Do you believe in Destiny?

Do you believe that things "happen for a reason" or is it all just a bunch of shit that happens by happenstance?

Are you a believer in a "greater force" that guides us and dishes out the good and the bad, all towards a master plan or something like that?

Or is it all about pure decisions and chance encounters coupled with accidents and blind luck?

Yes, the universe is saying I have completed two papers this evening and should celebrate that accomplishment by eating that last slice of apple pie and playing some Madden before going to bed.

And, I'm listening!

Well...I believe things happen for a reason. I trust God has a plan for us all, even if we choose not to worship/acknowledge Him. Crap which tends to happen to us will eventually work in our favor in the long run if we choose to stay positive.

PurpleJedi said:

Do you believe in Destiny? YES.

Do you believe that things "happen for a reason" or is it all just a bunch of shit that happens by happenstance? Things Happen for a reason imho

Are you a believer in a "greater force" that guides us and dishes out the good and the bad, all towards a master plan or something like that? Yupperz.

Or is it all about pure decisions and chance encounters coupled with accidents and blind luck? Could be that too, but you never know

PurpleJedi said:

Do you believe in Destiny? I guess you could say I believe in an ultimate will

Do you believe that things "happen for a reason" or is it all just a bunch of shit that happens by happenstance? That's complicated cause I don't think everything that happens is part of the ultimate will, but I also believe in cause and effect, that there is a reason why things happen

Are you a believer in a "greater force" that guides us and dishes out the good and the bad, all towards a master plan or something like that? Yes, I believe in God. Probably not so much in the handing out demerits type for every single thing, but then that's where I believe in cause and effect.

Or is it all about pure decisions and chance encounters coupled with accidents and blind luck?

Pretty much same as above.

Believing in things like that has a purpose and in a lot of cases it makes the world and some people "better", as in they show more compassion, are more sensitive etc.

However, if you want the truth, it is all bullshit. From the very very first moment in time in all existence there ever was and will be, every possible way and outcome was already "preprogrammed". There are never unlimited opportunities, even if there are a hell of a lot different opportunities in each moment in time.

Simple illustration: You have 10 possible paths. Freedom of choice (depending on your mood, your past experience, your culture, your nurture etc) makes you choose one path. Each path has 10 more possible paths etc.

So, to some extent everything that happens is somehow "predestined", but we are free to play around inside the borders of our world, taking into account that there are millions of conscious people around us who have the same freedom, which in return affects us and our decision making too.

.

[Edited 12/5/11 5:15am]

ThreadBare said:

Yes, the universe is saying I have completed two papers this evening and should celebrate that accomplishment by eating that last slice of apple pie and playing some Madden before going to bed.

And, I'm listening!

paintedlady said:

Well...I believe things happen for a reason. I trust God has a plan for us all, even if we choose not to worship/acknowledge Him. Crap which tends to happen to us will eventually work in our favor in the long run if we choose to stay positive.

Tittypants said:

PurpleJedi said:

Do you believe in Destiny? YES.

Do you believe that things "happen for a reason" or is it all just a bunch of shit that happens by happenstance? Things Happen for a reason imho

Are you a believer in a "greater force" that guides us and dishes out the good and the bad, all towards a master plan or something like that? Yupperz.

Or is it all about pure decisions and chance encounters coupled with accidents and blind luck? Could be that too, but you never know

morningsong said:

PurpleJedi said:

Do you believe in Destiny? I guess you could say I believe in an ultimate will

Do you believe that things "happen for a reason" or is it all just a bunch of shit that happens by happenstance? That's complicated cause I don't think everything that happens is part of the ultimate will, but I also believe in cause and effect, that there is a reason why things happen

Are you a believer in a "greater force" that guides us and dishes out the good and the bad, all towards a master plan or something like that? Yes, I believe in God. Probably not so much in the handing out demerits type for every single thing, but then that's where I believe in cause and effect.

Or is it all about pure decisions and chance encounters coupled with accidents and blind luck?

Pretty much same as above.

Dave1992 said:

Believing in things like that has a purpose and in a lot of cases it makes the world and some people "better", as in they show more compassion, are more sensitive etc.

However, if you want the truth, it is all bullshit. From the very very first moment in time in all existence there ever was and will be, every possible way and outcome was already "preprogrammed". There are never unlimited opportunities, even if there are a hell of a lot different opportunities in each moment in time.

Simple illustration: You have 10 possible paths. Freedom of choice (depending on your mood, your past experience, your culture, your nurture etc) makes you choose one path. Each path has 10 more possible paths etc.

So, to some extent everything that happens is somehow "predestined", but we are free to play around inside the borders of our world, taking into account that there are millions of conscious people around us who have the same freedom, which in return affects us and our decision making too.

When you say "preprogrammed" it implies the existence of a higher being/entity to have "programmed" it all to begin with. Someone to have laid down the "paths".

Is that your belief?

yes. i believe there is a grand, intelligent design. some

PurpleJedi said:

Dave1992 said:

Believing in things like that has a purpose and in a lot of cases it makes the world and some people "better", as in they show more compassion, are more sensitive etc.

However, if you want the truth, it is all bullshit. From the very very first moment in time in all existence there ever was and will be, every possible way and outcome was already "preprogrammed". There are never unlimited opportunities, even if there are a hell of a lot different opportunities in each moment in time.

Simple illustration: You have 10 possible paths. Freedom of choice (depending on your mood, your past experience, your culture, your nurture etc) makes you choose one path. Each path has 10 more possible paths etc.

So, to some extent everything that happens is somehow "predestined", but we are free to play around inside the borders of our world, taking into account that there are millions of conscious people around us who have the same freedom, which in return affects us and our decision making too.

When you say "preprogrammed" it implies the existence of a higher being/entity to have "programmed" it all to begin with. Someone to have laid down the "paths".

Is that your belief?

No no, not at all! It's simple maths and logic. If you sit down for 2000 years and do the maths, taking into account everything that surrounds you, you could probably tell what exactly might happen in the next five seconds without being surprised. The world is limited to its existence. But what we often describe as "luck" and "fate" is simply that one of those billions of possibilties took place that we personally fancy. And it took place because of the billions of factors around you working together.

Yes, all the possible paths in the universe were possible right from the start, and everything that will happen in a trillion years could already be explained and foreseen nowadays, theoretically speaking. That doesn't mean something or someone else decides what happens with this world. It's all of us together who decide for eath other.

SometimesIwonder said:

I most certainly believe in destiny & fate. I'll not fret for where ever I am meant to b placed in the past, now & in the future IS for a reason. I shall always embrace the flow of the Universe, for where it shall direct me will eventually take me home...

XxAxX said:

yes. i believe there is a grand, intelligent design. some

Dave1992 said:

PurpleJedi said:

When you say "preprogrammed" it implies the existence of a higher being/entity to have "programmed" it all to begin with. Someone to have laid down the "paths".

Is that your belief?

No no, not at all! It's simple maths and logic. If you sit down for 2000 years and do the maths, taking into account everything that surrounds you, you could probably tell what exactly might happen in the next five seconds without being surprised. The world is limited to its existence. But what we often describe as "luck" and "fate" is simply that one of those billions of possibilties took place that we personally fancy. And it took place because of the billions of factors around you working together.

Yes, all the possible paths in the universe were possible right from the start, and everything that will happen in a trillion years could already be explained and foreseen nowadays, theoretically speaking. That doesn't mean something or someone else decides what happens with this world. It's all of us together who decide for eath other.

OK...so then not really "pre-programmed" but rather "limited within the means of theoretical possibilities"...so I have the choice today of turning left or turning right when I drive out of the office parking lot, but not turning UP. So I have two possibilities, but doesn't mean someone is "guiding" me to turn.

Something like that?

Yes.

E.g. today.

I walked back from teaching nurse students, so passed the hospital. Woman asked me directions to a new department/linic at the hospital for pigment on skin.

I have a lot of strange pigment skin spots, so we got talking about it and she told me all about it. And also that she thought I should check it out.

I listen to those kind of messages.

Later on, was in the tube thinkig and being ín my own world. A guy on a platform thought it was very funny to pound hard on the window where I was sitting. I skreeked. First reaction was angry to the guy who was laughing with his mates about my reaction.

Then, I realized I had to hop off two stops later. If the guy hadn't 'woke me up', I would have missed that and probably ended up on the other side of the city. So, am very happy that I got that wake up call.

Do you believe in Destiny?

No.

Do you believe that things "happen for a reason" or is it all just a bunch of shit that happens by happenstance?

I believe we can learn something or find a positive attribute from just about everything which is usually what someone means when they say something bad “happened for a reason”. I don’t believe it that means it was planned by some mythical being, however. It just means we are able to see the good that can come from the bad. Hindisght being 20/20 and all that.

Are you a believer in a "greater force" that guides us and dishes out the good and the bad, all towards a master plan or something like that?

No. There is no master plan. We are all accountable for our own decisions and actions here and now and there will be no reward or punishment when we’re gone.

Or is it all about pure decisions and chance encounters coupled with accidents and blind luck?

Well, I don’t believe in “luck” either. Everything beyond our control is chance, everything within our control is in our decisions.

The universe doesn’t speak to me, I speak to me. My years of experience and learning, conscious and unconscious allow me to make split second decisions that others may call the universe speaking, but I know it’s simply my mind recalling past circumstances, understanding how my choices and the factors surrounding me played out in the past and calculating the best course of action for the current situation.

This isn’t a divine message, it’s brain processes doing their job.

CarrieMpls said:

The universe doesn’t speak to me, I speak to me. My years of experience and learning, conscious and unconscious allow me to make split second decisions that others may call the universe speaking, but I know it’s simply my mind recalling past circumstances, understanding how my choices and the factors surrounding me played out in the past and calculating the best course of action for the current situation.

This isn’t a divine message, it’s brain processes doing their job.

PurpleJedi said:

Dave1992 said:

No no, not at all! It's simple maths and logic. If you sit down for 2000 years and do the maths, taking into account everything that surrounds you, you could probably tell what exactly might happen in the next five seconds without being surprised. The world is limited to its existence. But what we often describe as "luck" and "fate" is simply that one of those billions of possibilties took place that we personally fancy. And it took place because of the billions of factors around you working together.

Yes, all the possible paths in the universe were possible right from the start, and everything that will happen in a trillion years could already be explained and foreseen nowadays, theoretically speaking. That doesn't mean something or someone else decides what happens with this world. It's all of us together who decide for eath other.

OK...so then not really "pre-programmed" but rather "limited within the means of theoretical possibilities"...so I have the choice today of turning left or turning right when I drive out of the office parking lot, but not turning UP. So I have two possibilities, but doesn't mean someone is "guiding" me to turn.

Something like that?

Probably, yes. It means that everything that happens and every probablility can be calculated, theoretically.

Of course, you could always replace "past experience, momentary preference, subconscious action, a slight pain in your left ankle etc" with "God, a higher being, the universe talking to you" for the sake of argument, as a reason for your turning left. I just think it's irrelevant, because the choice you make can be calculated and in the end it is all based on science.

Just an aside: science and God (belief) can go hand in hand too; one would only have to explain why people belief and why it makes sense to believe. Those who do would however have to realise that what they believe in doesn't exist like other things exist, but exists because they believe in it. As in: God is not real, but believing makes sense. Or: I don't know, but I believe, which makes me a better person etc.

Interesting topic. I love getting into discussions like this with my friends over a drink or two.

If a greater force is guiding the nonsense going on these days.....they need their ASS kicked. Twice.

[Edited 12/5/11 8:51am]

I used to.

I stopped, and I'm a lot less happy now than when I was cultivating a relationship with unseen powers of compassion and limitless love.

Dave1992 said:

PurpleJedi said:

OK...so then not really "pre-programmed" but rather "limited within the means of theoretical possibilities"...so I have the choice today of turning left or turning right when I drive out of the office parking lot, but not turning UP. So I have two possibilities, but doesn't mean someone is "guiding" me to turn.

Something like that?

Probably, yes. It means that everything that happens and every probablility can be calculated, theoretically.

Of course, you could always replace "past experience, momentary preference, subconscious action, a slight pain in your left ankle etc" with "God, a higher being, the universe talking to you" for the sake of argument, as a reason for your turning left. I just think it's irrelevant, because the choice you make can be calculated and in the end it is all based on science.

Just an aside: science and God (belief) can go hand in hand too; one would only have to explain why people belief and why it makes sense to believe. Those who do would however have to realise that what they believe in doesn't exist like other things exist, but exists because they believe in it. As in: God is not real, but believing makes sense. Or: I don't know, but I believe, which makes me a better person etc.

Your "scientific" reasoning of the concept of God is interesting.

Efan said:

Interesting topic. I love getting into discussions like this with my friends over a drink or two.

Do you believe in Destiny?

No. In fact, I find it rather depressing to believe in "fate" or "destiny" guiding everything. When people talk about it, they seem to imply it's a positive (sometimes even divine) thing, but I think if it were real, it would be horrible.

Do you believe that things "happen for a reason" or is it all just a bunch of shit that happens by happenstance?

There might be things that happen for a reason, lessons that the universe or some higher intelligence imparts, or whatever. While I'm not sure I believe in that, I can't say it's not the case. I do think that oftentimes people--myself included--tend to attempt to learn the lessons they want to learn. We hear what we want to hear and we take away what we want to take away.

Are you a believer in a "greater force" that guides us and dishes out the good and the bad, all towards a master plan or something like that?

No.

Or is it all about pure decisions and chance encounters coupled with accidents and blind luck?

I love the beauty of chaos, suffer under the vagaries of randomness, and feel "lucky" that I don't have it as bad on this earth as millions, probably billions, of other people. But I think it all comes down to chance--some things we do increase or decrease the chances of other things happening.

I had one of those booze-fueled "enlightened" discussions once.

Graycap23 said:

If a greater force is guiding the nonsense going on these days.....they need thier ASS kicked. Twice.

Hell yeah.

PunkMistress said:

I used to.

I stopped, and I'm a lot less happy now than when I was cultivating a relationship with unseen powers of compassion and limitless love.

I can relate to that.

Seems I was "at peace" more when I was the good little Catholic boy. When I prayed each night and had my one-on-one with the Almighty.

Right now a cousin of mine is doing her darnest to try to get me to go to her Christian church. I politely excuse myself each time because I don't trust myself to fall for the comfort & "warm-fuzzy-feeling" that such an environment can offer me in this state of mind.

I want SO MUCH to believe that there's a "higher purpose" for all this bullshit. That there is a "greater plan" for me. That "better things are in store" for my future.

So much so that I can see myself falling for whatever church/group/cult offers me enough fluff to clog up this empty hole in my chest.

But in the end, fluff is fluff, no matter how sweet it may be.

Anyone remember my old thread; "Would you rather be dumb and happy or smart and sad?"

I often wish I could be dumbed-down and find that happiness...by any means.

Then I do a mental and suck it up, bug a friend or two with crap, and post nonsense on the Org.

Why can’t you be smart and happy, though?

Why does not believing in something have to equal sad or depressing?

What if better things aren’t in store for you? Whether or not there’s a higher power orchestrating your future you have no control over the matter anyway, right? So it’s up to you to make the happiness you seek. It’s all your choice.

Sure, life can be a violent struggle full of pain and misery till the day you die. That’s why all the little things that aren’t pain and misery are so freaking fantastic.