Jesus, it appears, never considered himself one of the family. His family values reflect little of what passes for home truths in contemporary life. Rather the Holy family as glimpsed in the gospels involves truancy, conflict, deception, a rude disowning and the spontaneous creation of a new family. It seems that, for Jesus, the family was not so much an institution to be protected as an adventure to be lived. Through exploring four key Bible passages, Simon Parke aims to help us come to an understanding of freedom of relationship ? relating which neither colludes in negativity or manipulation, nor sulks or lashes out ? but is at once glad to connect and knowingly separate. For in the end, our true family is not those caught up in the same little biological tangle as ourselves, but the world.