He did not particularly value religion, but pretended otherwise so as to please his wife and family. .
From his father, Tony learned the ways of the vaqueros and their lifestyle. He also learned about hard work and leading a respectable life. Gabriel taught Tony that growing up is a fact of life and means the loss of one's innocence. His father believed that Tony should follow his family's example and live on the plains. However, religiously he only confesses his son. Tony saw him running around with men, hunting down Lupito and killing him. The next morning Gabriel attended church and received communion. This puzzled Tony greatly. He wondered how his father could take communion knowing he had been an accessory to Lupito's death. He also wondered how his father could value his former lifestyle more than his wife and family's ideals. These issues this disturb Tony and cause him to question his concept of worth, the role of evil in his life, and the existence of God. .
Maria Luna, Tony's mother taught and influenced Tony in many different ways. She came from a family of farmers who highly valued the land's fertility. She was very opposed to the vaquero lifestyle and did not view the land in the same way they did. In marrying Gabriel she persuaded him to move into town and start a family. She wanted to take advantage of living near others, allowing her children to attend school, and living near a church. She led a very pious life and imposed this lifestyle upon all of her children, especially Tony, the youngest son. She brought religion into their home and taught it to her children at a very young age. Especially Tony, whom she believed should study the Bible and become a priest or religious scholar. .
The Luna background influenced and effects Tony in very obvious ways. From an extremely young age Tony was forced into a reverent lifestyle though he was too young to actually understand what he was learning.
