predestination

/priˈdɛstəˌneɪʃən/

Other forms: predestinations

If you think everything happens for a reason and we have no control over our own futures, then you believe in predestination.

In religious terms, predestination is the belief that everything that happens has already been determined by God — He's got a master plan, and there's no deviating from it. It's kind of a depressing and extreme world view that doesn't leave much room for making personal choices. Predestination is related to the concept of omniscience — meaning God knows everything. If you're a strong believer in free will, then you'll probably hate the idea of predestination.

Definitions of predestination

1. noun

   previous determination as if by destiny or fate
   type of:

   destiny, fate

   an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
2. noun

   (theology) being determined in advance; especially the doctrine (usually associated with Calvin) that God has foreordained every event throughout eternity (including the final salvation of mankind)
   synonyms: foreordination, predetermination, preordination

   types:

   election

   the predestination of some individuals as objects of divine mercy (especially as conceived by Calvinists)

   type of:

   theological doctrine

   the doctrine of a religious group