Does Fate Actually Exist?
By Cynthia Loh
Among the greatest works of literature to the small time authors, fate is a popular topic to incorporate into one's writing. For example, Shakespeare's Macbeth, Oedipus the King by Sophocles, The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy, The Monkey's Paw by W.W. Jacobs, and so much more. Not to mention, many people to this day believe in destiny and that god has a plan for everyone. However, although fate is so frequently discussed and known worldwide, that does not necessarily mean its true. While religion preaches that fate does exist and it is determined by god, science disputes the existence of a god and rejects the notion that fate or destiny is real.
Many people will quote the Bible to prove that destiny and fate is real. Jeremiah 29:11 states that God knows the plans for our lives. "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." It is not only Christianity that believes in destiny and that everything happens for a reason. Islam believes in the divine destiny which means that God already knows all occurances regardless of time. Buddhism hints toward fate with their belief in karma. Karma, basically, is a cause and effect sort of destiny. If one does a good deed, something good will happen later on. If someone does a bad deed, then something bad will happen to them. Although this isn't a pre-determined future like the others, it still incorporates the use of an outside force influencing the occurrences in people's lives.
On the other hand, science argues the opposite of religion and supports free will over fate argument. The whole concept of god being the creator and lord of the human race is highly improbable and illogical. There is no real evidence of a god truly existing in the world. To support this claim, evidence can be found in the religions themselves. The inconsistency between religions worldwide on their view of god lead people to believe that god is just what we perceive and want it to be. Also, the weakness of religious arguments and explanations of the natural world is another piece of evidence to not believe in god, By not believing in god or religion, scientists can not believe in the existence of fate either or that a god created human beings and that he is the reason everything is the way it is.
However, this question can not be proved to be either true or false. Although, there is no real evidence fate does exist, there is no way to disprove that fate doesn't exist. So really the answer to whether fate exists or not is your own opinion.
Many people will quote the Bible to prove that destiny and fate is real. Jeremiah 29:11 states that God knows the plans for our lives. "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." It is not only Christianity that believes in destiny and that everything happens for a reason. Islam believes in the divine destiny which means that God already knows all occurances regardless of time. Buddhism hints toward fate with their belief in karma. Karma, basically, is a cause and effect sort of destiny. If one does a good deed, something good will happen later on. If someone does a bad deed, then something bad will happen to them. Although this isn't a pre-determined future like the others, it still incorporates the use of an outside force influencing the occurrences in people's lives.
On the other hand, science argues the opposite of religion and supports free will over fate argument. The whole concept of god being the creator and lord of the human race is highly improbable and illogical. There is no real evidence of a god truly existing in the world. To support this claim, evidence can be found in the religions themselves. The inconsistency between religions worldwide on their view of god lead people to believe that god is just what we perceive and want it to be. Also, the weakness of religious arguments and explanations of the natural world is another piece of evidence to not believe in god, By not believing in god or religion, scientists can not believe in the existence of fate either or that a god created human beings and that he is the reason everything is the way it is.
However, this question can not be proved to be either true or false. Although, there is no real evidence fate does exist, there is no way to disprove that fate doesn't exist. So really the answer to whether fate exists or not is your own opinion.
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