So, what kind of person are you?

[Calhoun07]

In the movie Signs, Mel Gibson's character states that there are two different kind of people in the world, those who look at everything and see coincidences, and think that if something happens to them, it's just luck. Then there are those who look at the same things and see more than coincidence, they see signs and miracles and it lets them know there is somebody in charge who is watching over them.

So the question you have to ask, is what kind of person are you? I tried to ask this before, but people wound up talking about car accidents so I will refrain from stating my answer and why right now.

[James]

Luck and Chance.

For me, 'signs' and 'miracles' are just a simplistic ways of defining chains of events which go beyonds your localised sphere of understanding. There is normally a rational explanation and everything is statistically possible. If thinks seem like a miracle, it's likely you've missed a key factor or that luck has played one of it's extreme cards. People don't declare it a miracle when they win the lottery and look at the odds there..

[Chris Sanders MSX]

Chance and Luck, baby.

If I see a girl that could oneday become my wife or just become another fling..and if I don't talk to her, I missed my chance. If i see her again and don't talked to her it was only by chance that I see her, and it's only by chance that I'm feeling up to it that I talk to her.

But then If i do talk to her, then it wasn't by some thought out master plan, it was because by luck we were both in the mood to talk.

[Discloner]

Accually a tad of both.

Sometimes its all luck, while other times I think something is a sign, or warning. I don't have a specific event, but thats what i think anyway.

[TimTwoFace]

Me? Chance and luck, all the way. (Kinda like the flip of a coin. Heh.) Seriously, I believe miracles DO happen on rare, rare, RARE occasions (ie, stuff that Jesus did way back in "the day"), but most everyday events have a scientific explanation. People get lucky, people get unlucky...that's just how life is.

-Tim
(Optimistic Pessimist)

[Jedigreedo]

Luck and Chance.

I take a chance, I get bad luck. Signs and miracles was too ink-blotty like...

[Terminatah]

There's no such thing as luck; everything is chance. People invented faith so they wouldn't feel threatened by what they don't understand. Faith is a substitute for fear. It's like running into traffic with your eyes closed.

-Terminatah

[hello_lola]

Although I realize that many things are simply coincedental, I am a strong believer in signs. Sometimes all you have to do is take a minute and consider the meaning behind apparently mundane occurences, and you can find an answer to something that has really been troubling you.

[Calhoun07]

Originally posted by hello_lola
Although I realize that many things are simply coincedental, I am a strong believer in signs. Sometimes all you have to do is take a minute and consider the meaning behind apparently mundane occurences, and you can find an answer to something that has really been troubling you.

I think that the many mundane thing that appear to be "scientific explanations" are indeed things that happen because they were created by design to be that way. Even if you don't believe in any kind of specific deity responsible for it all, Maxie's book the Rare Earth that we discussed on the boards before is a scientific look at the unique marvel of Earth, tho I am inclined to think it's all by divine design. It's like the old saying, you can take all the parts of a watch and throw them on the ground and in a few hundred billion years, you will come back and those watch parts will not have just "evolved" and come together and formed a perfectly operating watch. This planet did not come from the joining of random atoms scattered thru out the universe from some big bang. There may have been a big bang (I would imagine a divine deity speaking everthing into existence would be a big bang!) but it was all ordered by some kind of divine design.

I think every day we live there are miracles of creation all around us. Even the most mundane are the most amazing. Take the air we breathe for example. Name one other planet known to man that we could do this on. And even assuming that there could be life some where out there, who is to say their atmosphere could support our life? The fact that I can breathe in and live on this planet is a remarkable miracle, and not to be disregarded because the miracle was set in motion at the creation of the world. It's not by chance that this came to be.

[Terminatah]

Originally posted by Calhoun07
I think that the many mundane thing that appear to be "scientific explanations" are indeed things that happen because they were created by design to be that way. Even if you don't believe in any kind of specific deity responsible for it all, Maxie's book the Rare Earth that we discussed on the boards before is a scientific look at the unique marvel of Earth, tho I am inclined to think it's all by divine design. It's like the old saying, you can take all the parts of a watch and throw them on the ground and in a few hundred billion years, you will come back and those watch parts will not have just "evolved" and come together and formed a perfectly operating watch.Sometimes people hear an old saying that sounds clever, but isn't necessarily true nor applicable. This saying about the watch doesn't conclusively prove anything about the origin of life; it's just an outrageous implication.

Originally posted by Calhoun07
This planet did not come from the joining of random atoms scattered thru out the universe from some big bang. There may have been a big bang (I would imagine a divine deity speaking everthing into existence would be a big bang!) but it was all ordered by some kind of divine design.

I think every day we live there are miracles of creation all around us. Even the most mundane are the most amazing. Take the air we breathe for example. Name one other planet known to man that we could do this on. And even assuming that there could be life some where out there, who is to say their atmosphere could support our life? The fact that I can breathe in and live on this planet is a remarkable miracle, and not to be disregarded because the miracle was set in motion at the creation of the world. It's not by chance that this came to be. Just because something is amazing doesn't mean it is of divine origin.

I don't want to trample on yours or anyone's beliefs; to me, that's irrelevant. I just don't like people throwing around faulty logic.

-Terminatah

[The Game]

I don't beleive in luck, but that doesn't mean everything happens for a reason.

I think things happen- sometimes because there is a reason, sometimes because of the randomness of our world causes them to happen. There doesn't have to be a reason. It could just happen because it happened. Not everything in your life is a sign or symbol telling you to do something, but sometimes they turn out to be. I suppose that's a coincidence, but I don't beleive in luck. Things happen or they don't, it has nothing to do with "luck".

In short, I don't really beleive in either, but if I had to pick, I'm more cut out as a luck and coincidences kind of guy.

-The Game

[JohnCrichton]

I see both..... as one.

[JustJack]

Haha, you're REALLY into Signs, eh Cal? :D Don't worry, I'm behind you 100%. Heck, I still find it hard to walk around at night, looking out my windows, in fear I'll see one of those things walking around like in the movie(that was the scariest part, IMO). The fear factor from that flick sure does last... :p

Anyway, since for some reason every time I try to vote in a poll, it says my session has expired, so I'm not going to try this time...but, I guess I'm the kind of guy that looks for signs. Sure, I do have a thing for luck, and I often believe most things are chance...but in the end...I'm still looking for that sign. There has to be a miracle behind some things...just dont know what. ;)

[Captain Yurika]

I am the 2nd type who see coincidences in the world as a matter of 'signs' from God.

To me, I see my whole life as a tapestry that is woven by God. He knows how it will turn out in the end and has my life planned out though I don't know what will happen. It's not only a matter of faith for me but a comfort. I really like the idea of an omnitient (spelling?) person in charge of my life and knowing what's best for me.

[Pilmedium]

It's all luck and chance. I do not believe in signs and miracles.

[Calhoun07]

Originally posted by JustJack
Anyway, since for some reason every time I try to vote in a poll, it says my session has expired, so I'm not going to try this time...

I had that problem to, and found out it was due to AOL. Are you using AOL? Try browsing the boards on Internet Explorer instead and you should be able to vote there.

I forget all the technical things Brian said of why AOL and the current version of VBulletin isn't compatiable in certain things, but the problem should be fixed once the new version is out.

[JustJack]

Originally posted by Calhoun07
I had that problem to, and found out it was due to AOL. Are you using AOL? Try browsing the boards on Internet Explorer instead and you should be able to vote there.

I forget all the technical things Brian said of why AOL and the current version of VBulletin isn't compatiable in certain things, but the problem should be fixed once the new version is out.

Yup. Aol. All of a sudden AoL isn't compatable with a lot of different sites...I guess everyone is finally rebelling as if AoL is "under-par" now. Haha, oh well. The polls have been working again today, so...I'm happy. :D