With certain religions comes the value of Karma.
''What goes around comes around.''
''What you cause this life, will be dealt to you next.''
''Everything has its consequences, sooner or later you'll feel them too.''
''What you have dealt, will come back 3 fold.''
However you say it, karma seems to be the same concept; what you do will eventually effect you as you had effected others. Karma or some THING to the effect of Karma surfaces in countless religions and paths. People for ages have expressed their views of natural justice. Karma is of course a religious concept, although people who believe in Karma may not belong to any specific religion. The idea of ''what goes around comes around'' can not be traced all the way back to its very origins.
- Meaning, Karma is so old, we can't fathom or trace exactly how old.
People sometimes assume Karma has to do with some form of deity. Such as Christianity, their God will have justice. Supposedly.
More often though, is Karma expressed as natural, not necessarily due to the work of gods. Yes, perhaps the gods set Karma in motion according to some, but often times do they recognize it as an independent force created by but not controlled by a deity.
So yes, Karma is not exactly the same in comparison between various religions/beliefs.
Hinduism is one of or the oldest known religions the recognizes Karma as a powerful, and effective force. This religion dates back about 3,000 B.C.E (before common era). Yeah, it's old. Karma according to Hinduism, deals with reincarnation. Reincarnation is a term most people are familiar with. It is the recycling of souls, when you die, you are later reborn. Well the Hindu believes, that what you do this life, will effect who you are and what you are your next life. So if you're currently a farmer and brutally murder someone, you will die, and you may be reborn a slug which is not a very glamorous life. Why? Because it's Karma, doing its thing getting you back for what you did the previous life. Now if you're currently a farmer, and you save and old lady from a burning building, you will die, and you may possibly be reborn as a wealthy king. Why? It's Karma!
Buddhism is probably the most popular of all religions that recognize Karma. Buddha believed in the typical, ''you get what you give'' Karma. And the same goes for Confucianism, surprisingly people don't realize that the famous ''Golden Rule'' is a form of Karma: ''Do unto others, what you wish done unto you.''
Then you have others likes Wiccans, that generally believe in a more severe punishment for misdeeds. They behold the 3 Fold Law, ''what you do now, shall come back 3 Fold''. What the phrase ''3 Fold'' is referring is like giving this formula:
(what you do)(what you do)(what you do) = what you get
Scary? Perhaps, but it's what they believe.
Christianity, as with many other things, plays into certain beliefs systems when it comes to karma. Just as they believe in certain forms of reincarnation, they believe in "what goes around, comes around." Thus the idea of Hell comes into the mix. Some believe that on a trip to said "Hell", bad karma can actually be "burned" off. This idea comes from a form of projection to lower plains (Hell), and certain levels can make for differing results in letting off that karma. Christians do not particularly believe in projection, but their concept of Hell is found to be useful for such occasions.
Now then, some people don't believe in Karma at all. Some have figured that it is just a bunch of bull.
But the question is, are they just trying to disprove spirituality so badly that they make crap up to make excuses for denying Karma? Or is Karma really just hoax to get kids not to cheat on Math tests?
Is karma something to fear?
Karma?
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