*Synposis taken from here*
An incidental and shocking discovery of a cave with tiny unmarked graves shatters the peace of Exton, a small town in upstate N.Y. More horrifying is the forensic analysis that reveals that these young children died needlessly as the result of neglect and abuse at the hands of a religious fundamentalist cult that disavows medical care.
The sheriff, an investigative reporter, the local coroner and two forensic experts from Albany develop the case. When the county DA, a fundamentalist Christian, resists vigorous prosecution, the Governor of New York intervenes and appoints Rosemary and Calvin Brandt to represent the State and speak for the dead children.
These controversial attorneys and former fundamentalists have devoted their lives to the protection of children. Evangelicals, through their political action groups, come to the defense of the Cult and the parents of the dead children, setting the stage for the final courtroom clash between freedom of religion and the State's responsibility to protect innocent children.
I found myself being appalled at times during this book. Not because of the author's writing but because of what it was about. In the words of the author, "This is a very important and neglected subject", and I totally agree.
I used to be in a church that relies on healing from God for all things, and I'm not saying that it doesn't happen. I've seen it happen, but I also know that God doesn't want you to just sit there and watch your children and loved ones die. He gave the knowledge to doctors for a reason and it is just ignorant to think otherwise.
I found myself actually getting a little pissed off (excuse my french) at these so called "spiritual people." Some might not think of it this way, but if a child dies from a illness that can easily be cured, due to negligence from parents or whoever else, they need to be tried for murder and found guilty.
As far as the book, I was a little worried in the beginning that I would get confused because the chapters kept jumping between characters, but I found myself enthralled in the story and did not get confused once.
EVERY ONE SHOULD READ THIS BOOK!
If you believe that prayer for the sick to the exclusion of medical care is a thing of the past, think again. Each year children in the United States suffer horribly and die from injuries or medical conditions readily treated by physicians and hospitals. Do a literature search on faith healing or go to the website of "Children's Healthcare Is A Legal Duty, Inc." (
www.childrenshealthcare.org) and you'll see a litany of horrors as a small segment of mostly fundamentalists allow their minor children to die from diabetes, pneumonia, asthma, and many other conditions all readily responsive to standard medical care.
Disclaimer from the author:
For The Love of God deals with the faith healing and its deadly consequences.
Although the novel deals with distinct religious minority/cult practices, I hope that readers recongnize the distinction between beneficial and harmful religious practices.
I've aimed the dramatization at those practices, the individuals who enable them, and those who condone them. These groups are the ones who should read For the Love of God, but it's unlikely that they will.
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