Synopsis

In this podcast episode, Dr. Finlayson-Fife speaks with Sherrae Phelps of Ten Thousand Hours of Writing Podcast about how to respect the differing views and beliefs of others as well as how to approach difficult or uncomfortable conversations about religious topics. To hear more from Sherrae Phelps, visit her at www.tenthousandhoursofwriting.com.

"It’s easy to be threatened by change and to want to call it evil. Our first instinct to something that is foreign or with something we don’t know is that it must be bad. It’s just in our DNA to do that. And I think it is really important to be very cautious to write something or someone off before we give it a thoughtful integrity based response. ”

-Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife

We are threatened by change and things that are different. We are threatened when someone disagrees with, diminishes, or challenges our view. It throws us off balance. It feels like a personal attack. And that fear can distort our ability to see the situation accurately. It can also, if we coddle it, limit our ability to respond with moral integrity and courage.

Think of Fiddler on the Roof. How often were Tevye’s beliefs challenged? And not by outsiders, but by his daughters whom he loved and cared for deeply. He was constantly wading through the legitimate challenge of finding a way to love and embrace his daughters and his beliefs. If we’re not careful, the fear that arises when our beliefs are challenged can cause us to respond with emotional immaturity. That poor response can damage relationships and erode our character. But if we can ground ourselves and respond with moral integrity, then those moments can become pivotal milestones in our lives.

To learn more about Dr. Finlayson-Fife’s work, visit our website, check out our course page, and take a look at our upcoming events.

Next Post

Why You Need to Know Who You Are (& How)

Listen Now

Previous Post

Differing Views and Beliefs Part 1

Listen Now

The advice offered through Dr. Finlayson-Fife’s Podcast Archive is educational and informational in nature and is provided only as general information.  It is not meant to establish a therapist-patient relationship or offer therapeutic advice, opinion, diagnosis treatment or to establish a standard of care.  Although Dr. Finlayson-Fife is a trained psychotherapist, she is not functioning in the role of a licensed therapist during these sessions, but rather using her training to inform these sessions.  Thus, the content is not intended to replace independent professional judgment.  The content is not intended to solicit clients or patients; and should not be relied upon as medical or psychological advice of any kind or nature whatsoever.  The information provided through the Content should not be used for diagnosing or treating a mental health problem or disease.  The information contained in these communications is not comprehensive and does not include all the potential information regarding the subject matter, but is merely intended to serve as one resource for general and educational purposes.