Overwhelming life experiences, such as physical and sexual abuse during childhood, have the potential to obliterate internal representations of a loving God. In this book the author explores the inter-relationship between severity of childhood traumatization and mental representations of God through a comprehensive review of psychodynamic literature and quantitative research methodology. The research findings of a study with forty seven women demonstrate the complexity of this subject and illustrate how the empirical truth of quantitative findings may or may not resonate with the metaphorical truth of psychodynamic models of traumatization. The author discusses the significance of these findings for clinicians and faith communities.

"The study is an important addition to the growing literature on God concept and is in itself an excellent model for the kind of research rigor the topic demands. This interesting research has important implications for clinicians as well as pastors andfaith communities." - Journal Of Psychology and Theology

"The study is an important addition to the growing literature on God concept and is in itself an excellent model for the kind of research rigor the topic demands. This interesting research has important implications for clinicians as well as pastors and faith communities." - Journal Of Psychology and Theology