recall the problem of evil, a thorn in the side of Christianity, an irresolvable inconsistency vis-à-vis an omnibebevolent deity. — Agent Smith
Indeed, as I said already, established religion is always the perversion of spirituality. Jesus spoke of 'the Father', not of 'an omni-benevolent deity', and a glance at the Old Testament does not give the impression of omni-benevolence at all, but more of an arbitrary tyrannical vindictive jealous and cruel god. More like a Roman Emperor than a crucified carpenter. 'God is good' is another justification of the status quo by the powers that be. The ultimate demonstration that God is good is that he has put the white man in charge of the world. — unenlightened
Double standards any which way you look at it? — Agent Smith
The connection between the ritual and moral dimensions of karma is especially evident in the notion of karma as a causal law, popularly known as the “law of karma.” Many religious traditions —notably the Abrahamic religions that emerged in the Middle East (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam)—place reward and punishment for human actions in the hands of a divine lawgiver. In contrast, the classical traditions of India—Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, much like the Vedic sacrificial theology that preceded them—view karma as operating according to an autonomous causal law. No divine will or external agent intervenes in the relationship of the moral act to its inevitable result. The law of karma thus represents a markedly nontheistic theodicy, or explanation of why there is evil in the world.
I think the OP has nothing to do with any religious or spiritual doctrine about karma; I think it is rather a very philosophical question, but it creates some confusion because of the use of the word “karma”, that immediately sends us to religions and spiritualities. — Angelo Cannata
Nothing personal, it's just business.
The consequences of unintentional actions are just as real as intentional ones. It's amazing how twisted up people can get over simple cause and effect.It's amazing how twisted up you can get over the concept that all intentional actions have consequences. — Wayfarer
Depends on what you mean by "essence". Each person is an amalgam of various characteristics. Just because one of those characteristics changes does not mean that we are not the same person. After all, what it is that is changing? To even assert change is to assert that there is something with an identity that changes. And what type of changes are we talking about if not the perceptions we have of the world as a result of our actions?My issue with karma is the idea of personal continuity. Are we always the same in essence from one moment to the next? Karma in this sense doesn’t permit the ability to change for the better or for the worse. This is a form of unjust eternalism. “Type-casting” as it were. — Benj96
I don’t need to imagine a world without religion. Only fucking fools can’t imagine such a world though, I would say. — praxis
The consequences of unintentional actions are just as real as intentional ones. — Harry Hindu
Although such research is questionable, those that study reincarnation stories have not found evidence for karma. Only for reincarnation through alleged memories of previous lives. — TiredThinker
Most interesting. — Ms. Marple
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