Do you believe "Everything Happens For A Reason" or in "Free Will"?

Question

It is logically impossible to have both, so you must pick one.

First, "Everything Happens For A Reason" for this question is defined as "everything is planned by an external source". For example, you might be late for an appointment, and end up meeting your future spouse. You believe the "reason" you were late was so you could meet your spouse. This would indicate that some external force ("god") planned it this way.

Problem is, in order for "Everything" to happen for a reason, then literally everything has to be controlled. Again, you were late for the appointment because traffic was bad. Each of those drivers had to be in that place at that time to make traffic bad. They had to wake at a certain time, so they had to go to bed at a certain time, all the way back to being born at a certain time, all the way back through time.

In this case, there can be no Free Will. It is impossible. Conversely, if you insist there is Free Will, then there is no "Reason" for everything.

So, here is what it boils down to.

If you believe "Everything Happens For A Reason", then everything is planned by an external force ("god"), and there is nothing you can do to change it. So whether you go to heaven or hell is already pre-determined. You really have no say in the matter, no free will at all. This negates the argument that you "choose" god.

If you believe in Free Will, then nothing happens for a reason (it has to be all or nothing, for anything to happen intentionally all variables have to be controlled, and all variables are connected all the way back through time). If nothing happens for a reason, then prayer is absolutely pointless (outcomes cannot be influenced).

Either way, some major tenants of Christianity are voided. Which do you pick?

Answer 1

For every cause their is reason but it is not the plan or will of God. It came from your own personal being.When God give you life and gave you the knowledge to select what is right and what is wrong, you were given the option on what to do in all your undertakings.

God is no longer bound to always tell you to do this and that . It will be at your own choice whether to go to the wrong path or right path and in order to go to the right path, you must read and understand the Bible and follow the laws of God.
jtm

Answer 2

Well what if you believe that coincidence means absolutely nothing? Even to believe that "Everything happens for a reason" means that you had the "free will" to choose to believe this, correct? Therefore, it is not logically impossible to have both. Most people indeed make their own mistakes...& when they learn from them and change their life, than they are practicing free will.....what will be will be; what you can change you will, the rest is how the puzzle pieces land and how you ultimately decide how to live your life. Free will to me, is the "actors in a play" and "destiny" is the stage props. Anyway, you still do make a good point......heck, sometimes I don't know what to think (especially if you have a premonition dream-I mean, what is up with that? that MUST mean everything is planned.....doesn't?)

Answer 3

I'm an agnostic so this is easy! I do think some things happen for a reason, but not a godly one. I 100% believe in karma, in the sense that your actions create cause and effect. Newtons law applies here, in that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Like the ripple in the pond, one action begets another, and so on.

If everything was 'predetermined', then what would the purpose of life be? If someone believed that then what would keep them from sitting on the couch all day, saying, well, this is what god wants me to do...Also, then that would mean god wanted rapists, murderers, and child molesters on the planet, and if there is one I doubt that is the case.

I also believe 100% in free will. You are the captain of your own ship. Take the helm and steer your life in the direction YOU want. If there is a higher power, I think thats what it would want. Self sufficiency, independence, and the ability to make decisions for yourself are the cornerstone of our own evolution.

Answer 4

I think that everything happens for a reason, and that the reason everything happens is partly because of God and our own free will. The future is always in motion, because the decisions people make determine the future. I believe that while humans have free will, God knows when a person will be born and when a person will die. One of the main tenets behind Christianity is that a person must use their own free will to let Christ into their heart in order to establish a connection with God. God is in control of nature, and He does have an influence in our day-to-day lives. However, some things happen but others are meant to be. For example, it is not intended for someone to become addicted to drugs, for God doesn't want anyone to hurt themselves with poison. It is intended that two people destined to be soulmates meet, for God cares about the well-being of humans and all of his creation.

Answer 5

:: Now, my view::
Free Will: I decide to go to a certain city by train, but I miss it du to traffic or some other thing.
Everything happens for a reason: The train got into an accident, and just about everyone was either injured or then dead.

You see, I just wasn't meant to go on the train because I wasn't meant die that day at that particular scene. I believe in free will AND in the idea that everything happens for a reason. BUT here's the thing, I believe: We don't KNOW what's meant to happen and what's not, so we should always try to make the best possible things happen. I mean, I've friends who believe in God and think something like, "What if I'm meant to go to hell? All my life, I'll waste trying to get close to God for nothing" or something. Well, my question then is, "How do you KNOW if you're meant to go to hell or not? If you're gonna attempt to SINCERELY get close to God, then God'll help you get closer to Him and woudln't send you to Hell, so becuase you know that you'll either go to heaven or hell, you should try for whichever one you wanna be in."

Everything DOES happen for a reason, and there IS such thing as free will. :D How's there no free will in choosing to go to work at a certain time and hence contributing to the traffic? That's free will there in itself. You're born to a certain generation because, perhaps, you were to meet your life partner during that generation; this is the idea of everything happens for a reason.

LOL! I don't think I'm being clear on this, but I'm just trying to say that, no, it's not at all impossible to believe in both sides. Basically, you're free to do whatever you want [free will] but there WILL be consequences (good OR bad) for your actions [everything happens for a reason].

Edit: John, it was Newton who said that :).

Answer 6

Since I believe everything is ultimately mathematics I believe everything happens for a reason. However I also believe reality is a many valued multiverse where all possible options are explored. Whenever you make a decision all possible choices are actually made and your identity splits to go down the resultant paths. I am not sure if I would call this free will or not.

Answer 7

There is a world we our born into, are soul is like a bus are eyes are the windshields are mind is a driver, and because we have many rest stops we make a decision to refuel our selves ,sometimes we get a tune-up , which may be a change in life,emotions,personality ,mood, values,we move from place to place year by year get off at a different exit in our lives to rebuild our dreams , goals, beliefs,trust, honesty, humbleness and and to believe in a higher power,with auto pilot, sort of an on star to trust , we get back to the entrance to the high way of life,when we experience real life we have these accidents in life,not are fault like abuse, mental, one flat tire,physical,two flat tires sexual,three flat tires no help four flat tires ,hate , anger, depression, low self esteem,a blown head gasket , we flag for help get taken off the exit ramp to some highly train mechanics, and get an over haul replace all the damaged parts good the bus is older take care of it as good as new, go to the entrance on to the highway off life again with the seed planted in you , trust your on star a higher power to get you were you are going remember you are the driver and you can go anywhere you may need a tune up once in a while remember to be a survivor of an accident of life instead of a victim of the accident of the highway of life,

Answer 8

I will have to go with free will. But when we exercise this philosophy, we must realize that all of our actions mean something and effect every living/non living thing. Maybe their isn't an ultimate goal with free will, but some days you may feel like you are being led around by the actions of others, but that doesn't mean anything is predestined. If everything was predestined what would be the ultimate goal? Would some omnipotent being be directing it?

Answer 9

it came up during my PHIl 14 class. regardless of people's reasonings: YES, i believe that everything happens for a reason because how else are you able to not be angry, hold grudges, and be miserable? this way, you trick yourself into believing that there is a better, more fitting path for you; that you just dont know it yet. in a way....this is how people in denial tend to think. peoplpe are very sure of thisview because something good most likely WILL take place because you cant be unlucky your whole life....they then link it to the event that they though "happened for a reason"--- yea, right!!! though it does help you generate a "whatevers" attitude when things do turn out lesss than desirable.

Answer 10

"For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction" forgot who said that but it still rings true yes? So, everything happens for a reason but we decide what that reason will be. If I choose to speed on my way home, (free will) I may get a speeding ticket. The reason I got the ticket? (everything happens for a reason.) I chose to speed. nuf said.