Set Us Free
What the Church Needs to Know from Survivors of Abuse
Published on 10. January 2001
Book
Paperback/Softback
168 pages
978-0-7618-1905-9 (ISBN)
Description
Set Us Free dispels the myth that "abuse does not happen in my church." This book uses the stories of abuse and survival to help the reader examine the connections among abuse, religious beliefs, and the church. Through these personal accounts, we are reminded that abuse is not confined to any singular group of people, nor is religion or the church immune. Through the voices of survivors, Set Us Free examines how religion has been used as a means to justify abuse, how the church has responded both positively and negatively to the issue, the long and short-term effects of abuse, and how survivors struggle with their understanding of God, His nature, and their faith. The book concludes with a set of guidelines for churches that wish to sensitively, thoughtfully, responsibly, and effectively respond to the issue of abuse.
Reviews / Votes
Set us Free opens for the Church a powerful window into the experience of abuse survivors as the struggle to find help and hope within the Christian faith and its congregations. * American Journal Of Pastoral Counseling * . . . this book is a helpful introduction to those believers who are unaware of the public health crisis that abuse represents in North America and the way denial and silence in congregations makes them complicit in this terribly destructive behavior. * Family Ministry * . . . this book is a helpful introduction to those believers who are unaware of the public health crisis that abuse represents in North America and the way denial and silence in congregations makes them complicit in this terribly destructive behavior. * Family Ministry * Set us Free opens for the Church a powerful window into the experience of abuse survivors as the struggle to find help and hope within the Christian faith and its congregations. * American Journal Of Pastoral Counseling *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Lanham, MD
United States
Dimensions
Height: 228 mm
Width: 150 mm
Thickness: 9 mm
Weight
231 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7618-1905-9 (9780761819059)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Ann W. Annis is Assistant Director, Social Research Center, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Michelle R. Loyd-Paige, Ph.D. is a Professor in the Department of Sociology & Social Work, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Rodger R. Rice is Director of the Social Research Center and Professor of Sociology at Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Content
Chapter 1 Dedication; Preface; Acknowledgements Part 2 Background Chapter 3 No Safe Place Part 4 Survivors Speak Out Chapter 5 In the Name of God: How Religion was Used to Justify Abuse Chapter 6 When Churches Deny, Victimization Escalates: Response of the Church Chapter 7 They Pay, You Pay, We All Pay: The Effect of Abuse on the Victim Chapter 8 Why, God?: Abused's Attitudes Toward Religion and Church Chapter 9 Supportive Ventures: How the Church Can Help Part 10 Summary Chapter 11 In Other Words... Chapter 12 Appendix A: The Survivors Chapter 13 Appendix B: The Interview Schedule Chapter 14 Endnotes; Index; Scripture Index