The clustering illusion refers to the tendency to
erroneously perceive small samples from random distributions as having
significant "streaks" or "clusters", caused by a human tendency to underpredict
the amount of variability likely to appear in a small sample of random or
semi-random data due to chance (Gilovich, T. (1991). How We Know What Isn't
So: The Fallibility of Human Reason in Everyday Life. New York: The Free
Press
People need to find meaning and reason and pattern in their lives, even where there is none. I think this is why people like to say "everything happens for a reason." This phrase implies that God is actively piecing together every part of our lives for distinct purposes.
I believe that God has orchestrated that
some things happen for a reason, but not all, not by any means. I am cautious when I say this, because, as the scripture says, "And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things." (Doctrine and Covenants 59:21) However, I believe that God set up this world so it would operate by itself, using natural laws. This is how He has a hand in all things. I don't believe He has purposefully planned out every minute of every day for us, nor even necessarily the major events of our lives. Rather, I think that for the most part we make our decisions and then experience the natural results. I think we can learn something from some of the things that happen in our lives, but I don't think every aspect of our lives is designed by God to teach us something. Sometimes s*** just happens, as the saying goes.
It is repugnant to think that God designed the horrifying experiences some people face, just to teach them a lesson. Rather, I think that he has allowed these horrible things to happen because His plan includes Agency, the ability for people to act for themselves.
God will not forestall the exercise of agency by His children. Agency—our
power to choose—is fundamental to the gospel plan that brings us to earth.
God does not intervene to forestall the consequences of some persons’ choices in
order to protect the well-being of other persons—even when they kill, injure or
oppress one another—for this would destroy His plan for our eternal
progress. He will bless us to endure the consequences of others’ choices,
but He will not prevent those choices.--Dallin H. Oaks in the Saturday Afternoon
Session179th Semiannual General Conference
Again, I believe the victim can learn and become stronger from these experiences, but God did not orchestrate the offense. There might very well be no meaning or purpose in having been abused at all.
I wonder, has any prophet ever said the trite phrase "everything happens for a reason?" I did a search on LDS.org This is what I got:
Your search for "everything happens for a reason" has returned 0 results in All Church Content.
I remember a talk I heard somewhere, maybe in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints General Conference, or maybe at Brigham Young University, where the speaker addressed this topic. He said something similar to what I am saying here. I am searching to find the talk but couldn't find it in time to post this. I will keep looking though.
Don't quote Ecclesiastes 3:1 to me. I will do it for you: "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven." This does not equate with "everything happens for a reason," but states that everything will happen in its own due time. NOT that God is making everything happen.
Do I offend? I do not begrudge you your belief that everything happens for a reason, but I myself ain't buying it.
Above is my new partially brown hair. Not really, it's just a picture of it. They couldn't get the pink stripes out with bleach, so they had to dye the pink parts brown. Then they dyed the rest of it this apricot color.