Barrabas

An infant does not believe in god, it is only after lessons and experiences does the child's belief grow. The doctrines of religion are taught to a young child through his family. As a child he accepts these beliefs without question. It is only with age that the child begins to question the belief in a god. Many young adults question God's existence. It is hard to be a believer when such suffering goes on in the world. To see a child die of cancer or the WTC crumble makes one question god's existence, just as Barabbas questioned God when the girl was stoned. See the girl "with outstretched hands for help, had snatched at his mantle - but not a dinger had he lifted to help her. And he was supposed to be the Son of God! Gods loving son! Everyone's savior!" (p. 73). They find it hard to justify their beliefs when they witness injustices, yet, many wish they could be a true believer for it would make their life easier. There is much comfort to those who are able to be believers without questioning the world around them, as a "brotherhood" with "love feasts"

The older one gets the more they realize what a gamble non-believing is. If there is an afterlife, will their non-belief exclude them from entry? The belief in a god gives comfort to many as they come to terms that they too will face death one day. Barabbas notices this when he is in the catacombs and listens to a group of believers. "They gathered down there in the realm of the dead to pray to their God, to be united with him and each other. They were not afraid of death, they had vanquished it. Gathered for their fraternal meetings, their love feasts." Is this why most organized religions have a higher percentage of elderly believers? The fear of no afterlife and comfort of prayer bring many to worship God.

When death is eminent, aren't most people faced with terror. They are panic stricken that they have not made peace with loved ones and are not worthy enough to go in the afterlife. When Barabbas was inside the realm of the dead, "he was filled with terror. A suffocating terror. And suddenly he rushed away, senselessly, panic-stricken, in any direction at all, stumbling over unseen steps, into one passage after the other, trying to find a way out, the way out of the realm of the dead". When death approaches them, many feel that they are drawn by a light. They can choose to follow