Thursday, October 14, 2010

Angel, Flash Foward and the Future

I think my biggest problem is that I want to find meaning in everything. Even though I know that sometimes, things happen, just because they happen. Nothing is what is seems, but sometimes. Reality is much more simple that you see it.

I remember a very specific episode of Angel. There was a prophecy that was deciphered by Wesley that Angel would drink the blood of his son. At this point, his son Conner was just a baby and everyone was in love with him. In an effort to save Conner from being killed by Angel, Wesley steals the child which leads to a succession of events with grave consequences. But after all of that, Angel really did drink the blood of his son, because one of his enemies, I think it was Wolferman Heart, had but his sons blood into Angles pigs blood. Now had Wesley realised that little loophole that the son would not have to die, in order for the prophecy to come true.

I always think that, when hearing about predictions of the future. Recently I watched Flash Forward. It’s a series (based on a book) that only has one season, but the concept of it was absolutely awesome. With good actors, I just think the director was a bit crappy. Anyway if you haven’t seen it this is what happens:
The whole world blacks out for two minutes and 17 seconds, and in this time they see the future. But the future that they saw was as a result of the blackout. So the future that saw happened because they blacked out, had they not blacked out the outcome of their futures would not have been the same. But you watch as the characters live out their lives, some trying to insure that their future happens just the way they saw it, others trying to do everything they can to stop it. And in both instances, the future happens as closely as possible to what they saw.
So the question is, in hearing seeing or reading ‘prophecies’ or predictions of the future, do we have the power to change the future? Or in trying to avoid the prediction, do we cause the prediction to take effect anyway?

There is a reason predicting the future is haraam (not permissible) meaning should not be done at ALL. The very thought that we have a specific density, whether true or not, to fulfil denotes that as humans we have no choice the matter. The whole point of life, and earth is, the choice of man. As humans we have a free will that is stronger than any other creation. So if we all have a specific destiny to follow...where does our choice land us? On different side roads that all land at the same spot? I use to think so. My understanding of destiny and choice has changed. I have recently realised that dua (prayer) and free will can change our destiny. So can the evil eye.

Therefore your destiny is not written in stone.

3 comments:

sady said...

Hi. This is a really interesting post. I have tried to understand predestination because I also have this idea that things (good or bad) happen for a reason.

I must admit that I haven't been able to formulate my thoughts completely on the matter but here's what I think: That there is a pre-defined end point in terms of where our lives will lead, what career we will pursue, who we will marry, where we will live, when we will die etc. This is information that only the All Mighty is privy to.

As we live our lives, we can't see this bigger picture so along the way we encounter situations. It is our reactions and method of dealing with these situations that allow our lives to deflect from the path that we seem to be on to the path that we were meant to be on.

So, we make our decisions believing they are our own but we were meant to make those decisions anyway.

Am I making sense? What do you think?

Lady T said...

Sady, you do make sense! And I use to think exactly like you do.
But my question now is...what is the point of the path?

What is the point in believing that our choices are our own, if in fact it is already pre-determined?

I don't think pre-determination and The Almighty’s perfect knowledge is the same thing.
The way I see it is that if we believe that everything is already pre-determined, it is almost as if The Almighty has built a maze for us, and no matter which way we (the mice) turn it we will eventually be where The Almighty has already pre-determined for us, right?

But this theory almost separates The Almighty from our lives. It is as if He is just sitting and watching. Now if He has already determined your fate, what is the point of praying for better one?

I see the maze as something that is constantly changing. Yes, there are eventualities that we will not be able to avoid...death, marriage, birth, catastrophes. But it is our prayer that is able to change how good/bad these turn out and when they will.

If it is meant for you to get married you will, but to who? If you like two people and you don’t know which one to choose, and you make the correct prayer and it turns out that one is favoured over the other, and it doesn’t work out. Then was divorce your fate? Or was it your decision? Surly in this instance at least your fate was changed by your decision.

But only The Almighty knows.

sady said...

A constantly changing maze is probably the best way to describe it.

But only He knows really. :)