The Mercy-Karma Theory is one of the theories explaining the Super* Theory, according to which a person's life and development do not operate solely on the principles of mercy or karma, but on both. Although a person receives divine mercy, they must still do good work (pay their karma) to achieve lasting change in their life.


Theory to be learned: Mercy-Karma Theory
Field of Science: World Religions, Psychology
Prerequisites: Basics of Christianity and e.g. Hinduism.
Relations to Super* Theory: Related to Development Window in Super* Theory.
Level of difficulty:
★★★

Theoretical background:

Briefly About Karma
Karma is a concept that originates from various Indian religions, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. Its core idea is that the actions, intentions, and deeds we perform in this life and at this moment positively or negatively influence future experiences and conditions. Good deeds lead to positive outcomes and happiness, while bad deeds cause negative consequences and suffering. Karma encourages individuals to act ethically and responsibly, as they are responsible for shaping their own destiny through the cycle of cause and effect. The goal is to break free from this cycle and achieve liberation or enlightenment.

Briefly About Divine Mercy
The idea of divine mercy focuses on the concept of unconditional love, compassion, and forgiveness offered by a higher power or deity. In many religious traditions, including Christianity, divine mercy represents the boundless and merciful nature of God towards humanity. Mercy emphasizes the belief that no matter how flawed or sinful people may be, they can seek forgiveness through sincere repentance. Divine mercy encourages believers to approach God with confidence and hope, knowing that He is always ready to grant mercy and pour out compassion on those who turn to Him with a repentant heart. For a pure heart, God offers the promise of eternal mercy and salvation.

Briefly About Human Mercy
The core idea of mercy is compassion and empathy towards others' suffering or wrongdoing. It involves showing kindness, forgiveness, and understanding, even in the face of harm or offense. Mercy recognizes the intrinsic value and dignity of each individual, regardless of their actions or circumstances, and seeks to alleviate their pain by granting them mercy. Interpersonal mercy is an essential part of various moral and ethical systems that emphasize the importance of empathy, benevolence, and offering second chances. By practicing mercy, we promote healing, reconciliation, and a more compassionate, harmonious society.

Proposal of the Mercy-Karma Theory

The Mercy-Karma Theory suggests that a person's life and development do not operate solely on the principles of mercy or karma, but on both. Although a person receives divine mercy or mercy from other people, they must still do good works (pay their karma) to achieve lasting change in their life.

The Mercy-Karma Theory is supported by the Bible's teaching, which states that on the one hand, a person attains repentance by faith and mercy alone (e.g., Romans 11:6), but on the other hand, faith alone is not enough, and deeds are also needed (e.g., James 2:14).

The relationship between mercy and karma is also explained in the book Dimensions of the Truth:
Sometimes, in the experiences of spiritual evolution, a person may momentarily see themselves, other people, and the world much more truthfully than usual. This is a downright miracle, and there seems to be no other explanation than mercy. However, the human ego is cunning; it immediately begins to recreate itself – or at least some version of itself. What mercy forgives, karma recreates. Therefore, spiritual evolution and the path of truth are needed – to cleanse and free a person from the imbalance of their ego and karma.

Spiritual experiences should never be compared to one another, especially not to the spiritual experiences of others. Comparing spiritual experiences is as absurd as comparing the dreams of different people. The truth about spiritual experiences is revealed about 30–40 days after they occur. The way a person’s daily life changes due to the spiritual experience is the truth of that experience. If no change occurs, the spiritual experience was essentially meaningless. The situation can perhaps be described by saying that mercy always offers a new opportunity, and in this new opportunity, a person accepts as much truth as they can. Then karma restores the old imbalance, hitting precisely those places where the truth had not yet taken root. Only those parts/aspects/features that were rooted in truth actually changed. This is the relationship between the path of truth and spiritual evolution. Spirituality opens the window of the house, truth steps inside, and then karma closes the window. Every time the window is closed, more spiritual resources are gathered to be ready when the window opens next. Thus, little by little, the house fills with truth.
Connections to the Super* Theory:
The Mercy-Karma Theory particularly explains the functioning of the development window related to the Super* Theory. The Mercy-Karma theory also emphasizes the existence and great significance of divine mercy, without nullifying a person's own responsibility and duty to act for their own life. Thus, the Mercy-Karma theory explains the interaction between God and humans.

References:

House of Truth. (n.d.). Dimension of the Truth. Retrieved 23.7.2023 https://houseoftruth.education/fi/kirjasto/totuuden-talon-julkaisut/totuuden-ulottuvuudet

The Bible: 
Note: When referencing the Bible, it is usually advisable to read the entire chapter to understand the context of the teaching. Quoting individual sentences can lead to misinterpretations.