Voice Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 Fuck me. I hate it when people say this. I perceive it to be an empty cliche. Since childhood I've not seen a shred of evidence to support it. Please explain WHY you think this. Please provide some evidence in favor. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcdaddy Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 Yeah, I fail out of my senior year of pharmacy school, with nothing to show for it except $80,000 in debt and 5 wasted years of the prime of my life, and I get told "God's got something better for you. It happened for a reason." What the fuck ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Margee Posted March 2, 2012 Moderator Share Posted March 2, 2012 It's funny how I believed this my whole life. Now, I don't think I do. Sometimes I still question it because some really neat things will come about that I hadn't planned. But now I believe that it was just a lucky break. Too many shitty things happen to humans during their journey on earth. There is way too much suffering on this planet. If there is a power to 'turn things around'...it hasn't helped the starving or the horrible things that still happen in many countries. We are probably the luckiest. We humans are survivors and we have the ability to turn our lives around if we choose to survive. Am I glad for some of the good that has come out of 'shitty'? Your darn tootin' I am. Some of those wonderful coincedences have added a touch of hope to my life. I had something happen to me 8 years ago that I was 100% convinced that god had allowed to happen to me for my happiness. I thought I won the final jackpot. Turned out to be one of the the biggest heartbreaks in my life. Right now, I am just content when a nice turn of events happens to me. And I'm always glad when it happens for others. Humans need some lucky breaks among the struggle. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Xtech Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 Optimism bias. We need it, because life is difficult, and then we die. http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,2074067,00.html 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackpudd1n Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 Optimism bias. We need it, because life is difficult, and then we die. http://www.time.com/...2074067,00.html I don't think we need it. I find so much more peace now in just saying "shit happens sometimes and I don't know why". Fuck synchronicity. Life can be shitty. But it can also be awesome. How bored would we be if it was always awesome? It's like when I'm totally broke. That cup of coffee is so much more enjoyable. I like the times that I'm strapped for cash, because they remind me how to appreciate everything I have again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ConureDelSol Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 Personally, I think that when people make lemonade out of lemons, that this somehow verifies that reasoning. For example? I have a rare autoimmune disease. It sucks and I'd like to find out what causes it and help other people who have it. This is one of the things that has motivated me to go to school to be a nurse and hopefully one day become a PA or NP. Thus, something good may come out of a bad situation. Somehow, that equates to "It happened for a reason." Yet when nothing good comes out of a bad situation, people just never hear about it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zephie Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 Personally i hate it when people say this. I perceive it to be an empty cliche. Since childhood I've not seen a shred of evidence to support it. Please explain WHY you think this. Please provide some evidence in favor. It is an evil thing to say. It totally makes the person grieving over a loss feel like they are wrong for grieving. Ick! I think the best evidence is simply to point out things that are senseless...the loss of a family member to disease or murder, children dying everyday....there is no reason for this. It is senseless. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legion Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 Everything does happen for a reason, or reasons. That's why nature can be understood. But everything does not always happen for a purpose. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RankStranger Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 My dad often quotes some psalm about all things working out for the glory of god... usually referring to some dumbassed, life-altering decision he made while in a manic state (yep, he's bipolar). I guess I'd rather he look at it that way than despair of long-past bad decisions in his old age. Kinda irritating just the same. That god- he sure does like glory. He's willing to fuck up the lives of entire families for the sake of his 'glory'... and somehow my dad figures that's a good thing. Good thing christianity is bullshit! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dyanaprajna0 Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 It's nonsense, like everything else xtians spout. I think the reason is because they can't possibly deal with the fact that their loving god would allow bad things to happen to xtian people. They can't deal with reality. It's their escape from real life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legion Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 A teleology is any philosophical account which holds that final causes exist in nature, meaning that design and purpose analogous to that found in human actions are inherent also in the rest of nature. The word comes from the Greek τέλος, telos; root: τελε-, "end, purpose" frrrrom le wiki... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teleology We may have final causes in nature, without teleology. In fact, biology requires them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dyanaprajna0 Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 True, Legion. But when xtians say that everything happens for a reason, they're not worried about science, philosophy, cause and effect, etc. They say it because they believe god has a "divine plan" that is somehow related to causing people's suffering. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mymistake Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 Optimism bias. We need it, because life is difficult, and then we die. http://www.time.com/...2074067,00.html Yeah there are times when we need it. However too much optimism can result in a Darwin award. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zephie Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 True, Legion. But when xtians say that everything happens for a reason, they're not worried about science, philosophy, cause and effect, etc. They say it because they believe god has a "divine plan" that is somehow related to causing people's suffering. Had the same conversation with someone last night. They are not worried about any of that. Religion completely muddles the critical thinking skills. I still say that this statement in a backwards way lays blame on the people who are suffering. It's like oh just get over it...there's a higher purpose. Right.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legion Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 True, Legion. Okay see, Dyan? You should have stopped there. But noooooo, you just had to add this... But .... when xtians say that everything happens for a reason, they're not worried about science, philosophy, cause and effect, etc. They say it because they believe god has a "divine plan" that is somehow related to causing people's suffering. I understand and I agree, HOWEVER... The effort to stamp out all semblence or scent of teleology in science has had devastating effects on our ability to understand nature, because we went too far and removed final causes as valid explanations of some phenomena. We've not just thrown the baby out with the bath water; we nuked the whole bathroom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zephie Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 We've not just thrown the baby out with the bath water; we nuked the whole bathroom. Some bathrooms need to be nuked. Just sayin' but I do agree with you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dyanaprajna0 Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 True, Legion. Okay see, Dyan? You should have stopped there. But noooooo, you just had to add this... But .... when xtians say that everything happens for a reason, they're not worried about science, philosophy, cause and effect, etc. They say it because they believe god has a "divine plan" that is somehow related to causing people's suffering. I understand and I agree, HOWEVER... The effort to stamp out all semblence or scent of teleology in science has had devastating effects on our ability to understand nature, because we went too far and removed final causes as valid explanations of some phenomena. We've not just thrown the baby out with the bath water; we nuked the whole bathroom. I understand, and I agree. I think we're on the same page here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Moderator florduh Posted March 2, 2012 Super Moderator Share Posted March 2, 2012 I can see where making the false assumption that bad events have a higher purpose could be useful in coping. It's rather evident that things just happen. How we handle the setbacks is what matters. Every event is caused by previous events and circumstances, but that doesn't imply purpose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legion Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 Every event is caused by previous events... I don't believe so. I think anyone who gets up everyday, and puts their boots or loafers on, and goes to work, can tell you that they do so primarily to provide for themselves in the future. The future makes the now. Anticipate me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Moderator florduh Posted March 2, 2012 Super Moderator Share Posted March 2, 2012 Every event is caused by previous events... I don't believe so. I think anyone who gets up everyday, and puts their boots or loafers on, and goes to work, can tell you that they do so primarily to provide for themselves in the future. The future makes the now. Anticipate me. I know you're just looking to start some shit for your own entertainment, and that's fine. But let me clarify for others. "I think anyone who gets up everyday, and puts their boots or loafers on, and goes to work, can tell you that they do so primarily to provide for themselves in the future." They don't get up if they didn't previously go to bed. They don't have boots or loafers unless they previously bought them and someone made them in the first place. They don't go to work unless they have already secured a job. One may perform an act with future benefits in mind, but that has nothing to do with the subject being discussed. We are presently concerned with people who think losing a leg, losing a job, losing a loved one has happened because it is necessary to bring about a greater good. Anticipation is easy, it's just not interesting to someone who doesn't wish to engage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legion Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 Oh yeah, I'm starting somethin' alright. But let me clarify for others. Oh, so you're the great clarifier? Chris the great clarifier! Allow me to 'clarify' some things... I can readily agree that the past (whatever it is) influences the present (whatever it is). But you are unwilling to agree that the future (whatever it is) influences the present (whatever it is) through anticipation. You are the one who just knows, just knows. Time for a quote of multilayered irony! "The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge." - Stephen Hawking Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
par4dcourse Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 Shit happens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Moderator florduh Posted March 2, 2012 Super Moderator Share Posted March 2, 2012 Oh, so you're the great clarifier? Chris the great clarifier! I'm the only one qualified to clarify my own statements, and that's what I was doing. Try paying attention rather than looking ahead for your chance to be an ass. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legion Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 "Shit happens" says the existential fool wouldn't know how to build if you gave him a tool and it's just as good in any other language Asi es la vida C'est la vie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legion Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 Try paying attention rather than looking ahead for your chance to be an ass. You will respect my authoritah! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5c11Z-33PSU Come to think of it, you will not respect my authoritah. In fact, that's your entire modus operandi with me. To deny my authoritah. Oh well, there are others who DO respect it. And I respect theirs. Mutual respect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts