Which religion believes in the concept of 'karma'?

Prepare for the SCA Comprehensive Religion Test with essential study material including flashcards and multiple-choice questions. Each question offers hints and insightful explanations to ensure your readiness for the exam.

Karma is a fundamental concept primarily associated with Hinduism and Jainism. In these religions, karma refers to the belief that a person's actions in this life, as well as in previous ones, directly influence their fate in future lives. This implies that moral actions lead to positive outcomes, while immoral actions lead to negative consequences, creating a cycle of rebirth and spiritual evolution.

Hinduism elaborates on karma in the context of dharma (righteousness) and samsara (the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth), where fulfilling one's dharma can lead to good karma and spiritual liberation (moksha). Jainism shares a similar understanding but places even more emphasis on the impact of karma on the soul, advocating for actions that minimize harm to all living beings to accumulate positive karma.

While Christianity and Islam do recognize the importance of moral behavior and its effects on life after death, they do not incorporate the concept of karma in the same way, as their teachings are more focused on salvation, divine judgment, and the grace of God rather than a system of moral cause and effect across lifetimes. Thus, the belief in karma is distinctly central to Hinduism and Jainism, making the association with Hinduism the most accurate answer.

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