Fate and Destiny
What Does Religion Say About Fate and Destiny?
In Christianity, the Bible teaches readers that humans were created by God with the ability to make our own moral choices (13).
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This idea is illustrated by the famous example of the story of Adam and Eve. The Fall of Man was not a pre-determined event orchestrated by God. Adam and Eve were able to make the choice between obedience and following the rules they were given by God (and to live happily in the Garden of Eden as a result) or to disobey God and be cursed forever because of their actions. Adam and Eve knew what the consequences of their actions would be, and they were held accountable for the choice they made (Genesis 3:1-24).
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In the Bible, destiny is often spoken of in reference to a destiny someone has brought upon themselves. For example, (Philippians 3:18-19) - "Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction."
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However, the Bible also makes it clear that God is sovereign. He has the ultimate control. It is God who gave humans free will and the ability to make our own choices. God created Earth and a moral universe which has the law of cause-and-effect. It's made clear that there are no "accidents." (13)
The Bible also talks of God's "divine plan." His plan is benevolent, wise, and holy. God's providence (sovereign will) is working to achieve His plan for all of creation. It appears that attempting to thwart God's plan is pointless - "There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan / that can succeed against the Lord" (Proverbs 21:30).
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From a Christian viewpoint, things such as "chance" and "fate" are also controlled by God - "The lot is cast into the lap, / but its every decision is from the Lord" (Proverbs 16:33). Essentially, nothing happens because of chance. God controls all - even if he may take a more "hands-off" approach.
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To make a long story short, God is ultimately in charge of our lives. Although He has given us the ability to make our own choices and effectively the option obey or disobey Him, He has a plan for all of our lives. (13)
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This is a well-known quote from Merida. Christian viewers may argue that Merida is referring to God's plan here. Our fate lives within us because God has an individual divine plan for everyone. This can be seen through (Psalm 139:16) - "Your eyes saw my unformed body. / All the days ordained for me / were written in your book / before one of them came to be."
Will O' The Wisps
In the film, will o' the wisps are small, blue floating lights that are spirits representing past lives. These little guys play an important role - they are said to lead one to their fate and destiny!
Fate and Destiny in Disney's BRAVE
The idea of fate is a prominent theme throughout the film Brave. The film begins with a monologue by Merida, the protagonist of the film. This can be seen in the video below.
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"Some say our destiny is tied to the land, as much a part of us as we are of it. Others say fate is woven together like a cloth, so that one’s destiny intertwines with many others. It’s the one thing we search for, or fight to change. Some never find it. But there are some who are led." - Merida
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This piece of dialogue reveals how destiny and fate are thought of in the world of Brave. It is clear that fate and destiny exist, however it seems as though they are thought of as being interconnected, not just to the destiny of others, but also with the land and nature.
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One of the main storylines of the film focuses on Merida and her journey as she attempts to change her fate. As the princess of DunBroch, and the eldest child, Merida's parents want to marry her off to one of the sons of the Highland Lords. Merida does not agree with this and does not want to get married, even though she thinks its her fate to do so. To prevent this from happening, Merida finds a Witch and asks her for a spell that will change her fate. The Witch gives her a spelled pastry and instructs her to give it to her mother. Consequently, the pastry turns her mother, and her three brothers, into bears. The rest of the film focuses on Merida and her Mother and their attempt to reverse the spell. By the end of the film the spell was successfully reversed, Merida and her Mother have repaired their strained relationship, and Merida's fate is changed - she is no longer being forced to get married.
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Although the concept of fate and destiny in the film Brave seem very different from how they are perceived by Christianity, it is possible to see some connections between the two.
In examining fate in the film Brave from a Christian perspective, it is possible to make the argument that Merida didn't really change her fate, but that everything that happened to her was meant to happen. It's possible that her journey was all a part of God's plan. At the beginning of the film, Merida and her mother had a strained relationship and they disagreed on many issues. At the end of the film, however, the two have repaired their relationship and are closer than ever. Was that God's plan all along? To put Merida on a journey that would result in bringing her closer to her mother? It's possible. Christian viewers may argue so.
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