International Journal of Cultic Studies Vol. 4, 2013 61
• The local sheriff, whose investigative
powers are slowed by the requirement to
comply with legal restrictions against
improper search and entry, and trespassing
and, in addition, by the religious biases of
higher-ups in the law-enforcement
community
• The reporter, whose coverage of the issue
will incite religious fundamentalist groups to
put all their political power and money
behind attacking the investigation
• The current political atmosphere, as
expressed through various characters, in
which government intrusion into private life
is seen as a looming and disastrous threat to
the American way of life
• The prosecutor, a woman who long ago lost
a baby because of religious-based medical
neglect, and whose professional judgment
may be compromised by her emotional
investment in the issue
• The particular Follower who cannot bring
himself to leave the commune, but who
cannot tolerate the denial of medical
treatment to the children, especially after
losing his own child in that way
• The leader, Daniel, whose passionate
conviction and charismatic charm are
realistically and well contrasted to other
sides of his personality, which the reader
only comes to be aware of gradually as the
story progresses.
Dr. Gold’s novel is inspired in part, I assume, by
his support of Children’s Healthcare Is a Legal
Duty, Inc. (http://childrenshealthcare.org/), an
organization he mentions in his afterword, which
is specifically devoted to providing education
about religious-based medical neglect of
children, and to providing resources for those
dealing with this issue. I was unable to learn
more about Dr. Gold personally, but it seems
clear from his telling of this story that he is
intimately familiar with the mentality of those
whose religious beliefs lead them to embrace the
cruelty and horror of infanticide, and who yet
believe in their righteousness at the same time.
His portrayal of the cult leader and various
members of the group, including their beliefs
and behaviors, captures well some of the near-
universal characteristics in these groups: the
insularity the leader’s use of intimidation,
shaming, shunning, and banishing to maintain
allegiance among the followers the sense of
devastation when followers move out of denial
and face the truth about their leader, and what
they have made of themselves.
Dr. Gold makes mention in his preface that he
finds it unlikely that those who need to read this
book most will do so. Sadly, this is likely to be
the case. However, even though Dr. Gold may
be preaching to the choir, the book has
significant value. As a mental health worker
myself, the book serves to make more vivid the
horror and immediacy of the problem of
religious-based medical neglect. I also believe
that, for many who have left a religious group
that holds these kinds of views, reading the story
would serve to solidify and support their
recognition of the irrational cruelty behind the
ideological rhetoric they put their faith in.
While I believe it is unfortunate but true that
destructive ideological groups will always
continue to spring up and do harm, efforts such
as Dr. Gold’s novel can only help to raise more
awareness of the problem. Dr. Gold has written
an entertaining novel that also sheds much-
needed light on the horrors inflicted on children
because of religious-based medical neglect.
• The local sheriff, whose investigative
powers are slowed by the requirement to
comply with legal restrictions against
improper search and entry, and trespassing
and, in addition, by the religious biases of
higher-ups in the law-enforcement
community
• The reporter, whose coverage of the issue
will incite religious fundamentalist groups to
put all their political power and money
behind attacking the investigation
• The current political atmosphere, as
expressed through various characters, in
which government intrusion into private life
is seen as a looming and disastrous threat to
the American way of life
• The prosecutor, a woman who long ago lost
a baby because of religious-based medical
neglect, and whose professional judgment
may be compromised by her emotional
investment in the issue
• The particular Follower who cannot bring
himself to leave the commune, but who
cannot tolerate the denial of medical
treatment to the children, especially after
losing his own child in that way
• The leader, Daniel, whose passionate
conviction and charismatic charm are
realistically and well contrasted to other
sides of his personality, which the reader
only comes to be aware of gradually as the
story progresses.
Dr. Gold’s novel is inspired in part, I assume, by
his support of Children’s Healthcare Is a Legal
Duty, Inc. (http://childrenshealthcare.org/), an
organization he mentions in his afterword, which
is specifically devoted to providing education
about religious-based medical neglect of
children, and to providing resources for those
dealing with this issue. I was unable to learn
more about Dr. Gold personally, but it seems
clear from his telling of this story that he is
intimately familiar with the mentality of those
whose religious beliefs lead them to embrace the
cruelty and horror of infanticide, and who yet
believe in their righteousness at the same time.
His portrayal of the cult leader and various
members of the group, including their beliefs
and behaviors, captures well some of the near-
universal characteristics in these groups: the
insularity the leader’s use of intimidation,
shaming, shunning, and banishing to maintain
allegiance among the followers the sense of
devastation when followers move out of denial
and face the truth about their leader, and what
they have made of themselves.
Dr. Gold makes mention in his preface that he
finds it unlikely that those who need to read this
book most will do so. Sadly, this is likely to be
the case. However, even though Dr. Gold may
be preaching to the choir, the book has
significant value. As a mental health worker
myself, the book serves to make more vivid the
horror and immediacy of the problem of
religious-based medical neglect. I also believe
that, for many who have left a religious group
that holds these kinds of views, reading the story
would serve to solidify and support their
recognition of the irrational cruelty behind the
ideological rhetoric they put their faith in.
While I believe it is unfortunate but true that
destructive ideological groups will always
continue to spring up and do harm, efforts such
as Dr. Gold’s novel can only help to raise more
awareness of the problem. Dr. Gold has written
an entertaining novel that also sheds much-
needed light on the horrors inflicted on children
because of religious-based medical neglect.
