Religion actively influences Marjane Satrapi, from her beliefs in God to the very institution whose oppression she overcame. Through her faith and witnessing first-hand the actions of an extremist Islamic government, Marjane discovered her identity, "I was born with religion" and with religion, she believed that she was going to become the last prophet. As a child, Marjane has conversations with God nightly in which he appears in person and responds to her. At first she was steadfast that she was going to be a prophet, but as time went on she found herself denying her aspirations when her parents asked what she wanted to be, thinking "a prophet," but saying "I want to be a doctor." When God confronts her, she says, "No, no, I will be a prophet but they mustn't know. I wanted to be justice, love and the wrath of God all in one." Over the next several chapters Marjane was given situations that tested her faith, and forced her to choose between what she saw and what she believed. .
In the chapter titled "The Water Cell", Marjane asserts that God had appointed the king of Iran to her parents. Marjane's father sits her down and explains to her the events that led to the regime change, and revealing to her the conspiracy resulting in her very own great-grandfather being overthrown. "God did not choose the King." After the Shah being exiled, Marjane teacher instructed her class, "Children, tear out all the photos of the shah from your books.". Conflicted, Marjane interjects, "But she was the one who told us that the shah was chosen by God!" in which she is instantly punished for simply noting the obvious hypocrisy. While Satrapi does not directly address the impact of her father and teacher declaring that God was not involved in her ancestor's fall from power and their hardships that followed, this is the first time that Marjane has to confront her faith in God's intentions and involvement.
