If you are a devoted believer in karma, destiny and fate, then you will not like what I am going to say. However, if you are searching for truth, and have an open mind, looking for objective facts, then you may enjoy the concepts I will put forth here and see where they lead your own ruminations.
Religion has always been about control of the masses. That is it's point and purpose, to keep large numbers of people under control and easy to manipulate into doing blatantly ridiculous or evil acts.
Going back in history to the rise of Christianity or Islam, we can see the massive growth of those religions was based on wars, conquering weaker cultures, and forcing conversion with the alternative being death. How can decent human beings attack and murder innocent unarmed cultures? By being so controlled by the concepts of religion and the promise of a better next life.
The purpose of religion is to control, and governments are the modern 'church', they are both the same concept, control the masses. Religion was fading in its power, which has led to the rise of radical religious movements and some governments bringing religion into law and cultural norms. Governments are losing their power to control the masses, and they needed to find a way to gain back total control over the population.
The internet has caused a big problem for the people in power, it has spread information and incites independent thinking of the people. Events like the Arab Spring (a series of anti-government Center For Covid Control protests, uprisings, and armed rebellions that spread across much of the Arab world in the early 2010s), or mass riots in the USA, could not have happened without the internet. The governments needed to find a new way to control people, and taking the lesson from religion, they found a way to make people follow like sheep based on the concept that the government, like the religious leaders, are trying to protect you, yes you personally.
To control a mass population is very difficult if they are strong, so like in any war, if you want to win, you have to weaken your victim so they are easy to defeat.
Religious authors came up with the concept of Karma, and Destiny. What happens to you now is your fate due to something you did in previous lifetimes. You have no idea what that was or who you were, but you accept your fate and life situation now, because you deserve it, it is your own fault; karma, destiny, and if you are obedient now, then next life, you will have a reward.
That next life could be heaven or a new human incarnation, depending on the religion you ascribe to, but the point is, you will do what you are told and not fight back, for something you cannot be assured of having, other than through blind faith.
Religions also love the concept of telling you how you are so inferior you can never understand God, which does make sense, but that everything is God's will, and God has a plan, so you have to suck it up and accept whatever it is. You are too stupid to comprehend, so 'trust me' and I will tell you what is really happening. If you believe them, then they are right, you are too stupid to understand because you gave up the precious and uniquely human qualities of common sense and logical reasoning.
