Is this forum for the Christian religion only?

I was raised a Christian, but I think if we're all trying to reach the same destination, the road traveled to get there isn't all that important.

I would think that all biblical discussion would be welcome in this forum from any perspective, so long as it is genuine and not just flame or troll posting.

We are open to talk about any form of religious questions or interpretations! Talk about anything you like. Just remember to keep it family friendly!!

Good to hear that the 1st Amendment is going to be respected, two parts are applicable. :)

One of my favorite quotes of all time: "My Karma just ran over your Dogma...

@smokinman I'm actually not sure what that means. Can you explain? I do very clearly know what karma is and dogma, but I don't see the connection, nor get the joke, if there is one. I'm not great at understanding clever expressions or jokes for some reason.

A bit pressed this morning so with the help of the interweb: According to the dictionary karma means, action, seen as bringing upon oneself inevitable results, good or bad and dogma means prescribed doctrine proclaimed as unquestionably true by a particular group. Hence, my kar(ma) ran over your dog(ma)... I'm not a religious man but do consider myself spiritual having been created in God's image and likeness...

Still don't get it.

It means that Karma (fate, you get what you give, etc...) is (are?) absolute. Dogma is just a belief that is subjective and cannot be proven or quantified. Karma is real, Dogma is pretend. Or something like that. haha.

Be a decent person and question everything...

Grant,

It might help to think of it like this. Person A goes through life knowing that every thing he/she does has consequences. Thus, they strive to be the best person they can be.

Person B, goes through life telling every one around them that "You will go to hell if you don't believe as I do, practice the same rituals in the exact same way as I do, etc." In general, a "Holier than thou" attitude. Many folks who behave in such a manner are seen as not recognizing that there is "more than one way to skin a cat".

For example, when I was in high school, there was a young lady who told all of the people who went to a certain church that they were doomed for all eternity, just because they went to that certain church. I don't recall if she ever visited that church or not, but I'm fairly certain that she got that idea from her parents or a minister/priest without thinking for herself. DOGMA!

The members of that church, in general, lived by a "live and let live" attitude.

Or, we can equate it with gun control. Dogma="No guns for anyone but who I say can have them, and that won't be many!" Why? "Because guns are evil"! How can an inanimate thing be evil? "People who have guns are evil". All of the arguments that people repeat without thinking or looking into the facts for themselves.

Karma= "I'm not using guns to go out and purposefully harm people, but for those that do, there are consequences, somewhere down the line".

Finally, as I look at it, the quote is saying that Karma is something recognized by people who think, while Dogma is used by people either too afraid, too lazy, or have an agenda to keeps them from thinking for themselves.

Long story just a little longer: The quote is saying that what you do because you think of consequences will not be effected by someone else's unthinking OPINION on how you live your life.

At least, that's my ten cents on it.

Very nice explanations. I get the gist of it, I do believe. :)

Let me see if I can use these words and concepts in another way. Dogma in the good sense of the word, not the negative, as defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary.

The doctrine of Eckankar includes the concept of karma. Therefore, they live happily together, karma being introduced, taught, included by the dogma (tenets,doctrine).

Yes it is true some major religions don't use the word karma, but include it as "reap what you sow". I wonder is there any major religion that doesn't include the idea of karma in some diluted form?

The short answer to your question of if any major religion does not include some form of the comcept of karma appears to be no. I did a quick search on the net and all seem to have some variation-either in this life or the next-in their beliefs. Of course, I didn't read every thing that popped up, but a semi-random sampling seems to support my answer.