Do Things Always or Almost Always happen for a Purpose?

[ThePainefulTruth]

Could've answered that with a simple 'non-answer'. But the sentence structure is ok.

IOW, you stuck ith the 'non-answer'.

No, it isn't a circular logic, it is a fact that foretold to happen and it happened which means
it is programmed to happen at one specific time.

People before the fact were said to have foretold it by people after the fact. Ergo, circular logic.

Circular logic doesn't work here.

Ever thus sayeth the circular logicians.

 

[Rick O'Shez]

No, it isn't a circular logic, it is a fact that foretold to happen and it happened which means
it is programmed to happen at one specific time.

So can you quote the text which makes this prophecy?

 

[FearGod]

People before the fact were said to have foretold it by people after the fact. Ergo, circular logic.

No, not true, there was no state of Israel during and after prophet Muhammed, so the prophecy
just happened recently.

Ever thus sayeth the circular logicians.

Except that it isn't.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Sure. The only purpose that exists is the purpose we create, though.

 

[Guy Threepwood]

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.

Many atheists make the argument that since they were born not believing in God, it's the default position. So apparently by this rationale- the default human wiring suggests to us that everything ultimately happens for no reason:
And this is borne out when we look at young children, who think we sleep in a bed because it's comfy - not the other way around. It takes the application of cognitive reasoning to discover the purpose driven nature in things.

So everybody is a believer in naturalism first, and most people become skeptical later, ultimately concluding God

Without purpose this forum would be blank, so to with the universe for the same reason. We can create 'automated functionality' in computer program or machines, we know for sure spontaneous mechanisms can be created this way.

But we have yet to discover one that creates itself, it's the old paradox of atheist psychology: things happen for no reason- so natural laws must have been created by.. those same laws.

Only purpose can solve this paradox

 

[FearGod]

So can you quote the text which makes this prophecy?

And We conveyed to the Children of Israel in the Scripture that, "You will surely cause corruption on the earth twice, and you will surely reach [a degree of] great haughtiness.(17:4)


SAHIH INTERNATIONAL
So when the [time of] promise came for the first of them, We sent against you servants of Ours - those of great military might, and they probed [even] into the homes, and it was a promise fulfilled.(17:5)


SAHIH INTERNATIONAL
Then We gave back to you a return victory over them. And We reinforced you with wealth and sons and made you more numerous in manpower.(17:6)


SAHIH INTERNATIONAL
[And said], "If you do good, you do good for yourselves; and if you do evil, [you do it] to yourselves." Then when the final promise came, [We sent your enemies] to sadden your faces and to enter the temple in Jerusalem, as they entered it the first time, and to destroy what they had taken over with [total] destruction.(17:7)

 

[Meriweather]

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

I look at it in reverse. Things happen. What happens can be used for a purpose.

 

[ThePainefulTruth]

Except that it isn't.

Oh, since you put it so well.

Sure. The only purpose that exists is the purpose we create, though.

Sort of what I said. Thanks for actually addressing the issue instead of rehashing some ancient hearsay.

 

[RedDragon94]

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.



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

No, although I've heard of people getting energy from rocks. It's not their fault but Wiccans probably are known for being the mainstream occultists.