Do Things Always or Almost Always happen for a Purpose?

[Sunstone]

To me, one of the most interesting developments in the scientific study of religious behavior has been the research done within the past twenty or so years on the innate psychology of religiosity.

It seems like every month or so some new bit or piece of evidence is brought forth to support the notion that our religious behaviors might ultimately be products of the structure and functioning of our brains. In other words, our brains might have evolved in such a way that we are now naturally inclined to certain religious behaviors -- behaviors such as approaching the world as if it holds souls, spirits, ghosts, and such.

A rather recent addition to that increasing body of evidence is the discovery that people tend to intuitively think the natural world has a designer. That things and events happen in order to bring about an end, rather than simply happen without any intentional purpose.

Now, the idea that things and events happen for a purpose seems to me at least to be a religious idea, in the sense that many religious people seem to hold to it as part and parcel of their religiosity.

But I'm curious...do you think things happen for a purpose? If so, why do you think so? If not, why not?

Sorry for the rather rambling OP: I kept losing my train of thought due to a slurry of telemarking calls this evening.

 

[Revoltingest]

No purpose.
Things just happen.

 

[Unification]

To me, one of the most interesting developments in the scientific study of religious behavior has been the research done within the past twenty or so years on the innate psychology of religiosity.

It seems like every month or so some new bit or piece of evidence is brought forth to support the notion that our religious behaviors might ultimately be products of the structure and functioning of our brains. In other words, our brains might have evolved in such a way that we are now naturally inclined to certain religious behaviors -- behaviors such as approaching the world as if it holds souls, spirits, ghosts, and such.

A rather recent addition to that increasing body of evidence is the discovery that people tend to intuitively think the natural world has a designer. That things and events happen in order to bring about an end, rather than simply happen without any intentional purpose.

Now, the idea that things and events happen for a purpose seems to me at least to be a religious idea, in the sense that many religious people seem to hold to it as part and parcel of their religiosity.

But I'm curious...do you think things happen for a purpose? If so, why do you think so? If not, why not?

Sorry for the rather rambling OP: I kept losing my train of thought due to a slurry of telemarking calls this evening.

Of course, you had a purpose while being the designer/creator of this thread. . unless this thread was completely unintentional somehow and an accident. The thing and event(your designed thread) happened for a purpose. Was your purpose based on religion or religiosity?

I'm just curious as to how the idea/thought/subatomic particles of "souls, spirits, ghosts, a designer, and such" are even capable of popping in and out of existence into ones brain/mind in the first place, defying scientific laws because our physical brains/minds wouldn't be exempt from the physical laws of nature. How the brain/mind is even capable of manifesting such ideas/thoughts. . as they'd be only able to duplicate what already must exist somewhere. The structure/functioning of our brains would have to obey scientific law, yet are capable of defying these laws in infinite amounts of ways. Even if they just exist in the brain/mind, they still exist and were able to get in the brain/mind somehow.

 

[Sunstone]

Of course, you had a purpose while being the designer/creator of this thread. . unless this thread was completely unintentional somehow and an accident. The thing and event(your designed thread) happened for a purpose. Was your purpose based on religion or religiosity?

I don't see the relevance of your question. Could you explain it, please?

I'm just curious as to how the idea/thought/subatomic particles of "souls, spirits, ghosts, a designer, and such" are even capable of popping in and out of existence into ones brain/mind in the first place, defying scientific laws because our physical brains/minds wouldn't be exempt from the physical laws of nature. How the brain/mind is even capable of manifesting such ideas/thoughts. . as they'd be only able to duplicate what already must exist somewhere. The structure/functioning of our brains would have to obey scientific law, yet are capable of defying these laws in infinite amounts of ways. Even if they just exist in the brain/mind, they still exist and were able to get in the brain/mind somehow.

Could you give a specific, non-general, example of the brain defying a specific scientific law?

 

[Unveiled Artist]

To me, one of the most interesting developments in the scientific study of religious behavior has been the research done within the past twenty or so years on the innate psychology of religiosity.

It seems like every month or so some new bit or piece of evidence is brought forth to support the notion that our religious behaviors might ultimately be products of the structure and functioning of our brains. In other words, our brains might have evolved in such a way that we are now naturally inclined to certain religious behaviors -- behaviors such as approaching the world as if it holds souls, spirits, ghosts, and such.

A rather recent addition to that increasing body of evidence is the discovery that people tend to intuitively think the natural world has a designer. That things and events happen in order to bring about an end, rather than simply happen without any intentional purpose.

Now, the idea that things and events happen for a purpose seems to me at least to be a religious idea, in the sense that many religious people seem to hold to it as part and parcel of their religiosity.

But I'm curious...do you think things happen for a purpose? If so, why do you think so? If not, why not?

Sorry for the rather rambling OP: I kept losing my train of thought due to a slurry of telemarking calls this evening.

At one time, I thought so. Then I realize its just my brain trying to find causes to every action made. It gets exhausting. Later, I realize we create causes...however we Dont Always Need to have a purpose. Whats more, our brains naturally try to find purpose to actions. Unless in a court of law or something, purpose shouldnt be necessary.

Just live life without asking why.

Kind of takes away a lot of religious thought and there it is.

 

[RedDragon94]

To me, one of the most interesting developments in the scientific study of religious behavior has been the research done within the past twenty or so years on the innate psychology of religiosity.

It seems like every month or so some new bit or piece of evidence is brought forth to support the notion that our religious behaviors might ultimately be products of the structure and functioning of our brains. In other words, our brains might have evolved in such a way that we are now naturally inclined to certain religious behaviors -- behaviors such as approaching the world as if it holds souls, spirits, ghosts, and such.

A rather recent addition to that increasing body of evidence is the discovery that people tend to intuitively think the natural world has a designer. That things and events happen in order to bring about an end, rather than simply happen without any intentional purpose.

Now, the idea that things and events happen for a purpose seems to me at least to be a religious idea, in the sense that many religious people seem to hold to it as part and parcel of their religiosity.

But I'm curious...do you think things happen for a purpose? If so, why do you think so? If not, why not?

Sorry for the rather rambling OP: I kept losing my train of thought due to a slurry of telemarking calls this evening.

Well, if things happen for a purpose then there has to be someone who defines that purpose, i.e. God. No one knows for a fact that there is a God. Therefore, we don't know if everything has a purpose until we die and go to the afterlife (if there is one). I personally hope there is one because if there isn't one that means that nothing is permanent, but that's all that we can do. Hope.

 

[Twilight Hue]

To me, one of the most interesting developments in the scientific study of religious behavior has been the research done within the past twenty or so years on the innate psychology of religiosity.

It seems like every month or so some new bit or piece of evidence is brought forth to support the notion that our religious behaviors might ultimately be products of the structure and functioning of our brains. In other words, our brains might have evolved in such a way that we are now naturally inclined to certain religious behaviors -- behaviors such as approaching the world as if it holds souls, spirits, ghosts, and such.

A rather recent addition to that increasing body of evidence is the discovery that people tend to intuitively think the natural world has a designer. That things and events happen in order to bring about an end, rather than simply happen without any intentional purpose.

Now, the idea that things and events happen for a purpose seems to me at least to be a religious idea, in the sense that many religious people seem to hold to it as part and parcel of their religiosity.

But I'm curious...do you think things happen for a purpose? If so, why do you think so? If not, why not?

Sorry for the rather rambling OP: I kept losing my train of thought due to a slurry of telemarking calls this evening.

I think we are guided by factors for which purpose is attributed to.

Something by which promotes drive and ambition, weither it be religion or ideology that gives life it's various meanings and direction.

 

[Quintessence]

To me, one of the most interesting developments in the scientific study of religious behavior has been the research done within the past twenty or so years on the innate psychology of religiosity.

It seems like every month or so some new bit or piece of evidence is brought forth to support the notion that our religious behaviors might ultimately be products of the structure and functioning of our brains. In other words, our brains might have evolved in such a way that we are now naturally inclined to certain religious behaviors -- behaviors such as approaching the world as if it holds souls, spirits, ghosts, and such.

It would be great if you created a thread in "Resources" with a laundry list of some of the studies and works you've looked at. Even though such perspectives have their limitations, they're still rather interesting. I'm particularly curious why various studies would regard approaching reality as having an otherworldly aspect as a "religious" behavior. To think upon it, I'm not sure what a "religious" behavior is in general, other than a somewhat arbitrary categorical construct (aka, it's a "religious" behavior because we associate it with whatever this thing called "religion" is).

A rather recent addition to that increasing body of evidence is the discovery that people tend to intuitively think the natural world has a designer. That things and events happen in order to bring about an end, rather than simply happen without any intentional purpose.

It looks like this study is not representative of the global human population. The study was done in to Western cultures were Abrahamic notions of theology and religion dominate. In those religions, the notion of a creator god or "designer" is strong. What would happen if this study was done in non-Abrahamic cultures, or if we take a cross-cultural approach? Have you come across a study like that?

Now, the idea that things and events happen for a purpose seems to me at least to be a religious idea, in the sense that many religious people seem to hold to it as part and parcel of their religiosity.

In the sense that religiosity is broadly about weaving meaningfulness onto the experiences of our lives, that seems a fair characterization. Though again, I wonder about this categorical construct we call "religious" and what makes an idea stuffed in that category as opposed to something else. Maybe if we find it's a nearly universal human tendency, it makes more sense to call it... I don't know... just a "human" idea or something? Or do we instead say all humans are inherently religious? Bah, pardon for going all semantical on you.

But I'm curious...do you think things happen for a purpose? If so, why do you think so? If not, why not?

I couldn't really answer the poll, because I don't quite fit into any of the options. I recognize that the universe is fundamentally purposeless (or to put it in terms I prefer, that the universe simply is what it is), but a major role of religions, my own included, is to weave meaningful narratives or stories about the world. It seems to me humans can't help but to tell stories – to weave layers of meaning on top of the fact of what is. Data inputs get interpreted on a subjective level. Things are assessed, valued, judged, and from there, stories emerge that are no longer the fact of what is. Stories of telos - of purpose, of roles, of reasons, of functions - are frequent. It's part of how we make sense of the world, yes? While objectively speaking there may be fundamental purposelessness, as humans I don't think we can escape weaving meaning, so... things always have purpose to us. I admit to myself I can't escape seeing purpose, so I just see purpose and run with it, even as I recognize it is a story, not the fact of what is.

Not sure if I'm making sense to folks here.

 

[Quintessence]

Well, if things happen for a purpose then there has to be someone who defines that purpose, i.e. God.

There does? Why is that? Can't the nature of something define its own purpose? It seems to me you're suggesting it has to be external... or am I misunderstanding?

 

[Terese]

Dharma is a factor in our lives. We cannot control that. But our will creates new karma. So some things happen for a purpose, and some don't.

 

[Unification]

I don't see the relevance of your question. Could you explain it, please?



Could you give a specific, non-general, example of the brain defying a specific scientific law?

You designed this thread. There was a purpose. It didn't just happen. It was intended. It wasn't unintentional. It likely wasn't based off of religion or religiosity.

The brain is physical. There are physical scientific laws. Self explanatory. How can a physical brain create the idea of a spirit? If the idea is a subatomic particle, where do false and deceptive subatomic particles arise from? According to one of Newton's laws... the external environment. According to Einstein, something can't be created from nothing. If that nothing is energy, where does false and deceptive energy arise from? The energy and/or subatomic particle must be false if the energy/subatomic particle idea of "spirit" is false.

 

[Desert Snake]

Dharma is a factor in our lives. We cannot control that. But our will creates new karma. So some things happen for a purpose, and some don't.

So, if I get a pizza with peperoni, but no onions, that's for a purpose, but my karma is random?

 

[Terese]

So, if I get a pizza with peperoni, but no onions, that's for a purpose, but my karma is random?

Haha, no silly. the karma your past life created is affecting you this life. karma isn't random, but very purposeful. if you did bad things in your previous life, you will have unfortunate situations in this life that will make you grow. Although, does the pepperoni have a message on it? It might change your life!

 

[RedDragon94]

There does? Why is that? Can't the nature of something define its own purpose? It seems to me you're suggesting it has to be external or am I misunderstanding?

Because the purpose of things can be altered by external factors. This is why you have to be careful if you do practice magick. Trees for example are great for providing shade, and yet people can also chop them down and use them to heat the house. People however have freewill. I think it really depends upon the subject because people can look at their role in society and determine their purpose but inanimate things can't. At the same time that God is one with nature he's also other than nature. He/she/it is both immanent and yet transcendent. Now, I believe the universe created itself but I think that what is animate has more power than what is inanimate because the animate ones seem to have power over that which is inanimate. And if you practice magick then you focus all your energy into a certain object whether it be a person or an inanimate entity which is why you have to be careful what you tell nature to do. I've never heard of anyone having a conversation with a tree. I have heard of people having conversations with animals but not trees. So, if something is animate it can define itself, but not if it's inanimate.

 

[Quintessence]

I think it really depends upon the subject because people can look at their role in society and determine their purpose but inanimate things can't.

For me, it wouldn't. Animism is a default assumption of my worldview, so there really isn't such a thing as "inanimate" for me. For me, a thing's purpose is simply defined by its nature: what it is, what it does, what its relations are to things around it. Remember, I reject this supernatural idea of "free will" too. Probably why your perspective doesn't make much sense to me.

I've never heard of anyone having a conversation with a tree.

Hah! You haven't talked to may Druids, have you?

 

[Aupmanyav]

OP: Do Things Always or Almost Always happen for a Purpose?
No. But things always happen for a reason.

 

[picnic]

It seems that purpose requires choices. Even if reality is deterministic, there is the choice of the initial conditions at creation. The only way to eliminate a choice is to split the timeline so that each choice happens in its own timeline. The only way to make a choice without a purpose is to use a random variable like flipping a coin. Also, it seems that purpose requires a metaphysical choice-maker.

I think an atheist must believe that nothing has a purpose. (Sometimes I think everything has a purpose, but I'm not a very good atheist.)

 

[George-ananda]

But I'm curious...do you think things happen for a purpose? If so, why do you think so? If not, why not?

Hmmm...there's a learning event in everything for those on the path. But yes, events have reasons beyond our understanding. I also believe in karma.

 

[Rick O'Shez]

Now, the idea that things and events happen for a purpose seems to me at least to be a religious idea, in the sense that many religious people seem to hold to it as part and parcel of their religiosity.

I tend to view this a coping mechanism, a way of dealing with a chaotic and uncertain existence and a way of dealing with bad things happening.

 

[Rick O'Shez]

Something by which promotes drive and ambition, weither it be religion or ideology that gives life it's various meanings and direction.

Yes, we all devise our own purposes based on our desires, values and beliefs.