Faith In Bright Future Vs Karma

ChennaiExpress · Jan 28, 2018

Today was watching Joel Osteen, US pastor who is a motivational speaker (DISCLAIMER: he is more money oriented, saying that if his father who was his best friend hadn't died, then he wouldn't see greatness as a mega-church pastor)

He says if you have dream in your heart and pray, have faith the God will make it happen.

Then he says even if you give up on your dream, God will still make it happen.

But what about those who prayed, had faith, and died a million deaths.

There is story about Sarabjit (now movie with Aishwaria Rai) about farmer from Punjab who accidentally stumbled into Pakistan, rotted in their jails for 23 years before he was killed by fellow inmates and guards.

Meanwhile his sister tried everything to get him released, going to highest levels of Indian government. They were given false hope by Pakistan he would be released, but then changed last minute.

Onle this farmer's dead body returned to Indian soil.

What would a preacher like Joel Osteen say in his case? I guess thus type if suffering in unimaginable in USA, that us why people won't question his message.

I guess it is also Karma of past births, something that is not part of Christian belief.

And shortly after I watched Sai Baba serial (beautiful cinematography that truly depicts rustic India) where Sai says we can only pray, rest is up to God.

dimple7 · Jan 28, 2018

good post

ChennaiExpress · Jan 28, 2018

dimple7 said: ↑

good post
Click to expand...

LOL, thanks

Sandycandy · Jan 28, 2018

IMO there is only one life , try to do the right thing and wish well for others. That is the only thing one can control. I don’t believe in karma at all.

ChennaiExpress · Jan 28, 2018

Sandycandy said: ↑

try to do the right thing and wish well for others. That is the only thing one can control.
Click to expand...

That's true

Cheeniya · Jan 29, 2018

A truly thought provoking post. I am a strong believer of the saying 'Trust in God and keep your gun powder dry'
In Norman Vincent Peale's words “Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy.” Despite being an Evangelist, he did not promote blind belief in some unseen power. The glaring uncertainties of life may point to Karma but allowing Karma to bog down our progress is foolish. Have you read Karma Cola by Gita Mehta?

ChennaiExpress · Jan 29, 2018

Cheeniya said: ↑

A truly thought provoking post. I am a strong believer of the saying 'Trust in God and keep your gun powder dry'
In Norman Vincent Peale's words “Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy.” Despite being an Evangelist, he did not promote blind belief in some unseen power. The glaring uncertainties of life may point to Karma but allowing Karma to bog down our progress is foolish. Have you read Karma Cola by Gita Mehta?
Click to expand...

Keep you gun powder dry ... I like that!

I like you reminder to have faith in our our powers and abilities. I guess when life gets you down, you lose confidence.

Irony is, when something bad happens we say it's Karma. How about if something good happens?

Karma Cola? Will have to read that.

creativemumma · Jan 29, 2018

ChennaiExpress said: ↑

How about if something good happens?
Click to expand...

Its the same. Karma.
If some thing good happens, they say, he would have done something godly earlier, which is the result of this/ He would have prayed with golden flowers in earlier birth to achieve this in this birth etc.
Karma achieved by good deeds