Believers or followers? Religion has had a profound effect on human culture; unfortunately, the problem is faith, which creates skepticism in many individuals. To address the issue of faith, religions have regulations, values ​​and ceremonies, making religion a belief system, thus creating clarity to support faith. Catholicism has become a belief system that feeds its followers with answers; however, these answers are just guesses. There are no concrete answers, and as a result, religious leaders have created an expectation that religion is supposed to fit; however, its accuracy is unknown. In Gabriel Garcia Márquez's story “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings,” the values ​​of religion are at the center of criticism. A man with enormous wings, the protagonist of the story, is never strictly classified as a man or an angel. He is a reject from society because he goes against society's expectations of what a true angel should be like, an expectation taught to them by religion. The ambiguity of the old man with huge wings tests the true faith of followers of Catholicism, symbolizing an archetypal figure of Christ. Both the priest's and society's disgusting response to him demonstrate that society's understanding of religion is superficial. Consequently, the story argues, followers of the religion must not rely on the assumptions their religion has created but believe instead, with faith. The old man with huge wings is a representation of an archetypal Christ figure. Although the man with enormous wings is classified neither as a man nor as an angel, he is a figure of Christ. Similar to Jesus, the man with enormous wings arrives on Earth in an unexpected form. The Old Testament states that the Messiah will live as... middle of paper... icism has such a profound effect on citizens' beliefs; they are unable to look beyond the old man's appearance and realize that he is divine. Instead of strengthening society's faith, religion has destroyed it. Religion, which is supposed to strengthen the faith of its followers, has done the opposite. Religious practices have become absolutely real and the faith component of religion has disappeared. To be a true believer you must understand authentic faith. Both religious leaders and followers must realize that their religion is not based on facts, but supported through faith. The key to the gates of heaven is faith, not facts.Works Citied1. Garcia, Marquez Gabriel. A very old man with huge wings. Trans. Gregorio Rabassa. Print.2. The Holy Bible: New King James Version. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, 1982. Print.