# Is there such a thing as fate? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 1, 2000, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-such-a-thing-as-fate/27705 "2000-08-01T15:05:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Asmodeus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@Asmodeus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asmodeus)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2000, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-such-a-thing-as-fate/27705/1 "2000-08-01T15:05:12Z")
You know… que sera sera? I tend to not believe in it. You have to work for what you want. What say y’all? ---
**Author:** ![G.B.H.Hornswoggler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c67d28/32.png) [@G.B.H.Hornswoggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G.B.H.Hornswoggler)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2000, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-such-a-thing-as-fate/27705/2 "2000-08-01T15:09:44Z")
I know there used to be, but I haven’t seen it on the newstands recently. It was a Fortean thing, with lots of discussions of rains of frogs and other bizarre phenomena. Oh, you _didn’t_ mean the magazine? Never mind. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Zero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@Saint\_Zero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Zero)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2000, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-such-a-thing-as-fate/27705/3 "2000-08-01T15:13:31Z")
I saw _The Fortean Times_ at Books a Millon the other day. 🙂 Fate: Dunno. I can make a convincing case for having both free will and being predestined to do something, if you’re curious. Do I believe in Fate? I believe we have a destiny, that we can change. ---
**Author:** ![Asmodeus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@Asmodeus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asmodeus)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2000, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-such-a-thing-as-fate/27705/4 "2000-08-01T15:21:21Z")
SZ…Destiny you can change?? If you are destined to be or destined to do…You can change it? ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2000, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-such-a-thing-as-fate/27705/5 "2000-08-01T15:48:35Z")
The answer is of course: No, there is no such thing as fate. Anybody who disagrees, needs to get his butt to Great Debates. _cough_ _Great Debates_ _ahem_ 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Asmodeus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@Asmodeus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asmodeus)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2000, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-such-a-thing-as-fate/27705/6 "2000-08-01T15:52:51Z")
Please…I don’t deserve great debates…I am not worthy…besides…I use … 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Asmodeus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@Asmodeus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asmodeus)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2000, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-such-a-thing-as-fate/27705/7 "2000-08-01T15:54:23Z")
Not to mention I just posted another conundrum there… ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2000, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-such-a-thing-as-fate/27705/8 "2000-08-01T16:46:34Z")
Where does physical law stop and consciousness kick in? If free will exists, then I must be able to change the path of certain bits of matter floating about in my head. Before I used my free will to influence the state of my lump’o’grey, the various bits and pieces were floating about acting and reacting to known (or discoverable) physical laws. For example, the calcium or whatnot moving in and out of various ion gates in and around individual nerve cells are responding (predictably)to charge gradients and the like. Therefore, I must be able to cause a change in the chemical / electrical composition of my noggin, merely by an exertion of my (non-physical) will. If I can do that, then what do I say to Uri Geller when he shows up on my doorstep? ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2000, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-such-a-thing-as-fate/27705/9 "2000-08-01T23:23:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Asmodeus \* > \*\*Please…I don’t deserve great debates…I am not worthy…besides…I use … > > 🙂 \*\* You _are_ worthy. It is your destiny. Come with me to the dark side, where **David B.** and **Gaudere** will complete your training. ---
**Author:** ![papertiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce73a5/32.png) [@papertiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/papertiger)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2000, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-such-a-thing-as-fate/27705/10 "2000-08-02T12:34:30Z")
Yeah fate exists, we do have “freedom” to choose, but we will always choose in a certain way which fits in with the events of our lives. We may think we have changed our lives, but our actions are as natural as God’s.