According to Miriam Toews in her book Women Talking, storytelling and cruelty are fundamental elements that serve as the two main pillars safeguarding the entrance to the shrine of religion. These pillars suggest that religion often relies on narratives to shape beliefs and moral frameworks while also being intertwined with acts of cruelty that uphold its authority and power.

Toews highlights how stories are used to indoctrinate and maintain control within religious contexts, but these can also be accompanied by harm and suffering, revealing a darker side of religious institutions. This duality underscores the complex relationship between faith, storytelling, and the potential for cruelty within religious practices.