Do things happen for a reason?

[polymath257]

It seems to me that Shazz is not comfortable among a group of atheists.  I'm not sure of the reason for coming here, but it obviously didn't turn out as planned.

If the answers given to questions were all god-based, I think Shazz would be happier.

Perhaps a theist forum is a better choice.

This is far more interesting. I've learned a few things.

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Shazza, let me put it this way.
You're on a golf course. The odds of hitting a particular blade of grass 300 yards away is trillions to one.
You hit the ball. It lands on a blade of grass 300 yards away. Not the one you chose. But nonetheless, the one you landed on was also a trillions to one shot and you got it!

My point is, trying to connect dots to find special meaning in circumstances is a fool's game. You could waste you life joining dots all day long for the rest of your life.
Shit happens all day long, even fun or bad co-incidental things ..Don't read anything into anything. You'll end up like the dude from "A Beautiful Mind".

Another eg: someone's girlfriend's car broke down and asked you to pick her up. On your way, someone isn't paying attention and slams into your car.
You are injured, taken to hospital, as a precaution, they give you a cat scan. They find a tiny tumor on your brain. They operate and remove it successfully.
The doctor said if they hadn't found it, the tumor was in a part of the brain that in years to come it would have been inoperable and it would have killed you.

Now Shazza, it's tempting to join dots here. But there's really nothing to see. Move along. Nothing spooky happening, No angels, or demons or unicorns or faeries are making things happen. Shit just happens. Sometimes these things are convenient, sometimes they're not.... Wishing for an agent to be involved in your life isn't going to "poof" a god into existence for you...

Conspiracy theories are created for the same reasons they create God. Some people just like to feel that "someone" is in control. Whether it's because you gave birth to an autistic baby 6 months after getting your flu shot or because the neighbor's house got torn down by a hurricane a week after the asshole blocked your driveway with his truck.
 
The universe doesn't revolve around any of us... We're not that special...seriously.

THEN WHATS THE POINT OF LIVING?? Why do we care so much when people die?? We should just be able to accept it and move on because it happens to everybody. If our lives mean nothing then why is it worth living? Wouldn't it be less exhausting to just cease to exist? (because apparently that's what happens when we die   ) Why have children when you know they're going to die anyway?

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https://islamqa.info/en

A theist forum will give me answers I'm more familiar with. I want to see outside my box.

And that is a very good sign. Searching for other viewpoints will, at the very least, make you more well rounded as a person and more understanding of where
others come from.

You ask what the point is of living. I find life to be very enjoyable: I love to learn, to experience new things, to interact with my friends, and to snuggle with my wife. I like to think about physics and math. These are the things I live for.

We care about it when people die because we lose their input into our lives. And, given how important interaction is for us humans, that is a big deal.

You  seem to think that our lives 'mean nothing' unless there is a God and we live forever. I have personally never understood either position. Our lives are precious *because*
we don't live forever. They have meaning because of how we relate to others and help others through this wonderful ride called life. No deity required.

You seem to focus on death, which is one of the hallmarks of certain religions. I prefer to focus on life: what warmth and light can I bring during this short period where my candle burns?

If you consider life to be exhausting, imagine how horrible it must be to live forever! The ultimate lack of existence seems like a blessing to me. But that doesn't detract from that flare of beauty that can be had during life.

For those that have children, the children gain that precious gift of life. They can live out their time, finding their purpose and meaning as they see fit.

The fact that we all die doesn't mean life has no value. In fact, quite the opposite. Living forever would make life valueless and a torture.