God Beyond Religion: Restorative Justice and Karma

Have you ever heard someone say karma is a bitch, when insinuating that a person was getting what was coming to them? I’ve probably had someone say it to me a time or two, but I don’t think I have ever said it back. But, when I think about it, in the presence of evil deeds and justice, karma is by far the best and most logical answer. I know, evangelicals will get their back up at the statement, but really, I don’t care and simply say chill and listen for a change. Karma would make the golden rule make even more sense. If one knew that karma was a reality, then one would likely begin to examine what they do to others in relation to having the same done to them.

I am referring to karma as it is understood in Buddhism. However, I do not accept some of the more superstitious teachings about Karma from Buddhism. For example, I do not believe that the Buddhist unpardonable sins result in instantaneous placement in hell. I do however believe that karma can play out in this life, but also in subsequent incarnations. I also want to emphasize that I do not see reincarnation as a punishment. I see reincarnation as a chosen avenue for growth in knowledge.

So many seem to react negatively to reincarnation and karma. I can understand that if one sees it as merely a punishment that one can eventually escape to nirvana. However, that’s not the way I see it. My youngest grown son is an avid video game player. Yes, he is old enough to have a job and does and is responsible but in his spare time he plays video games online with his friends. One of his favorite games is Call of Duty. This is a military game where people die regularly and are instantaneously reincarnated. In Call of Duty death is not final. It is merely the end of a phase of the game. If the universe is first and foremost consciousness, if we are active creative agents within that consciousness, and if our self, the I AM in all of us is eternal, then for us, death is nothing more but the end of a phase or stage of the game of material and corporeal existence. 

In my view, karma and reincarnation are merely pre-agreed upon rules of the game. This does not cheapen the life experience. The life experience is precious and valuable to each of us. Making the most of it, learning the most from it, growing the most toward enlightenment is the goal. It is obvious that this is the case from mere observation of the development human culture. Likewise, it is obvious from viewing the natural world around us. All things are growing toward a more complicated and efficient expression.

So, why was it rejected out of hand by Christian Orthodoxy? There are claims that it was accepted by Origen and others late in the second century and early in the third century. Orthodoxy and the Roman Catholic Church vehemently deny that it was ever accepted, but the truth is that it was definitely accepted and taught by certain of the Gnostic groups. Furthermore, according to Josephus it was widely believed by the Jews of the first century and subsequent centuries after. It was also believed by Philo a contemporary of Jesus of Nazareth. You can find a wealth of arguments against reincarnation and karma in the orthodox writings of the church, but the fact remains that it could have been taught by Jesus and Paul. I am not trying to prove that it was, I am simply stating that if it was it would have made far more sense than orthodoxy’s and evangelical orthodoxy’s idea of heaven and hell. Further, it makes more sense than the idea of purgatory because the acts that require justice were done in the material and corporeal plane, and therefore having the circumstances that bring about restorative justice happen in the material and corporeal plane seem logical.

Finally, the Hermetica makes a lot of sense when it is stated that as above so below and as below so above, meaning that the material, corporeal world is a mirror of the matrix of conscious creative energy. Cycles are everywhere in the material world, and it would make sense that the eternal spiritual world is cyclic as well. If one objects to being forced to repeat over and over, they are not viewing it as I believe it likely is. We each have an active choice and say in reincarnation. At any rate, it would facilitate restorative justice effectively.