Karma and Grace: Religious Difference in Millennial Sri Lanka (Religion, Culture, and Public Life)

The Karma and Grace book is a thought-provoking exploration of religious freedom and pluralism in Sri Lanka, offering a unique perspective on the tensions between Buddhist nationalists and Christian evangelists.

Through vivid ethnography and keen observations of media events, author Neena Mahadev sheds light on the dueling efforts of these groups to reshape the country's religious, economic, and political landscapes.

The book delves into theological and political impasses between Buddhism's vast timescales of karma and Christians' promises of the immediacy of their God's salvific grace, providing a gripping account of how modernist and traditionalist Theravāda Buddhists, Pentecostal newcomers, long-established Christian denominations, local deity and spirit cults, and innovative mavericks interact in a multireligious public sphere.

Despite trenchant conflicts, the book demonstrates that social proximity between rivals can also foster religious experimentation and the ambiguities of identity that allow Sri Lankans to live with difference.

This captivating read is sure to spark meaningful discussions on the complexities of religion and identity in Sri Lanka and beyond.