Does everything happen for a reason?
 

Ok I have been hearing for last week out of soo many people the following: "Everything happens for a reason":mad: That saying has always drove me crazy. But seriously Do things happen for a reason?:rolleyes:

My girl called into work today, so we went out to eat a did a little shopping. One of the record shops had a sale going on - I found 5 records I've been dying to get for the past couple years (been out of pressing) Sealed copies - rare stuff.



I'm happy

Yes and no.

The reason you've been hearing that everything happens for a reason, was to compel you to post this thread. One or more of the responses in this thread, will elicit some sort of epiphany - for you, or someone else reading it.

Hmm, iiiiiinteresting.

If we like what happened to us, there's a reason. If we don't, it was pure coincidence.

I flatter myself that planned action,rather than circumstances guide my choices and career,however unforeseen accidents do occur with a frequency that will sometimes baffle the most inchoate reactions.

Everything is a learning experience, whether you want it to be or not as for there being a reason for all things, Kirkegard might have the answer.

Reasons are things that exist in minds. If everything happens for a reason, then some mental thing (God, Universal Consciousness, The Giant Mind) would have to have comprehension of everything and act intentionally to bring all things about. I've never had access to this Giant Mind so as far as I know, there aren't reasons for everything only reasons for a few things--the things that intentionally thinking beings carry out.
Everything may have a cause, but I don't see this as a reason.

You have to find the reason for things for yourself. I guess it's a coping mechanism. This calls to mind the book Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People? The only meaningful answers (reasons) are the ones we find for ourselves. Looking to other people to explain they why of things can be dangerous. This is how religious cults get started and flourish.

I agree and disagree with that statement. :P

Well put. When I was in college and took Philosophy (Intro) I really didn't like it. The funny thing is, now I think about things like this all the time. In reflection I think there could have been two reasons why I didn't like philosophy at that time-
1- I knew my professor was an atheist. I was naive and unnaccepting of other's views when I was younger.
2- My mind works like a philosopher and so I naturally found many problems with their thought processes.

Everything absolutely happens for a reason - there is a cause for everything. The cause isn't necessarily related to you.

The problem I have with everything happening for a reason is that it eliminates free will. I believe I have free will to make decisions that affect myself or others. If EVERYTHING happened for a reason then I would have no choice in the matter.

Now, with that said, I do believe there are certain things that happen for certain reasons. How much or how often? I can't answer that as my brain starts to hurt when I think too much about it. :rolleyes5

I didn't say that everything happens for a divine reason. I said there is a reason that everything happens.