Chance vs Destiny
Time Travel
There are several theories out there about time travel:
- Whether or not someone can actually travel into the past verses solely in the future,
- The argument of a parallel universe
- The existence of alternate dimensions and realities
...All interesting theories...
Then, of course, there is the argument of whether reality can be altered or unchanged:
Butterfly Effect vs Predetermination
The butterfly effect is based on a concept called chaos theory. This so called chaos defined as any event that is not rational or predictable can drastically change the events surrounding it. With such a theory in practice, if someone were to travel in the past and "change" the events (however minute the change) the consequences of such actions could be extraordinary. Is this true? Possibly...throughout life, we as humans witness some unbelievable events, time and time again.
Movies that explore chaos theory or altered realities are: The Butterfly Effect, Back to the Future, and the Terminator trilogy.
Predetermination, on the other hand, is a concept defined as every event, including human cognition and action, that is predestined and cannot be altered. If a time traveler were physically able to travel into past, then there is no possible way to change history, according to this theory. Inevitably, in this particular scenario, someone or something would prevent the time traveler from altering the events in the predestined timeline. It's a theory based solely on destiny, faith, determinism. A concept that lies in the hands of God, the all-knowing...past, future, and present.
Examples of predetermination used in movies are: Time Machine, Fetching Cody, and Twelve Monkeys.
Final thoughts on Chaos vs Destiny
I believe in the concept of free will. Meaning, everything "we" as people matters. Our lives are not written in stone and we have the power to determine our own outcome...our destiny.
Do I believe in God?...sure. I believe there is something bigger than us out there, waiting for us to tap into our full potential. Whatever the heck that is!!
What do you believe?