Pragmaism, karma and all that jazz.

[brolyx74]

Some people believe that everything happens for a reason. A lot of people think everything happens because of fate or whatever. some people believe in karma. What do you guys believe in?

I personally believe that everything can be sumed up by 2 words. schit happens. Fate and Karma and "God works in mysterious ways" are just ways people deal with bad things, but really, there is no reason for anything other than thats what happened. Everything is probability. If something has a probabiliity of happening, then it might happen. And the chances of something else happening that is just as specific as what actually happened had essentially the same probability.

[Eris]

I believe in a sort of phenomenological karma. If you're a jerk, then you're going to upset people, and this is likely to come back and bite you in the rear. Likewise, if you treat people in a nice way, people are more likely to treat you nicely in return. But this doesn't go to say all good or bad events that happen are caused by some earlier action you performed.

[Tetsanosuke]

Being a respectful and sincere person usually makes others see you with respect. Being a d-bag usually puts people on the flip side of the spectrum. Good things 'can' happen to good people, but so can bad things. Crap-happens. Causality, whether brought upon by your own actions or not will still exist.

So, I can agree with Eris. To a fine point.

Although the idea of underlying Fate/Destiny still intrigues me and stimulates me to deeper thought. I'm open to the idea, but not sold.

[Shinn Kamiyra]

I believe in a random and mostly chaotic world where, sometimes regardless of personal will and effort, stuff happens. Good things can and do happen to good people, and bad things can and do happen to bad people; and vice-versa. It's not exactly fair, and more often than not there isn't any kind of rhyme or reason to it. It can only be accepted and moved past.

What I believe is that one should always do their best. Live your life passionately and never question yourself if what you're doing is what you truly feel you want to do. Stand up to adversity and never yield or give in to sadness or despair. There will always be people and obstacles standing in your way. What do you do when you see them? Kick 'em to the curb and make them regret ever try to stop you; and do it with some spirit!!

If one wants to believe in God, fate or karma, I'm not totally against it. Just be sure that, no matter what, you can always believe in yourself.

[Bulf]

I choose to disregard all and act like I've never heard of it. The only time I believe in karma is on Mario Kart or Mario Party. If I throw a shell at someone I get two bob-ombs back at me and there's nothing I can do about it.

[Furore]

What Eris said is the way I view karma.
Perhaps it's incorrect to see it that way though as often the payback is disproportionate to the original act of good/vileness.

Do I believe in predetermined destiny? Not really, but I acknowledge it might exist in which case we may all be like cogs in a machine and some may not see it (including myself). Frankly with the scope of decisions I seem to be free to make it would be a rather elaborate machine indeed...
I suppose it doesn't really matter as either way the reality seems to be that people can make the decisions they choose to.

[SigmaSD]

I believe everything happens for a reason.

[Meenah]

Things do happen, I just stay a good person. (:
If things go wrong, I don't take it the hard way, I get up keep moving.

[Stripes]

I don't believe in fate but I definitely believe in karma. Our own actions decide our fate. I don't believe in moksha and all but yes, I believe in karma. We do bad, we would be doubly reciprocated, we do good, great things would come our way.If you are lazy and you don't study, you would fail! Its as easy as that. It all depends upon us. Our life depends upon our actions. Maybe not the other life but definitely, life in this world does.

[<@BeYond_tHe_GraVe@>]

I believe in some of all these points. Mainly let me touch on karma vs. fate. I believe not in an immovable, unchangeable preordained destiny, but more as if we are all the gears of an elaborate clock whose numbers are not clearly set. So whereas the action is set into motion the final destination may not be written in stone, yet in order to get to that final destination some things may be required to come to pass. Personally I feel like I had to experiece certain things in order for other things to happen and I was meant to experiece these things in order to wind up at the end state. Not so much preordained yet, more like spiritually driven or guided.