Some months ago I read an article on the website FAIR - Defending Mormonism titled Easier than Research, More Inflammatory than Truth by Daniel Peterson in which he outlines what have come to be known as Stendahl's Rules, three rules for dealing with and understanding other religions. Krister Stendahl, the man who crafted these rules, is the former Lutheran Bishop of Stockholm, emeritus dean of Harvard Divinity School, and a long-time friend of the Mormon church.
His three rules are:
1) When you want to learn about a religion, ask its adherents, not its enemies
2) Don't compare your best with their worst
3) Leave room for "holy envy" -- meaning leave room for true admiration of something in another person's religious tradition.
These are wonderful rules, and oh, how I wish that as the media scrutinizes our faith ever more closely, they would listen to Professor Stendahl.
But the fact is -- there's not much I can do about others' perceptions of my faith.
However, I can do as I would have others do.
For example:
1. Have I ever had an indepth conversation with a Jewish friend to find out what they believe, seeking for the common ground?
Perhaps, more importantly, do I have friends that are Jewish?
2. What wonderful things are there to be learned about Catholicism? And if I were to compare the best of Catholicism to the worst of Mormonism, what interesting discoveries might I make?
Do I have friends that are Catholic -- am I involved in any formal interfaith dialogues?
3. When I examine the Islamic faith, what do I admire about Muslims?
And again, do I have any friends that are Muslim?
Hmmm.
The Golden Rule and Stendahl's Rules.
Shall we?
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