All through this book the main character, Antonio Marez, constantly feels conflicted about his spiritual beliefs. He sees the very disturbing killing of Lupito, and is immediately wondering about Lupito's soul. He is only seven years old and is already being pressured by his mother to become a priest. He is exposed to Utltima, a curandera, who has a history of helping people with her magic herbs. His father and mother are constantly disagreeing about religion. Yet, this little boy is supposed to be loyal to the beliefs of the Catholic Church, which his mother has taught him? It's no wonder; he has weird dreams and is curious about the golden carp. Through all his turmoil, the golden carp serves has a backup belief that may be better than his own. He demonstrates this several times by choosing the golden carp over his own God, in dreams and in real life situations.
Antonio first dreams of his brothers saying they are giants who are dying and have seen the land of the golden carp (61). From this dream, Tony seems to think his brothers are in trouble, yet why does he dream of the golden carp instead of his own God? When Samuel tells Tony the story of the golden carp, he immediately questions his own beliefs (79). He .
even wonders if his mother is praying to the wrong God and if she knew about the golden carp. At this point, Tony is very confused; he really wants to believe Samuel.
Tony is then exposed to his Uncle Luca's curse that was put on him by the Trementina sisters, who were brujas (88). Ultima takes Tony with her to cure Lucas. Tony doesn't understand why a priest or God couldn't cure his uncle and Ultima could. Cico then takes Tony to see the golden carp, and he is amazed. Cico tells Tony that the golden carp is his God (113). Cico also tells Tony that not everyone can see the golden carp, that he is special, like the Indian, Narciso, Samuel, Ultima, and himself (115).