The family many people long for is a 'safe haven', a place of love. Nevertheless, in many cases this 'love' becomes dangerous or violent. Idealistic views on the family can veil violence in the family. How should we speak about families in order to make visible both the hard realities of some families as well as the positive feelings and experiences? The existence of violence in families challenges many of our presuppositions. When 'love' strikes contains various studies on the theme of violence in families, focussing on four key relational axes. This book deals with violence between partners, between siblings and violence done to children and to elderly people or parents. Family violence is analysed from ethical, philosophical and theological perspectives. The book brings together different views on the relationship between Christianity and different forms of family violence. It offers resources for theologians, ministers, (pastoral) counsellors, chaplains, social workers, psychologists and therapists who are confronted with violence in families.