Why Do Many Christians Talk About Karma — When It’s Not a Christian Belief?
1. The Question
Why do Christians say things like “That’s karma” — when karma isn’t part of Christian theology?
Is it just a slip of the tongue? Or is something deeper going on?
2. The Human Angle
You hear it all the time:
- “She got what was coming to her — karma.”
- “I try to put good energy out there so karma comes back around.”
- “That’s karma for being selfish.”
And yet, these are Christians talking.
People who believe in grace, not reincarnation.
So what’s happening?
3. The Inquiry
Let’s start with definitions.
Karma is a concept from Eastern religions — especially Hinduism and Buddhism — that says your actions in this life determine your fate in future lives. It’s part of a cycle of rebirth and moral consequence.
Christianity, by contrast, teaches:
- One life, followed by judgment (Hebrews 9:27)
- Salvation by grace, not merit (Ephesians 2:8)
- Forgiveness through Christ, not through working off moral debt
- Resurrection, not reincarnation
So why do Christians use the word karma?
Because it’s become cultural shorthand — a way to express moral cause and effect. And because there’s a biblical idea that sounds similar: sowing and reaping.
Here’s how they differ:
- Hinduism: The soul is reborn through many lives until it achieves liberation (moksha).
- Buddhism: There’s no permanent soul, but consciousness continues through karmic rebirth.
- Jainism: Souls are reborn based on karma; liberation ends the cycle.
- Sikhism: Rebirth continues until union with God is achieved.
- Indigenous traditions: Some Native American and Aboriginal beliefs include soul migration or ancestral return.
- Esoteric movements: Kabbalah, Theosophy, and New Age philosophies explore reincarnation as spiritual evolution.
- Ancient Greek philosophy: Thinkers like Pythagoras and Plato spoke of the soul’s migration from one body to another.
Christianity, meanwhile, teaches that:
- You live once.
- You are judged not by karma, but by grace.
- You are forgiven, not recycled.
- You are resurrected, not reborn.
4. The Turn
So maybe the question isn’t “Why do Christians believe in karma?”
Maybe it’s “Why do we long for justice?”
Karma feels tidy.
It promises balance.
It says: you get what you deserve.
But Christianity says something more radical:
You don’t get what you deserve.
You get what you’re given.
Grace breaks the cycle.
It doesn’t reward the good or punish the bad — it transforms both.
5. The Invitation
Next time you hear someone say “karma,” pause.
Ask:
- Do I mean justice?
- Do I mean consequence?
- Do I mean grace?
Because in Christianity, the deepest truth isn’t balance.
It’s mercy.
post inspired by A Theology for the Rest of Us by Arthur Yavelberg.
Book description:
If God exists and is good, why is there evil? Avoiding such questions underlies the spiritual emptiness and anxiety in today's world. A Theology for the Rest of Us explores how to approach the divine through Eastern and Western religious traditions without dogma, challenging readers to "be you lamps unto yourselves."
In a time of internecine wars and all kinds of abuse of authority and trust, too many good, thoughtful people are "voting with their feet" and turning away from organized religion. Popular "spirituality"-a sort of mysticism-lite articulated in memes-is often unsatisfying as well.
A Theology for the Rest of Us is a straightforward approach to the fundamental questions of religion and philosophy:
- Does God exist?
- Is there free will?
- What is 'evil'?
This book draws on the traditions of the East as well as the West-Taoism, Buddhism and Hinduism in addition to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam-to see what can make sense in today's world. Whether exploring the implications of 17th century Enlightenment philosophers, quantum physics, or the insights of writers such as Dostoyevsky and Alan Watts, the reader is offered a rational, coherent approach that can provide understanding and a basis for hope in a world where the spirit has been all but decimated by doubt and worse.
Most important, the reader is encouraged to sift through these sources and choose what resonates and what does not. As the Buddha taught so many years ago, the Prime Directive is "Be ye lamps unto yourselves." A Theology for the Rest of Us makes teachings accessible to those who have already begun their spiritual journeys, validating their questions and showing that reasonable answers are available.
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