@DBT9 There's 2 factors. 1) where you're at personally, and 2) interpretation.
As far as I can tell, karma (or sow/reap) is a real phenomenon, and rebirth on earth (or some similar planet) is likely if certain lessons have not been incorporated in this incarnation. Most people don't consider the deeper meanings of life, but I find it helpful to have some sort of map, even if there's a degree of "best guess" involved.