Absolutely.

Sometimes that reason is not immediately evident, but everytime something bad has happened in my life, at some later point I got a huge opportunity that I wouldn't have been able to take advantage of, had the 'bad' not occurred.

Most definitely. I also believe the reason is not always clear to us.

Sometimes.

Sometimes there doesn't seem to be any reason for events

ole joyful

Yes. I think it's just a facet of human nature that we try to find a reason for events. What I don't know is whether it's part of an overall grand scheme or just happenstance. And actually that hardly matters because it's what I believe and how I behave that's relevant.

No, I really don't believe that. Things happen......period.

Yes, I do believe that. Like I read here earlier this week, and I've heard before somewhere, that "When one door closes, another one opens." Also, all things happen for a reason.
Leslie

I have to say that I believe that I believe that things happen for a reason. A recent example is me being pregnant after a tubal ligation. They say that because of the way that they did the tubal there is such a slim to none chance that I would get pregnant, and here I am 9 weeks pregnant with number 4. We definately were not planning on having any more but someone thought that we needed another addition to our family. We are very excited about it now, but I was wondering why for a day or two.

Stacie

No, I don't believe that, but I'd like to. I think if that were true there would be no reason to ever strive for anything--it would just fall into place. I think we have a brain to try and help ourselves and work toward a goal and help our fellowman along. Like I said, I think it's easier if you believe this. It would be easier to accept things and sit back and let the world just go by.

I agree that one event can trigger a series of events that go on and on, but things happening for a reason...as in a good reason...no, I don't necessarily believe that.

There are so many tragic things that happen to people, so I would have to say "no". Somehow I can't fathom that a parent who loses a child, a wife whose husband dies in the prime of his life, or someone who has been senselessly murdered, had these things happen for a reason.

Ole joyful's response makes sense ~ " Sometimes there doesn't seem to be any reason for events."

I believe that they do.

I think I have to agree with ole joyful, too, on this one. I just cannot believe that there is a reason for a parent to lose a child, or for people to go through much physical pain and suffering, or for all the starving people of the world, etc., etc. I realize that there is a reason why these things are happening, but not that something worthwhile will result because of them.

Another one agreeing with OJ--from experience, unfortunately.

No, I don't. You could ask "do things happen for no reason?". Now, which thing is happening now? For a reason? Or for no reason? Who knows? Things just happen. Too deep, too early.

Sometimes!

But, why 9/11, why Oklahoma Bombing, Why Katrina? Just to mention a few.

Gayle

No, I think the same as Casey.

Of course things happen for a reason. But often, we don't want to admit or believe what that reason is and fall back on logical fallacies or faith/religion/God as the "reason" for an event.

Death, pregnancy, illness, winning the lottery, traffic accidents, 9/11, hurricanes...they all happen for a reason. The reason my not be clear to us, or it may seem like there is no reason, but there is always a reason.

Yes, there is always a reason.

In today's paper is an article about the person responsible for causing the death of a passenger in his automobile. What was the reason he was charged? He was drunk. What was the reason the passenger was killed? Probably because he wasn't wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the car.

Why did my DH die at 62? Because the cancer was not found earlier. Why was it not found earlier? Because colonoscopys and other tests were not available, or routine back then.

Does something bad happen so that we can benefit from it? I surely hope not.

Except for an Act of God, I think we can always point to a reason.

Sue

I do. That's why they call it Faith.

No.
Certainly things happen as a direct result or a consequence of a particuliar action, such as someone getting pregnant after having sex, but as far as predestination - no.

Yes, I do believe that things happen for a reason. There's a saying I like ... and it comforts me because of my faith.

Every experience God gives us,
Every person He puts in our life,
Is the perfect preparation for the future
That only He can see.

.... Corrie Ten Boom

I don't believe that God causes either good or bad things to happen. But I do believe that when bad things happen, He provides a means for gathering the strength to get through it ... whether it's an inner strength, comfort from friends/families/strangers, or a combination.

The short answer - No.

The long answer is that every thing that happens gives us a chance to react either positively or negatively. If you search out the positive that can be gained from an event, then you're likely to percieve it as "it was meant to be", or "it was God's will", or whatever.

However, if you are don't seek a meaning, events are just events. I had a neighbor with a profoundly deaf daughter. She wailed all the time about her deaf daughter, but made no attempt to get the girl either into a special school, or to get her an interpreter for public school. Interpreters are provided free by the state here.

No, she said "All things happen for a reason", well, maybe, but it doesn't relieve you of responsibility for dealing with them.

I don't think every bad thing is for a reason. Things happen. Yes, have faith. But deal with the things. I seriously don't think it matters if something "was meant to be". All that matters is how one deals with it. That is the only control one has.

I believe people say "Things happen for a reason." when they don't know what else to say to someone who has had a loss or bad experience.

If you believe things happen because they are what God wants, then that is the reason and the answer is yes. Otherwise, the answer cannot possibly be yes.

I hope not. I would hate to think the horrible things that can happen in the world are meant to be...suffering, neglect, abuse, etc. There is a lot of rationalization that goes on, it helps people get through the bad times.

No. I can't believe that really bad things like 9/11, OKC bombing, Katrina, etc. have any reasoning for them.

Yes, but only God always knows the reason.

Yes, we become stronger for every weakness we endure.
Mistakes always hurt, owning up to them is the hard, and living beyond them is harder.
I am not always sure I could easily live past a devestation.

Trin