3/30/2008 2:35:03 PM   
Lockit


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I don't believe that everything that happens, happens for a reason.  I do believe that the search for the reason to things unreasonable can be a real challenge and a hardship in life.  I stopped looking for the reasons to the unexplained and just went with finding solutions and good that can come from whatever it is.  To the situations I could control, I added whatever it called for to have that control... to those I couldn't control... I added what helped me figure out how to make it better.  Trying to find reasons or answers for everything can make one a lil batty.

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RE: Everything Happens For A Reason. - 3/30/2008 3:42:01 PM   
CalifChick


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quote:

ORIGINAL: Gemini1766
We all have our own opinions on it Cali. Best if we all simply agree to disagree. I see no reason at all for us to be at odds over what ultimately are personally held beliefs.


Gem Love, that wasn't to you, I should have put "fast reply" on it.  The person who said the phrase in question to me, as I was laying on a gurney, with a morphine drip, bleeding, losing my unborn baby, well, let's just say if I had more strength at that moment they would have lost one or more appendages.  I see absolutely NO VALUE in saying it to someone, as it only serves to minimize and trivialize whatever pain (emotional, mental, and/or physical) they are experiencing at that moment.

Cali
(who feels she should send Gem a nekkie pic or something now as a peace offering)


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RE: Everything Happens For A Reason. - 3/30/2008 3:50:07 PM   
TheHeretic


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quote:

ORIGINAL: UncleNasty

Do you believe everything happens for a reason?



       Of course, though I'm much more likely to phrase it as "nothing happens in vacuum."  Now whether the reason something happens has anything whatsoever to do with the people it happens to is another matter entirely.

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