This ground-breaking volume assesses the contemporary epidemic of intimate partner violence and explores how and why cultural and religious beliefs serve to excuse battering and to work against survivors' attempts to find safety.

Nancy Eileen Nienhuis, Th.D., Harvard University (2002) in Religion, Gender, and Culture, Associate Dean of Student Life at Simmons College, and Visiting Professor of Theology and Social Justice at Andover Newton Theological School. Her research examines theological responses to intimate partner violence and sexual assault. Author of multiple articles on the topic, Nienhuis is also interested in how the intersection of systems of oppression like racism and sexism compromise survivors' efforts to seek safety.

Beverly Mayne Kienzle, Ph.D., Boston College (1978) in comparative medieval literature, retired as the John H. Morison Professor of the Practice in Latin and Romance Languages at Harvard Divinity School. Her research and writing have focused on medieval preaching, the lives of women saints, heresy, and women's spirituality. Author of five books on Hildegard of Bingen's preaching and exegesis, she continues to investigate her long-held interest in how medieval authors employ biblical interpretation to justify or minimize violence against women.