I say, no, it just seems like it. I would guess most things (and maybe everything) is random.
however, acting as if things happen for a reason can be very useful.
I’m talking on a personal level, not like an avian flu outbreak or something.
what do you say?
It’s true if the reason is along the lines of “no good reason at all,” “somebody screwed up,” or “somebody did it on purpose” and God isn’t the “somebody.” Good, bad, and a shocking number of indifferent things that nobody noticed happen all the time.
BRB: Have an AA meeting where I will not try to get people to give up “everything happens for a reason” as the nonsense it is because a lot of these people are too messed up to introduce that random element to their thinking just yet.
Sure. You go tell the family whose toddler just drowned in the pool that everything happens for a reason.
Fuck that shit.
It’s true for some people, but only because they supply the reason after it happens.
But it did. The parents weren’t paying attention–>child drowns. The reason is neglect.
There is a result for every action, whether positive or negative. If we’re talking about some metaphysical causality, such as a supreme being, or as in “everything is preordained”, than bullshit is the correct answer.
I probably should have given an example of what I meant…so, this week I had to deal with a Cranky Old Vet. ( a Vet for a sick dog, not someone who used to be in the military.)
so he is less than charming to me, how do I take it? get mad? (that’s actually what I did)
instead, if I had thought - this guy is cranky because there is something I am supposed to learn from this…that might have been a more functional way to react. like - I am angry because I let him be rude to me without being assertive back, and assertiveness is something I need to work on.
well, that’s not so damn interesting but that’s what got me thinking about this.
not what I would have done at all - since that would be extremely rude.
this is what I mean - yes, deliberately supplying the reason because - you know what? you might as well learn something from it, if you can.
No. Random chance is a major factor in everyone’s life.
I think you’re talking more about “everything happens due to a reason” which is true.
But things don’t, as you also mentioned, happen because of some preordained plan, which I believe was the OPs intent. Babies don’t die of SIDS and teenagers don’t die in horrible crashes for a reason. If I was a grieving parent and someone told me that, I’d be horrified.
actually, you guys all seemed to have missed the part in my post where I said that NO I think it’s random…
at least, I think you are all guys. probably a coincidence:dubious:…
That’s all it is–a way for people to keep themselves from becoming totally demoralized by misfortune. (They don’t even have to specify what the reason is.) Because otherwise, why even bother to go out of your house if at any time a huge safe can just fall on top of you–for no apparent reason.
The idea that we can learn from everything that happens to us is a great way to live life but never kid yourself that there is “something” that is making these things happen for a reason. Life is a bunch of stuff that happens, there is no good or bad just “is”.
As an atheist I don’t believe stuff happens for a reason, the idea that some mysterious power is conducting events is problematic at best.
It is comforting (or terrifying) to think so.
Doesn’t mean it’s true, though.
yes everything happens for a reason. sometimes that reason is randomness.
How horrible would the Universe be if it DID happen for a reason. Disease, War, Famine on the grand scale, heartbreak, sorrow, loss, pain on the personal scale.
Exactly
And when they punch you in the face after you say that to them, that will have happened for a reason, too.
And even if it were true, that wouldn’t make it an appropriate thing to say in all situations.
Agreed: that’s really bad management. If there is an entity that has causal control over “everything that happens,” he’s exhibiting atrocious judgement.
The “Good Shepherd” of the metaphor ought, at damn least, keep the wolves out of the fold. He can’t even manage that little detail!
Oh my god, if I, as someone who uses a wheelchair, had a dime for every time I heard this tired, stupid (rather offensive) cliche; I’d be one rich mofo’. And I am talking about it being said in the sense that there is some “grand plan” that my accident and ultimate paralysis was a part of.