Religion

Ali and Nino is saturated with the trappings of religion, which comes off generally as having few redeeming qualities. All of the principal characters profess religion, but only a few are shown as fanatics. Christianity is primarily represented by female protagonist Nino, a Georgian who professes Greek Orthodoxy. She is well versed in and sentimental about the legends of the bringing of Christianity to Georgia by her namesake, but does not abide by the moral strictures against premarital sex. The Armenian tradition, separated from the Greeks in antiquity over obtuse theological questions, is represented by Nachararyan, a rich man who admits to being a hedonist. Russian Orthodoxy, the state religion, is shown blithely performing its ritual in the school. Protestants"Sectarians" are mentioned only in passing, when one eats a ham sandwich, nauseating a strict Shiite Muslim student.

Muslims have since 680 CE been divided into Sunnis and Shiites...