Making Peace with Our Sexuality

About this episode

Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife discusses the integration of sexuality and spirituality, challenging the notion that sexual repression leads to greater spirituality.

Many of us were taught—directly or indirectly—that sexuality and spirituality are at odds, and that suppressing our sexual selves brings us closer to God. But what if that story is wrong? What if our sexuality is actually one of the primary ways we learn how to love? In this episode, Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife joins Dan Purcell of the Get Your Marriage On podcast to discuss her book That We Might Have Joy and the role of eros energy—the aliveness that emerges when couples stop running their marriages from fear, control, and ego. Through stories from the book—like Samuel, whose fear of sexual feelings kept him stuck, and Bradley, whose relentless pursuit of sex was driven by shame—Dr. Jennifer shows how sexual repression doesn’t make us more spiritual. It just keeps us fragmented. Together, they explore why sexual integration—not suppression—is what leads to greater freedom, strength, and intimacy.

People in this episode

Host: Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife

Guest: Dan Purcell

Topics covered

• sexuality
• spirituality
• intimacy
• self-acceptance
• marriage
• emotional health

Keywords

• sexuality
• spirituality
• intimacy
• marriage
• self-acceptance
• emotional health
• eros energy

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: That We Might Have Joy

More episodes of Conversations with Dr. Jennifer

• Mid-Singles and Sexuality Q&A · June 10, 2026 · 1h 13m
• Mixed-Faith Marriages | Q&A with Dr. Jennifer · June 2, 2026 · 52 min
• Desarrollo y Madurez Espiritual [Developing Spiritual Maturity] · May 29, 2026 · 41 min
• Rethinking Obedience · May 26, 2026 · 49 min
• Finding Joy · May 19, 2026 · 52 min
• Grace & Growth: Parenting Special Needs Children · May 12, 2026 · 55 min