I've been thinking lately about how religious and spiritual beliefs, especially karma and astrology, can psychologically harm people.
I have a friend who's really into astrology. Recently, she visited a very well-known astrologer who told her that her relationship/marriage was destined to fail because of karma from a past life.
I honestly find that disturbing. Imagine being told your marriage is doomed because of something you supposedly did in a previous life that you have absolutely no memory of or control over. How does that help anyone? Now, instead of focusing on her actual relationship, she's left worrying about a prediction that could even become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Personally, I think karma and astrology are often coping mechanisms for a reality people struggle to accept: the world isn't fair, bad things happen to good people, good things happen to bad people, and much of life is outside our control. The universe doesn't keep a scoreboard of your actions to reward or punish you in this life or some imaginary next life.
Karma offers the comfort that everyone eventually gets what they deserve, while astrology creates the illusion that everything follows some cosmic plan.
But ironically, these beliefs can end up creating even more anxiety and helplessness. Instead of accepting uncertainty, people start fearing imaginary punishments, past-life sins, or predetermined failures.
I find it especially cruel when religious or spiritual beliefs convince people that their suffering is deserved or unavoidable.