I am an Indian, not sure about the relegious part.
Karma at least in India/Hindu culture is tossed around more freely than in the west. Mostly associated to negative incidents.
"I had a flat tire, its my karma", "Someone got kicked out of a job, he is reaping his karma".<p>You rarely would say "He has accumulated lot of good karma by doing good, I better see what he has to say".
On HN, its a different story.