Monday, September 1, 2008
Is it possible to determine our future?
While we went over the survey in class today, a particular statement stood out to me that hadn't registered thoroughly before: Is it possible for me to determine the kind of future I will have? I found it quite shocking that 76% of our class believed that indeed, they had control over what happened later in their lives. Now, I understand the people who do not believe in theology, God, or just a higher power at all. I myself believe in God but that does not necessarily mean that I hold a belief in Fate or that our lives are pre determined based on what God has in store for us. But I do believe that the UNIVERSE has control over what happens to us just as much as we do. Take for example the people whose lives were dramatically altered by world crises such as 9/11, hurricanes or tsunamis. They might have gone to graduate school, had a successful and fulfilling job, a stable home life, etc, but they could not change the fact that something bigger than all that wrecked their lives. They could have been doctors, lawyers, scientists, it wouldn't have mattered; they lost everything. How can one argue that you have control over your life when unforeseen events such as that occur? I would be very interested to hear from the 76% because I am obviously a minority on this one.
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2 comments:
You raise an important point. Control over what happens to us is not absolute, but a matter of degree. Despite our best efforts, we might have a different future than the one we plan for and want. The ideal would be to have as much control over what happens to us as possible under the circumstances. And, to what extent do we exert control over the circumstances we find ourselves in?
I would say you are partially right. Not trying to say I have the answers. I feel that there are certain unpredictable events that can radically change the course of one's life. 9/11 and natural disasters are prime examples of this, but I think one thing that I have faced in my life is that we have a significant amount of control in our lives. The decisions we make take us to our personal destination. A certain amount of responsibility for our decisions helps us and makes us work to our true potential.
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