empirically verifiable.  Hindus, for example, take the existence of karma as an article of faith.  What the first paragraph is attempting to address is the concept of predestination/determinism vs free will.  This is a complex subject and there are differing theories among the sects of the Abrahamic faiths.  Most believe there is some level of free will in human action and in the inevitability of facing the consequences of our actions at some point.  Calvinism rejects free will.  Where there is a clear difference between the eastern (Hindu/Bhuddist) and Abrahamic faiths is in how the consequences of our actions are believed (as a matter of faith) to affect the spiritual progress of the soul after death.  The Abrahamic faiths do not include the option of reincarnating and reexperiencing the physical world.  See wikipedia "predestination"    

  

  
 Karma is not