praise from

"R. D. Gold is a fresh new voice, a witty and mordant guide through the moral and intellectual chaos of the tribalism and special pleading that is Orthodox Judaism - and, by extension, all religious fundamentalism. I enjoyed this book immensely. You will, too."

This compelling critique of literalist religion takes the case of Orthodox Judaism to prove a point of broad interest: Religion expresses humanity's aspiration, but fundamentalism is the enemy of rationality and freedom. The challenge to Orthodoxy is argued clearly and passionately - and convincingly.

Bondage of the Mind is a very important book - indeed, the most important book of its kind in the last hundred years.

There is no hotter topic in today's culture wars than science and religion. All the hot-button issues - evolution vs. creationism, stem cell research, separation of church and state - have their root in a literal reading of the holy scriptures, especially the Old Testament.

Bondage of the Mind presents one of the clearest outlines of what we know about the true origins of these texts and what really happened in history. From this new beginning, so elegantly presented in this page-turning narrative, we can begin the process of cultural renewal.

Bondage of the Mind is a must-read for anyone who cares about the future of humanity.

Bondage of the Mind is a strong, original, and very readable book that addresses an important topic in a clear and convincing manner - and it could not be more timely. It is not only for a Jewish audience or a liberal audience. I, myself, am a conservative columnist and former editor of a Catholic magazine, and I found the book captivating. Bondage of the Mind provocatively confronts issues of interest to everyone.

Bondage of the Mind is a courageous critique of Jewish orthodoxies, the likes of which have not been framed since the early debates over the credibility of revealed religion in the nineteenth century.

With all the energy of an iconoclast of 1859 or 1927, Gold has pitched himself against hyperliteralism in the ranks of Orthodox Judaism, which, unbeknownst to the greater public, is as likely as conservative Islam or Fundamentalist Christianity to take the words of its scripture not just as holy writ but as bare, literal, and inerrant fact. Gold patiently explores not just scriptural literalism in Judaism but the notion of Mosaic authorship and "hidden codes" in the Torah and concludes with a vision of an illusion-free sense of religion. For larger collections.

Bondage of the Mind is thoroughly researched, well written and easily readable. R.D. Gold's first book is an auspicious beginning.

There is a major conflict today between those who put their faith in science and those who put their faith in religion. In Bondage of the Mind, R.D. Gold argues that the evangelical Christian belief system is rooted in the same literal reading of the Old Testament that is at the core of Orthodox Jewish doctrine, and indeed would be incomprehensible without it. By pulling up the anchor that is the literal truth of the Torah, Gold sets adrift not only the foundation of Orthodox Judaism, but of Christian fundamentalism as well.

Gold's timely and informative book does not denounce religion, but the divisiveness of fundamentalism.

Bondage of the Mind, by R.D. Gold, is an insightful book about the evolution of Judaism. Far too many modern Jews only know the mythology promoted by the Orthodox. Gold corrects this problem with a cogent and systematic analysis -- backed by compelling evidence -- that demonstrates Orthodox Judaism's fundamental weaknesses and inconsistencies. This is a book that is well worth reading.