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.