Description
What readers are saying about Bound by Belief
Raphael Aron’s superb retelling of the kind of cases that he has worked on as a cult exit counsellor will give many people pause to wonder why there is so little regulation or even exposure of self-proclaimed religious groups that impose outlandish and oppressive regimes on to unsuspecting followers, enslaving and hurting them while depriving them of their freedom and basic human rights. It is all the more concerning as they continue to thrive in Australia, claiming victims, while out of the public eye. Few people understand as well as Aron, the psychological and emotional trauma they inflict on their followers, families and loved ones, and the enormous skill and risk it takes to rescue them. This book needs to be read widely by young and old alike, as no one can afford to be naïve and uninformed about the cult phenomenon that is now aided and abetted by social media.
-Dr. Rachael Kohn, AO, FRSN, author: The Other Side of the Story: Essays on Jews, Christians, Cults, Women, Atheists and Artists (2021)
Bound by Belief is an account of some of the cases dealt with by CultAssist, a fictional organisation which helps those caught up in cults free themselves and return to their families and normal lives. With diverse and well-developed characters, this important novel shows how people from different walks of life and of different ages can be inveigled into a cult by a charismatic leader.
The novel is written from several points of view and each individual character’s story is well developed with realistic struggles and outcomes. Plenty of action and emotional insight makes Bound by Belief a compelling read. This is a novel which catches the attention and holds it throughout. The scenes set in an ashram in India are particularly tense.
Overall, I found this novel to be engaging with sympathetic characters, an interesting and unusual theme, and a serious message.
– Barbara Scott Emmett, Writer and Editor
Anne Cunning –
I loved every page of Bound by Belief. It was a page turner, based on real people and real events that actually occurred. I was fully engaged from the first page until the very last. Raphael writes like a woman, and by that I mean that his style of writing, description of colour, fashion and food, and the love and conviction with which he writes, is like that of a female author. Male authors tend to be less descriptive and have much less heart, but Raphael isn’t. He is an exemplary author. I came to know his characters intimately, and I would recognise them anywhere, by their mannerisms and personalities, not just their physical appearances. I cannot speak highly enough of this amazing work of literature, and I look forward to more books by Raphael.
Julie Barrett –
Bound by Belief By Raphael Aron
Was interested in reading this because we had a sister in law that was taken into a cult.
This book follows the trail of those who’ve been taken and the services the team takes to get them back to safety. This book concentrated on many different groups of people and those they help to get out.
Time is of the essence in most cases. Love how they investigate and come to conclusions that will aid the victim.
In most cases they have been brainwashed. Sad to learn of the fate of some
This book has so many unique ideas and tactics depending on the circumstances.
The author is very knowledgeable in this field and I feel they are very passionate.
Love how the team works together as the makeup of the team is ever changing depending on what services need to be performed.
So VERY realistic. Fascinating read and not too difficult or gory.
Received this review copy from the author/publisher via Readers’ Favorites and this is my honest opinion.
Diane Helentjaris –
In his novel Beyond Belief, counselor and therapist Rabbi Raphael Aron leans on his thirty-five years of experience working with individuals affected by cults to craft a fictionalized account of five people caught up in them. The result is a book which I found not only interesting, but as I read on, and the plot thickened, difficult to put down.
I liked the portrayal of the lives of the counselors working with the families affected by the cults. It felt accurate in its portrayal of their sacrifices to care for others and in their backstories.
I particularly appreciated the subject matter and the observations and education Rabbi Aron weaves into the story. In 1978, I was a medical doctor intern in San Francisco at what was then called Mt. Zion Hospital. The neighborhood synagogue had become the first People’s Temple for Jim Jones. That fall the Jonestown massacre occurred and had horrifying repercussions back in the neighborhood and at the hospital. A few years later I went as a guest to an EST meeting in Manhattan and walked out when I learned we would not have the freedom to take bathroom breaks when needed. This book reminded me that cults continue and were not just a historical blip in the 1970s.
I did think having five different storylines a few more than needed. I also find the term “mind control” dated and wonder if using a fresher construct like “manipulation” would be better but this is a minor complaint. I also think the addition of references for further information or referrals for those affected or wanting to learn more about dealing with cults would be good.
I received a copy of this book for free from AIA Publishing and this review is my honest, personal opinion.