This science fiction novel is very different in style from many other science fiction novels I have read before. The focus is not on future technological advancements, but on the changes in society and psychology of humanity after these advancements.
You can interpret the story in two ways.
One is the religious level, which looks at how Hinduism, Buddhism, and Christianity affect people and the conflicts between these religions.
The second is the human nature level, where tech advances let people transfer their consciousness to different bodies, getting close to a state of immortality or divinity. Those who've mastered the tech control others through religious frameworks, living a paradise-like life. But everyone's got different things they're into. Some people think that having different life experiences is important, so they choose to transfer their consciousness to different bodies (or what's called reincarnation) to enjoy different lives. Some people prioritize emotions, and they'd rather be with their loved ones through different bodies for all eternity. Others care a lot about aesthetics, wanting to see more beautiful environments, lives, and social models. They're often willing to risk their lives to fight against evil forces. Then there are those who are all about competing, wanting to be the best at whatever they do.