just because something follows doesnt make the predecessor the cause. thats a fallacy in logic.

very close. much closer than others. karma is the momentum created by the other factors that happen to surround the original impetus in question. people try to act like it is some cosmic retribution and thats just a misunderstanding that has not been corrected because Buddhists and Hindus don't like to correct people.

@kauva
Everything is a both a cause and an effect , deliberate or involuntary, Karma is just semantic term that has acquired mystic and/or religious connotations.
Divine intervention,, wrath of god stuff is the manipulative myth put about to frighten the plebs in to conformity.

@LenHazell53 I disagree with you there because it's not just a semantic term. There actually IS a momentum effect. We tend to forget that those accompanying factors that activate as a result of some action we took also act back upon the original action to lengthen its' effects. It's like using that hand crank on the old Evel Knievel toy motorcycles. Once you stop cranking the handwheel keeps turning even without your power because the gears inside keep it moving after you are done. It's the momentum of those other factors.

@kauva
I obviously was not being clear enough, your comment is exactly what I mean, I just prefer not to use the word Karma.
Every cause has an effect, that effect in turn becomes the cause of something else even if the initial cause has ceased to be, social inertia, the crank continuing to turn without further input, momentum effect, cause and effect, all just terms for the same thing.

@LenHazell53 it's cool. Here's the thing about using other words. It's soooo confusing. It's hard enough being a westerner trying to dig through asian libraries to research asian philosophies and writings from thousands of years ago. Then you have generation upon generation of "venerable" teachers who use some of their own words. Then you're deciphering from sanskrit to pali to hindi to the queen's english to american english. Now throw in the incredible modern science differential as western biology and psych contradicts with the Buddha and the Vedas. You have to carefully consider every persons' little spin and twist trying to figure out what concept you understand that they're actually talking about. Because you guys may have the same word in mind, but not the same explanation. Such has been my hell the last 10+ years digging through the Vedas (and specifically the Upanishads) and the Dhammapadda and the Bhagavad Gita. I am sure it's more explanation than you ever wanted - just trying to explain the context of why I keep saying other words.

@kauva It's fine, my philosopher hero Bertrand Russell in his career constantly advocated for a standardisation of language within the discussion of Philosophy in order to avoid misunderstanding and equivocation, the idea was depopularised later when George Orwell used it as the basis for New Speak in the novel 1984 to show how such an idea applied universally was open to corruption and social control y robbing people of the necessary vocabulary for coherent argument and accurate expression of ideas.

@kauva
Your research sounds fascinating, to what end are to studying?

@LenHazell53 I am refining my understanding of secular buddhism with current scientific and sociological knowledge. Included in that is a study on the common roots of vedic and abrahamic philosophies.

@kauva Have you investigated the commonality of Zoroastrian ancestry in most middle eastern religious development?

@LenHazell53 I havent had enough time for iran history. still working on the Indus valley.

::buzzer sound:: thanks for playing.

The correct answer is karma affects everyone. Karma is nothing more than the momentum of other variables carrying some action or effect onward despite the original impetus being halted. For example ... if you get super angry and your body chemistry changes and people around you are put on edge then the situation continues even past your anger thanks to the involvement of your adrenaline and the defensive attitude of others.

This whole thing about karma being some sort of universal retribution is a bunch of hooey. But the idea of karma overall is not. The problem is people accept the incorrect "street version" of its' understanding.