Quote:
Originally posted by Chewbacca:
quote:
Originally posted by Yorick:
Karma and religious Law contain guilt.
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I take exception to this. This is as much a blanket statement as Heirophants alleged "hurtful" one.
For some, Karma is about taking responibility and about forgiving. For some Karma *IS* God's/Nature's law of consequence. It is the enabler of all cause and effect, large and small, seen and unseen. Without Karma forgivness and compassion as well as guilt and fear could not be causes and would have no effect.
For some, Karma is the very principle that enables the cause and effect of Christ-likeness.
You may believe differently about Karma, Yorick, but don't paint all of us who believe in Christ and Karma with such a narrow brush. [/QUOTE]Chewbacca, Heirophant made a blanket comment about PEOPLE. The Church being a collection of people, myself being included.
I'm making a comment about certain ideas. They are factual ideas nonetheless.
If a Hindu breaks a statue of Shiva, the CONSEQUENCE is a certain amount of Karma. There is no forgiveness from that. One can attempt to redress the balance and by good works earn Dharma that may counteract the Karmic retribution, but nonetheless the person is GUILTY of their action.
Jesus grace counteracts any CONSEQUENCE of sin. It directly counters Karmic retribution and consequences of negative actions. A slave trader who lived a life of murder was the one who wrote "amazing grace". After accepting Jesus his life changed dramatically, but this was a RESULT of, not a PROVISION for his salvation. Unlike Dharma, no human EARNS grace. It is freely offered to everyone who wants it, including yourself.
Without the Jewish Law there is no guilt in Christianity. Without Karma there is no negative consequence, nothing that keeps a record of wrongs, so I stand by what I said:
Karma and Law - which measure a persons actions against an impassive comparison - by their very nature create guilt and culpability in a person. The theology of Jesus saving grace by comparison removes a person from guilt and culpability. That is what Grace and forgiveness is all about.
[ 10-16-2003, 12:27 AM: Message edited by: Yorick ]