Karma and punishment: punishments are specific (any experienced hardship) but the causes are not; this leaves room for non-kammic causes challenging sovereignty of kamma
Psychological indeterminacy of kamma: one knows nothing about one's past deeds by which, however the future is almost entirely determined; here - according to Obeyesekere - astrology slips in since unlike kamma, the stars are "psychologically determinate“
Gods and the subversion of kamma: "[O]nce the presence of the gods is recognized, as it is in early Buddhism, it is difficult to deny them the power they have always had in the consciousnesses of people who need their help in everyday existence.”
Theodicy and the problem of suffering: "[I]f the gods are powerful enough to ameliorate human suffering, then karma is not the deterministic doctrine it is claimed to be; if karma governs human suffering, then the gods cannot be powerful or capable of subverting it.“
Doctrinal responses to popular religiosity: in attempt to deny gods any power over kamma monks retorted to texts of Dhamma which, in turn assumed apotropaic powers (e.g., protecting paritta verses)
Kamma and merit making: a "strong deed" (bālavakamma) can overcome a weak dead (dubbalakamma), merit-making thus can prevent weaker bad deeds from resulting in kammic consequences.
(Gananath Obeyesekere: Immagining Karma 2002: 131- 137)