Should a Catholic believe in "Karma"

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Heaveniswaiting

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Yes or no?..Just a random thought that popped into my mind…
 
For me, I would say “Yes”. There are verses in the Bible which say “You reap what you sow” and “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” They’re, more or less, the same as karma.

That’s only my opinion.
 
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Karma is irreconcilable with Christianity because as it is fundamentally includes the doctrine of reincarnation, which is contrary to Christian Believes

That is not to say that we don’t, in some way, suffer for the sins we commit.

There are some similarites between karma and the Christian idea, by small degree that we experience suffering for our sins in this life.

The purpose is different and the underlying philosophy is very different.

As St. Paul’s description of the Last Judgment,
For he will render to every man according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are factious and do not obey the truth, but obey wickedness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for every one who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality.
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Karma is not consistent with Catholic belief. But it provides a much better explanation of suffering. Catholics explain human suffering as a result of sin, and point to the human collective responsibility for sin and to the prospect of eternal bliss as evidence that God is good, and just. Those who believe in Karma believe that it extends through all forms of life, and therefore can explain animal suffering: they have the ability to rise to a higher existence. Catholics have no explanation to explain why a loving and just God would allow the suffering of sinless animals.
 
Original sin. Disordered everything and made us all likely to be very horrible people if we aren’t careful. Result of one bad angel and two selfish people

I guess there’s no one alive who hasn’t some remnant of Adam and Eve’s selfishness in them

Also I read that animals have some protective factor God in his wisdom gave them

I pray for animals that are being cruelly treated every night and also for the good people God has put there to help them
 
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Frankie65 said:
Also I read that animals have some protective factor God in his wisdom gave them
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Evidence? Or even an observation that supports this? The obvious fact is that virtually all non-human creatures live short and brutal lives ending in painful deaths. Billions upon billions of these animals lived before there were humans. So it can’t be original sin, and even if it is, it cannot possibly be just or moving for a God to do this to creatures without a countervailing benefit to them.
 
There is book called red in tooth and claw that describes a protective factor. I’ve also come across other writings that suggest how God protects his animals. Also Padre Pio’s prophecies of the end times include specific reference to taking care of animals.
Also that God will restore the whole of creation. All of these are more positive and loving and hopeful then Buddhism and Karma
Also I don’t want to derail the thread but personally I don’t believe there were millions of animals before people or at least not the animals we see nowadays that kill and eat each other
 
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The answer is simply No.

If our loving Father wishes to punish us in some way, he will do it with purity holiness.

To be a guide for us or to give us a helping nudge in the correct direction.

When our Father in heaven wishes to grant us more he will. Not as a reward but out of his mercy.

All things are possible to God.
To man it’s impossible.

If our child done wrong would we not punish them out of love ?

Reward them when we need be.

So God is the same as our true one Father.

God’s mercy and guidance are not the same as Karma.
 
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Catholics don’t believe in the concept of “karma” as taught by non-Christian religions, because the full teaching involves a number of concepts that do not agree with Catholic teaching.

However, we do believe that doing wrong or evil will eventually have bad consequences on the doer, perhaps not in earthly life, but definitely after death.
 
When the average American says “karma”, they mean “what goes around comes around”, and that’s consistent with the Bible.

However, the Hindu concept of Karma means that you will be reincarnated according to your good and bad deeds in a previous life. Not consistent with Catholic teaching and the Bible.
 
Nope. As a a former Buddhist, I can tell you this. Besides, what most Westerners call “Karma” is not what Buddhists and Hindus think of as Karma. As Karma involves reincarnation, which Christians really shouldn’t believe, we are not able to believe also in Karma.
 
It’s been said that what goes around, comes around. Is that Karma?
 
Thanks what I understand, T_B.
So I doubt that we Catholics should believe in Karma they way Hindus and Buddhists do, if that was what the OP was asking.
 
I think Adamhovey1988 nailed it, being an ex Buddhist.

You have to assume reincarnation in order for Karma to make sense. And if you assume reincarnation, the Gospel goes over the side. QED.

ICXC NIKA
 
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