Do you believe things happen for a reason?

To be quite honest, I’m writing this because I want to know what you personally think. So before I offer my thoughts on this, please let me know what your answer is!

I personally don’t believe things happen for a reason.

While I’m still trying to figure out what words to use for what I do believe in, my current best answer is that I believe in the randomness of the universe. I’ve never found myself drawn to religion or other forms of faith. I (perhaps naively) think I understand why other people do, but I’ve never felt the need to believe in them myself.

I think things just happen. Why did that one plant grow right there? Why did that car crash? Why was I born instead of all the other possible people who could’ve been conceived?

The atoms in the universe moved that way. It just happened.

I think ascribing reason to events is a purely human experience, perhaps simply because we are conscious beings. Here are my theories for why others do so:

Reason fulfills a craving for meaning.
“What am I doing with my life? The universe must have put me in this job to help people.”

Reason is a way to reach a point of acceptance (more easily?).
“Why was I diagnosed with this incurable disease? So that I could find my inner strength.”

Reason quells fear of uncertainty.
“What’s going to happen after I die? If heaven is real then I know what I need to do to get there.”

I’m really curious about why some people do and don’t believe in reason. Does everyone who doesn’t believe have other methods for handling the search for meaning, acceptance, and fear of uncertainty? For those who do ascribe reasons, do my theories resonate?

I have so many questions.