Through personal narratives, we outline the complexities of researching and understanding domestic abuse in Christian culture. We paint a story based on our childhood memories of growing up with a verbally abusive, emotionally manipulative father and reflect on the obstacles we have encountered as researchers in trying to address domestic abuse within our faith community. Through our narratives, it becomes painfully clear that research on domestic abuse from the victim's perspective is an area that needs increased scholarly attention. Our faith has both enabled abuse in our family and at the same time has helped us cope with the continuing effects of abuse. The stories we share are intended to inspire increased interdisciplinary scholarship on domestic abuse and illustrate how scholarship can lead to new approaches that address the complex matrix of family abuse, religion and parenting.
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