{"product_id":"god-and-the-first-families-parenting-trauma-and-healing-in-the-book-of-genesis-paperback-softback-9780827616011","title":"God and the First Families; Parenting, Trauma, and Healing in the Book of Genesis (Paperback \/ softback) 9780827616011","description":"\u003cfont face=\"Georgia\"\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"6\"\u003eGod and the First Families\u003c\/font\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\r\n\u003cfont size=\"5\"\u003eParenting, Trauma, and Healing in the Book of Genesis\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003eStephen Spector (Author)\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e9780827616011\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003ePaperback \/ softback, published 1 June 2026\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e252 pages\u003cbr\u003e22.9 x 15.2 x 1.3 cm, 0.38 kg\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"\u003ci\u003eGod and the First Families\u003c\/i\u003e is a significant contribution to contemporary biblical interpretation.\"\u003cb\u003e—Israel Drazin, booksnthoughts.com\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\"This wise, compassionate, learned guide to trauma and love in Genesis enables us to better understand both the biblical book and the dynamics in our own fractured families.\"\u003cb\u003e—Rabbi David Wolpe, author of \u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eTeaching Your Children About God\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\"Keen observer Stephen Spector brings a wealth of learning and original insight to this lively rereading of familiar family stories. Readers will gain greater appreciation of the wounds and blessings that come with being part of a family—and useful tips on how to cope and heal.\"\u003cb\u003e—Arnold M. Eisen, chancellor emeritus of the Jewish Theological Seminary\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\"For those wishing to bring their contemporary understandings of God into line with biblical depictions of the divine, the interpretive strategy employed in the book will provide significant food for thought.\"\u003cb\u003e—Danna Nolan Fewell, editor of \u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Oxford Handbook of Biblical Narrative\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eGod and the First Families\u003c\/i\u003e offers a novel exploration of God's role as a parent in the book of Genesis. Compellingly, author Stephen Spector introduces Americans' four main perceptions of God and their four most common styles of parenting as lenses through which we can reckon with God's own methods of parenting in the first biblical book.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGod begins as an authoritarian parent who demands obedience and submission to authority, but shifts in striking ways. Next, God's parenting seems entirely benevolent. Stunningly, God reverts to authoritarianism during the near sacrifice of Isaac—but then invents a new parenting style focused on guiding the characters' moral and emotional growth. Many psychologists consider this the most successful childrearing method. Genesis reached that conclusion two and a half millennia ago!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThroughout, Spector engages with familiar stories—sibling rivalries, family ruptures, traumas—from unexpected angles. He dramatizes how parental love in Genesis builds resilience against trauma, another idea validated by modern psychology. Surviving trauma, healing from parental favoritism, repairing broken relationships, earning forgiveness, possibly even reconciling after injury—Genesis offers wisdom on all. \u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eAcknowledgements\u003cbr\u003e Introduction: Parenting Insights from across Millennia\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e 1. Parenting Styles and Varieties of Belief in God\u003cbr\u003e 2. The Authoritarian Language of Creation and Adam’\u003cbr\u003es Love Story\u003cbr\u003e 3. Crime and Authoritarian Punishment in Eden\u003cbr\u003e 4. The Cain and Abel Murder Mystery\u003cbr\u003e 5. The Flood and the Limits of Authoritarianism\u003cbr\u003e 6. Abraham’\u003cbr\u003es Righteousness and Fear\u003cbr\u003e 7. Abraham’\u003cbr\u003es Doubt and God’\u003cbr\u003es Benevolence\u003cbr\u003e 8. Sarah’\u003cbr\u003es Laughter, Abraham’\u003cbr\u003es Chutzpah, and God’\u003cbr\u003es Compassion for the Dispossessed\u003cbr\u003e 9. God’\u003cbr\u003es Reversion to Authoritarianism and Isaac’\u003cbr\u003es Trauma\u003cbr\u003e 10. Recovery from Loss  \u003cbr\u003e 11. Rebekah as a Wife and Mother\u003cbr\u003e 12. Parental Favoritism and Sibling Rivalry in the Story of Jacob and Esau\u003cbr\u003e 13. The Emergence of the Authoritative God\u003cbr\u003e 14. Jacob Confronts an Authoritarian Father\u003cbr\u003e 15. Wrestling with an Angel as a Turning Point for Jacob and for God\u003cbr\u003e 16. Jacob’\u003cbr\u003es Favoritism and Parental Negligence\u003cbr\u003e 17. Joseph and the Consequences of Favoritism       \u003cbr\u003e 18. Sense and Sexuality in the Story of Tamar\u003cbr\u003e 19. Authoritative Parenting Starts to Work\u003cbr\u003e 20. Healing a Dysfunctional Family\u003cbr\u003e 21. Jacob’\u003cbr\u003es Redemption, the Brothers’\u003cbr\u003e Distrust, and Joseph’\u003cbr\u003es Lovingkindness  \u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Conclusion: Parenting, Trauma, Healing, Love, and Redemption\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Notes\u003cbr\u003e Bibliography\u003cbr\u003e Appendix: Genesis Through the Lens of Trauma Theory\u003cbr\u003e Index\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003c\/font\u003e","brand":"The Jewish Publication Society","offers":[{"title":"Brand New","offer_id":52676689166616,"sku":"9780827616011","price":17.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/products\/god-and-the-first-families-parenting-trauma-and-healing-in-the-book-of-genesis-paperback-softback-9780827616011","provider":"Freshly Printed Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}