Destiny

[Ninjaman]

Okay, first off, if this topic is against the rules, then close it. Because I don't know if this discussion will lead to arguing or anything bad.

Anyway, my English class had to read "The Monkey's Paw" story. For those who don't know the story, it's about a man who gets a monkey's paw that supposedly grants three wishes, but at a terrible price. The man first wishes for two hundred pounds of money. The next day, his son goes to work and gets caught in machinery and gets killed. The man then gets two hundred pounds from the company the son worked at for compensation. Coincidence? The wife of the man begs him to wish for their son back. The man does and then they hear a knocking at their door. The wife knows its her son and goes to answer it. But the man wishes for his final wish for his son to die.

The next day my teacher went over the story and asked us if we believed in destiny. Some said yes, others said no. He asked to the ones that said yes if they were destined to sit where they were and to be in his class for a reason. They said no, then were a little confused. He went on about destiny and even asked about the story. Was it the parents' fault that their son was killed? Again, some said yes and others said no.

He then questions if we control our destiny or not. Someone answered that God knows our destiny, but believes that every person chooses their own destiny. Then everyone started making confusing statements.

My main point is asking if you believe in destiny? Do you believe that you control your own destiny or is someone else at work?

[wrist cutter]

I think we all have a choice, I suppose.

I believe there is a higher being, but that he gives humans free will. So we control our destiny in that sense... but at the same time, we have the power to have that higher being guide us through life.

[Sere Tuscumbia]

This might be against the rules, but I do believe that this is a perfectly legal question.

*shudder* I've always hated that story. Creeps me out.

And I have a mixed theory about destiny. Yes, I do believe that God creates our destiny, because we are made from him, and he knows us even before we are created, but we can also change our destiny. Things are made to happen, but that's just it, they're made to happen. We can choose one road or another, and the outcome might be different depending on which road we choose, but all in all, we'll end up in the same place eventually. Er, I've almost confused myself, so I'll shut up now.

~!*Sere*!~

[PiroMunkie]

[color=indigo]People have to make their own path. They do this by making choices. What happens because of the choice is destiny. You can't go back and change it, cause it has already happened, which explains why the father's final wish was for his son to die. Something drove him to know that cheating to get something back wasn't how thnigs were supposed to happen. Perhaps the thought that the last time he wished for a gain, his son died in order for that to happen. Then in wishing his son back (a gain), what would have to happen for that to come true? He knew it was better to leave things as they were.

Some people say that there are countless dimensions where everything that could happen in a moment to something does. For example: there would be a dimension were I was never born, a dimension where I was born, but died of something shortly afterwards, a dimension where I was born with giantism or dwarfism. Or if you are driving around and a bird flies across the front of your car. There is a dimension where you hit that bird, and another dimension where there wasn't even a bird to begin with.

Everything will happen in its own time, it is just the choices you make that decides what happens to you... Which pretty much fits with the saying in my sig..[/color]

[Mist]

[color=crimson][size=1]

First, I would like to mention that I read "The Monkie's Paw" last year, and it scared me too much...*shudders*

Anyway, I don't believe in destiny in the least. Destiny is like religion: it's a boundary; and explanation for things we can't comprehend or understand. Some humans can't except that threy have total control of their bad luck or such, and that they have the power to change it.

In other words, I think destiny is just a big excuse for the lazy...[/color][/size]

[Tigervx]

I belive in a form of destiny. Destiny is not one line, but many branching out of each other. You follow them with what choices you make in life.

[Boba Fett]

[COLOR=green]I read [I]The Monkey's Paw[/I] in seventh grade as part of Literature class, but never gave it much thought until now.

I am an Atheist, and see "destiny" as part of religion, therefore I don't believe in destiny.

Anyway,

If you don't believe in a higher power, then you don't believe in destiny.

If you are religious, I would bet that you think the reason you are on earth is to make "the right choices". If you believe everyone has a destiny, than that defeats the purpose of being on earth.

Hope my two cents worth made sense...[/COLOR]

[DeathKnight]

[color=crimson]As if any of us really knows. Everything in the world is just opinons, so it doesnt matter really.

Either way, we still screw up, right?

-K[/color]

[Omar Harris]

I read the "Monkey's Paw". The ending doesn't have the father wish for his son to die. The son comes back as a monster and the mother wishes for "the thing outside to go away" and everything outside disappears. One of my fav stories but it makes me afraid of ever wanting a Genie.

I believe in a higher power, whether you call it God or Allah or whatever. I try not to believe in destiny or the thought that we were meant to do something. If we were meant to go to Hell what would be the point of trying to live a good life to stay away. I say we make our own destinies rather than someone dictating that something will happen ahead of time/

[Genkai]

why did the father wish for his son to die as his last wish? kinda stupid of him....:whoops:

[Hyper]

There is destiny.
depends on how you view it.
But every one has their own.

[Guest Renegade V2]

[COLOR=darkred][B]I think that people have the choice to choose what they would like to do with their own lives. I mean I don't think that destiny made me not eat my mashed potatoes today.
We all can make our own decisions for each and every one of our own lives.[/B][/COLOR]

[Corey]

[QUOTE]Originally Posted by genkai_yyh
why did the father wish for his son to die as his last wish? kinda stupid of him....[/QUOTE]

Well... First you obviously haven't read the story.
Please visit this site and read it: [url=http://www.gate.net/~madonia/monkeypa.htm]CLICK HERE[/url]

When you do, I hope you realize why... But if you don't, please say so and someone will explain it to you.
-------------------
I don't believe in destiny. In fact... When we read this in english class last year, I started, and ended, a large debate over it. When we were finished reading the story, Mr. Lobley asked us if we believed in destiny. Most of the people said yes, and were not questioned. When I raised my hand, and was called on, I said no I didn't. He asked me why. I said that I didn't like the idea that some force was controling my very existance.
Everyone booed me and said I was wrong. It turned into a heated debate about who was wrong and who was right. Finally I quieted them with a loud yell and said something that totally confused and angered them. I said "If you think I'm wrong isn't it destiny that you think I am wrong!" They all shut up except for the few that made fleeting arguments. Then my teacher tried to get me on the debate team.
I control my destiny. I am the one that is going to get through school and make a high 6 figure salary per year by the time I retire. I make my luck. No one else does.

[DeathKnight]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by DarkOrderKnight [/i]
[B]I am the one that is going to get through school and make a high 6 figure salary per year by the time I retire. I make my luck. No one else does. [/B][/QUOTE]

[color=crimson]Or you could die tomorrow in a car wreck. You cant be sure of anything, so dont try to be. Technically, you dont make your luck. If I had a gun, and decided to shoot you, that wouldnt be luck, that would be my personal choice to shoot you. All of your 'luck' is shaped on others decisons, and a good two thirds of the time it is not in your hands.

-K[/color]

[Corey]

Silly me, I didn't explain well enough. What I meant by 'luck' is what I make for myself. Getting into a good college, getting a good job, marrying my future wife. I would consider all of that 'created luck'.
The type of luck your talking about boarders destiny. Which is something you, and I, don't believe in.

[DeathKnight]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by DarkOrderKnight [/i]
[B]Silly me, I didn't explain well enough. What I meant by 'luck' is what I make for myself. Getting into a good college, getting a good job, marrying my future wife. I would consider all of that 'created luck'.
The type of luck your talking about boarders destiny. Which is something you, and I, don't believe in. [/B][/QUOTE]

[color=crimson]Ah. That makes sense.

Destiny is merely a term that could be broadened on. People focus on the 'someone controls us' part, and immediately dismiss it.

But a form of destiny would be how others control our future, judging by their good or bad decisons. So in the end, destiny could be possible, but not as if God controls everything that happens, instead all of us create Destiny as a whole.

-K[/color]

[Lady Macaiodh]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by DarkOrderKnight [/i]
[B]Finally I quieted them with a loud yell and said something that totally confused and angered them. I said "If you think I'm wrong isn't it destiny that you think I am wrong!" They all shut up except for the few that made fleeting arguments. Then my teacher tried to get me on the debate team.
[/B][/QUOTE]

[color=darkblue]rotflmao! :starts clapping: that was great.

my god, i certainly hope everything isn't destined. if not, my life must be god's soap opera or sick joke. real amusing, big guy.

no, i can trace back my life & figure out why something i or someone else did caused things to happen. it's just cause and effect. i put that badly, but i hope you know what i mean.

&, also, free will is an integral part of religion. if destiny exists, then we have the right to refuse it. [/color]

[Genkai]

so..... the kid was a flesh eating zombie or something?

[Amphion]

Its hard to prove or disprove destiny. People say that you choose your on path in life and that you can do anything. Either way you are going to end up doing something in your life, like becoming a doctor. What if it was your destiny to become a doctor? Was it?

One morning you could get up and go get breakfast. YOu have two choices, Froot Loops or Lucky Charms. You have a choice and you can choose either one. You decide and pick up Froot Loops. Was that destiny? Say you go bakc and pick up Lucky Charms, because you want to be different and not follow your destiny. Well what if it was your destiny to question the existience of destiny, therefor picking up the other box to try and prove it wrong? See it gets quite complicated and ends up being one of those things man can not comprehend.You just either beleive it or you dont.

[Mist]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by DarkOrderKnight [/i]
[B].
I control my destiny. I am the one that is going to get through school and make a high 6 figure salary per year by the time I retire. I make my luck. No one else does. [/B][/QUOTE]

[color=crimson][size=1] Whahoo! Go you, DOK![/color][/size]

[Corey]

[QUOTE]so..... the kid was a flesh eating zombie or something?[/quote]

Aiee! My head!
What happened to the kid? He got killed in a gruesome machine accident. Then he got brought back to life. Would you want to see something that had just been through a mutilatiing accident show up at your front door? NO!

[Char!]

[b][color=teal][size=1]...and mildly decomposed, for that matter... *shudders*


--Mike[/color][/size][/b]

[Mitch]

[color=red] I think destiny is there, but only leads us into different directions, reasserting our position in life. It doesn't [i]control[/i] how this or that will turn out, it only defines it. Defines it in that it shows you a path, if you take it, that's your choice, if you don't, that's also your choice. So yes we all have a destiny to an extent, but eventually we break from our set roads and go into something different, something else than the path chose for us. [/color]

[bananagirl]

i think that destiny is apart of everyone. it's there even if you dont what it

[Char!]

[color=teal][size=1][b]I think destiny is a load of bull. We're free to mess up our lives however way we choose. :D


--Mike[/b][/color][/size]