Does everything happen for a reason?

I used to believe that. Then I started to realize that sometimes I run out of options. And it made me think. Does everything happen for a reason, or is it that I just take advantage of everything that happens? Life goes on. Until you're dead. So while you're alive there is always going to be something happening. You would be a fool not to make the best of it, right?

What do you guys think?

Define "reason"...

Sure, given cause and effect, pretty much anything happens because something (a 'reason') causes it. A tree falls in the forest because the wind is blowing too strongly...... that wind is caused by the uneven heating of the Earth by the sun.....

I suspect you mean that the 'reason' is due to some kind of devine or master plan..... I would have to say no, because IMO there is no devine plan to the universe because there is no God, of any kind.

That tree fell over in the forest due to physical, tangible reasons, and nothing more.

As for taking advantage of things in life.... I may be an athiest, but I believe in morality and the rule of law, which prevent me from taking advantage of all the opportunities that come my way.

Yes I meant "for a reason" in the sense of an outer force. Like I believe in God but I don't believe that he makes everything happen as pretext to what happens next.

I'm not however, opposed to thinking that he makes things happen as an effect of something that happened prior. I've been thinking lately though that what happens just happens and you'll always take advantage of whatever good things come from it. And then you might think it happened for a reason later on down the line. (cuz that's what has been happening to me lately)

I don't really believe in any sort of fate...but cause and effect, absolutely. If you are a huge asshole to everyone you meet, eventually you will rub someone the wrong way with bad consequences. Some people would call that "fate" or "karma", but it's simple numbers. If you rub up against enough people, eventually one will rub back. Nothing pre-determined about that.

I think so.. no reason really except that when I think about things it just makes sense.

not everything happens for a reason but somethings do. i should have died a few months ago but i'm still here, dont know the reason yet, but it's coming.

Yes I meant "for a reason" in the sense of an outer force. Like I believe in God but I don't believe that he makes everything happen as pretext to what happens next.
I agree to an extent. The more I try to figure HIM out, the less I believe he "interacts" with our lives. Or maybe it's because I haven't been to church in 10+ years... Isn't a GOD supposed to avoid interaction and just sit back. I've stared death in the face, but (i think) the only thing that saved me was a quick thinking Paramedic and a needle the size of a BIC pen..

EDIT: KARMA, now I do believe in that...

Some think so, including my wife. I prefer to think that we have free will, and that things that happen for the most part are a result of what we have control over. That said, there are a lot of things that we don't have control over, and I think you make your own luck by being aware of what's going on around you. Of course all this is very general, but still.

So does beleiving in Karma mean your beeiliving in God or a higher power?

Because as said earlier someone can be a total dick and get jumped; thats not karma thats just conseqence of being a dick. But if you pick up some money that someone that you know droped and then you happen to fry your new stereo. So you end up having to spend 3 times the amount that you "stole" to fix it, that's a random event not controled by anyone but chance, and yet it happend in such a time that it appears to be "bad Karma"

I guess in short, even with karma you know sh&t happens, and it will be petty to you because you know you have a bigger payoff in life. Unless you don't believe in karma and you go out and steal a new radio since you fried yours. Then something else happens and you keep doing bad things to make up for your losses. These bad things may lead to what looks like good, but it will be bad for your soul, and bad for your karma.

This is off topic however. I'm still of the belief that we just take advantage of any opportunity we have when our back is against the wall, and then say it happened for a reason when it creates a new chain reaction. I don't think everything does. I was hoping for conversation about this with other people who actually do believe things happen for a reason.

we'll, i do believe due to personal experience, which may not be true for others... i believe that all my life ive been nice, polite and helping to many people. ive helped azzholes out that probably dont deserve a penny. anyway, i was involved in what would be concidered a fatal accident if luck and fate wasnt on my side. i was going about 90mph on backroads piss drunk when i first turned 21. i saw the drunk driving videos, but u never think it could b you. anyway, i hit a curb and shot into the other lane at a very high rate of speed. i hit another car in the ft fender. the car flipped over and my car landed 60 ft away(passed the other car) if i hit the car in the door, driver would b dead. if i hit the car on the ft bumper, all of us would b dead. the cop told me god must of been on my side and i guess i kinda believe that.
maybe it was just luck, but i believe god let me live........ dont drive drunk!!! especially in a twin turbo sports car......