The novel delves into the world of televangelists and the business of religion. The protagonist, known simply as The Preacher, begins his spiritual journey in Vietnam, with ideals of peace and love. But upon returning to the U.S., he establishes a church where worship mixes with sex, drugs, and spectacle.
As his fame grows, he becomes a media figure supported by millionaires and adored by the masses. However, internally he struggles with a guilty conscience that leads him to confront the hypocrisy of the system he himself helped build.
The Preacher by Harold Robbins does not focus directly on criticizing the Catholic Church as an institution; rather, it offers a broader critique of the televangelist phenomenon and the commercial use of religion in the United States. The protagonist represents a charismatic religious figure who blends spirituality with spectacle, money, and scandals, highlighting the hypocrisy and corruption that can arise when faith becomes a business.