WHAT IS KARMA?

THE ANSWER IS A BIG “NO”! The concept of Karma is essentially different from our Christian Faith which proclaims the JUSTICE of God rather than Karma. The Catholic site CATHOLIC SPEAKS provides a very clear explanation which will be useful for our understanding:

The Catholic Speaks
Answering Questions about the Catholic Faith

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† Should Christians believe in ‘Karma’? †

What is Karma?
– kar·ma
ˈkärmə/
noun
noun: karma
1. (in Hinduism and Buddhism) the sum of a person’s actions in this and previous states of existence, viewed as deciding their fate in future existences.
 informal destiny or fate, following as effect from cause.

Karma in other words is what you reap in the next life by what you sow in this one. Karma is based on the theological belief in reincarnation. The Bible rejects the idea of reincarnation; therefore, it does not support the idea of karma. Take note of what the Bible says about life, “Just as the man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.” – Hebrews 9:27

If the Bible highly contradicts the idea of karma, it is therefore, must never be incorporated with our Christian life. Given the fact that we are Christian Catholics, it is strictly required for us to follow ONLY the commandments of the Lord and that doesn’t include the belief in karma. Karma is only found in both non-Christian religions (Buddhism and Hinduism), making it very unlikely to be part of Christianity.

Karma talks about reaping in next life what you have sown in this present life. However, the Bible denies that belief in the following verses:

1) “As I have observed, those who plow evil and those who sow trouble reap it.” – Job 4:8

2) “If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.” – 1 Corinthians 13:3

3) “A faithful man will abound with blessings, but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.” – Proverbs 28:20

4) “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” – 2 Corinthians 9:7

5) “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” – Romans 11:35

These verses, and all the other verses that talks about sowing and reaping, the act of receiving the rewards of your actions takes place in this life, not in some future life. It is a present-day activity, and the references are clear that whatever you do (sow) will be equivalent to what you will be rewarded on (reap). Simplified as what you perform in this life will have a great effect for your reward or punishment in the afterlife.

But this afterlife is definitely NOT a rebirth or reincarnation just like what karma explains it to be. We, Christians, believe in two (2) events occurring after our human life here on earth: it is either by eternal suffering in hell, as explained in Revelation 21:8 “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” or, spend eternal life in heaven like what the Bible promises, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” – John 5:24. THIS SHOUD BE OUR FOCUS IN OUR LIFE HERE ON EARTH.

Finally, we must always remember that it was Jesus whose death on the Cross resulted in the reaping of eternal life for us, and that it is faith in Jesus that promises us this eternal life. And by works and deeds classify us to what awaits for us after death: eternal life or eternal damnation (James 2:14-26). The choice is ours. It is clear that the concept of reincarnation and karma is INCOMPATIBLE with what the Bible teaches about life, death and the sowing and reaping of eternal life.