Does religion play a strong role in Loung's life during the time of the war in Cambodia?

Though she mentions the Buddhist gods on numerous occasions, often wondering whether they can see or hear what is happening in her homeland, Loung's affinity for Buddhism is not tied to spirituality and the religion itself does not direct her actions. She does not use any tenets of her family's religion to either explain or justify the things she experiences; rather, her mention of Buddhism is strictly limited to nostalgic memories of her father's explanations and the trips they took to holy sites together. Even when she learns that the Khmer Rouge and the Angkar itself forbid any religious activity, she does not comment on this important aspect of their Communist ideology but rather skips over it. Evidently, she feels attached to Buddhist holy sites and ideas because of their...