1.

Pi's story and its ability to affect the human spirit renewed Yann
Martel's belief in the power of a truly good story, and art itself. In
the author's note at the beginning of Life of Pi, Martel discusses the
book's importance in his life. Martel refers to a period of failure in
his writing career. He became disillusioned with writing and the art
of storytelling until he was told the story that gave way to this book.
His newfound source of inspiration reminded him of the proven
value that imagination and storytelling have.
2. Pondicherry is an appropriate place for Pi's upbringing because it
is very diverse. In such a city, Pi is naturally exposed to a variety of
cultures and worldviews. Given his acceptance of Christianity,
Islam, and Hinduism and the importance of these religions within
the novel, an upbringing within a cosmopolitan environment is
essential. 

Pondicherry is an appropriate locale for Pi's upbringing and childhood

because it offered a lot of diversity. The book takes place right around
1970s India, and it is a rough place. Not with gangs and that kind of stuff,
but government upheaval is happening. Indira Gandhi is flexing her
political muscles and establishing more and more stringent rules over
Pondicherry and other parts of India. It feels stifling to Pi and his family,
because Pondicherry itself is very diverse. Because it was once part of
French India, there is a lot of cultural and religious diversity there. It only
makes sense that Pi would gravitate toward that diversity. For example,
take Pi's religion. He's Christian. And Muslim. And Hindu. At the same
time. Pi doesn't see a problem intermixing his three faiths because he
sees them intermixing among the population that he lives with.  

Pondicherry's diversity mixed with the tightening government oppression

serves to show the reader how and why Pi himself is both
tolerant and resilient at the same time. Those two skill sets are
absolutely critical for his survival on the life boat with Richard Parker.  

3. This is ultimately a question that only you can answer, based on

your personal opinions and beliefs in regards to religion.  To give
you some information that might help, Martel said, in an interview,
 "The theme of this novel can be summarized in three lines. Life is a
story. You can choose your story. And a story with an imaginative
overlay is the better story."
In line with this, he asserts that religion is just a form of storytelling
that makes our existence here on earth a better story than being all
alone with no purpose, maker, comfort, or explanation for why bad
things happen.  He said that religion "is a way to interpret reality." 
He suggests that faith in religion is our way of dealing with
existence.  Faith is taking that leap into the dark, abandoning logic,
and believing anyway.  He included the island to shimmer "just
beyond the horizon of rationality," which requires you to have faith
in Pi and his story to believe, just like with religion.

Taking all of these issues into account, do you believe that religion
is an actual representation of reality?  Or, do you feel that it is just
a grand story that makes a better story than what the truth really
is?  If you ask yourself these questions, you will be addressing the
issues addressed in the book, and will be able to answer the
question of whether it changed your viewpoint on religion or not. 
Typically, if  you are a person of strong faith, his story won't,
because you believe that your belief is the truth.  If you are a
fence-sitter, the novel might push you over the edge, because of
the logic that it presents.  If you are of a more non-religious
background, it might just support a previously held belief.  Take
these things into consideration as you ponder the question for
yourself.  Good luck!
4. The previous answer was pretty disparaging of religion, but one
does not need to be. When one begins to compare zoos with
religion, there are many things one can see in terms of similarities.
Let me give a few:

1. First, let me reverse the logic of the previous answer. Just as

man creates zoos, so God creates religion.  This is another way to
look at things. And it is just as legitimate to say.

2. Zoos can only function because people take care of the animals
in them. In a similar fashion, one can argue that religions are able
 to thrive for so long, because there is reality behind religion. A
good example is the explosion of religion in our world. Unlike what
social scientists believed in the past about the future of religion,
today there is more religious people than ever. Just read any works
by Peter Berger.

I think these two points should get you started thinking.

5. Pi's full name is Piscine Molitor Patel. He was named after a family
friend, who loved to swim and whose favorite swimming pool was
the Piscine Molitor in Paris. Instead of giving their son their friend's
name, Pi's parents named him after the pool! Because he is
constantly teased about his name ("Pissing Patel"), he decides to
shorten it simply to Pi.

I'm not great at math, but I do know that pi is a mathematical figure

that represents the number 3.14. According to Math Forum (linked
below), it is an irrational number because it cannot be expressed
as a fraction. It is also a constant: "Pi is always the same number,
no matter which circle you use to compute it." It is also an ancient
number, known to the Egyptians and the Babylonians.

In changing his name, Pi goes from being a joke to being a

significant "number"--maybe a little irrational, but constant as well. 

6.

7. Pi is seeking only to love God to the best of his

ability by practicing all three religions, like he says
on pg. 87. All three of these religions involve
devotion to a God (or gods) and love of the
people and the Earth around them. However, I
don’t believe that they are all the same because
they focus on different aspects of that goal.
 Hinduism seems to focus on love of the Earth and
all the souls on it in it’s worship of Brahman.
Christianity is focused on the love of neighbors
and the people around them in light of Christ’s
love and sacrifice (the priest’s consistent answer
of “love” to all Piscine’s questions in chapter 17).
Islam is focused more on the love of God, in the
constant prayers and deep religious contracts that
Pi took part in as a Muslim. Faith and belief are
different in my mind because belief is based on
logic and sight, while faith goes a bit further and is
confidence in something beyond the senses.
8. I do not think Pi's piousness was a response to his father's atheism. He
showed no other signs of being rebellious, and held his father in high esteem. I
think his love for the three religions was due to his own findings that there
was beauty, truth, and love to be found in each. He took was was good from
each.
9.