Reclaiming Your Story: Family History and Spiritual Growth

by Merle Jordan

Merle Jordan argues that many people spend their adult lives struggling to distinguish between the imperatives of divine authority and the deeply rooted psychological authority of family structures. Employing the wisdom of his experience as a pastoral psychologist as well as the insights of clinical researchers and therapists, Jordan offers ways to demythologize false absolutes and to refocus distorted maps of reality.

Genres: Religion, Counselling

124 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Alexa Moormeier · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so profound. It challenged me to confront the false beliefs and assumptions that I formed about myself in childhood. I am thankful for the opportunity to pray and consider the way God views me as opposed to the ways my earthly parents view me. Everyone should read this book!!

[Shonda Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had to read this book for my doctorate program. Jordan starts at the "family of origin." He argues that external authorities--parents and others--become deeply internalized when growing up. The problem is that these authorities misinform us about our identity and thereby limit our freedom and potential. Jordan encourages us to dethrone these "idols" and listen to the ultimate authority: God. God loves us and we must internalize his love.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is still asking questions such as, "Why do I act this way? Why do I still have problems trusting God? What is wrong with me?"

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Banish the old voices out of your head that get in your way. My cohort just read this for Clinical Pastoral Education. We are chaplain residents. I'm the only Jew and there's a lot of Christological material here. What you need to do is to "translate / convert" those passages to paradigms of Judaic understanding. Don't foret to translate / revert them back, however, because you want to stay on the same page with your class.

[Trinity Gozé · Rating 5 out of 5]

a good book that helps you separate your family origin story with your identity in Christ.

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting little book. There were parts that I really liked and there were parts (psychology parts) where I felt lost. Shortly after feeling this way, however, Jordan usually pulled me back with a short phrase: "Theologically speaking..." This may be a great resourse for pastorial counseling. He gives lots of practical exercises to name, claim, and dethrone the psychological idols we've erected and allow Jesus His rightful place as our Savior.

[Adam Shaeffer · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were some good parts to this book and some good insights, but it wasn't the most accessible for the most part. I think once I finish my project associated with it, I'll have a better assessment of how helpful and useful the book was.