Finding Meaning in Suffering with Dr. Elizabeth Hall

In this episode of NeuroFaith, Dr. Curt Thompson interviews Elizabeth Hall, a professor of psychology at Biola University. She specializes in understanding suffering, mothering, sexism, and embodiment and draws from her personal experiences, including a battle with cancer. Her work focuses on how suffering disrupts our established systems of meaning and the process of integrating these experiences into a broader worldview.

Dr. Hall emphasizes that finding meaning in suffering does not eliminate pain but involves finding peace and purpose despite ongoing grief. She also discusses how religion and faith provide essential frameworks and practices that aid in processing and integrating suffering. Faith can offer a sense of purpose and direction, which is crucial for meaning-making during difficult times.

Listen in as she highlights the role of biblical lament and talks about a practice involving the expression of sorrow and wrestling with God as a powerful tool for dealing with profound grief and suffering. Dr. Hall's insights offer a profound understanding of how faith and psychological processes intertwine in the context of suffering.

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