In perhaps the best writing to have ever come out of the LDS Newsroom, The Mormon Worldview (Jan 8, 2008), challenges journalists writing on Mormonism to focus less on controversy and “esoteric theological debates” and rather engage in an “imaginative examination of the worldview that inspires its members.”
This is good advice.
“Journalists often ask what differentiates Latter-day Saints but rarely investigate what inspires, motivates and moves them. As is the case with any religion, the transcendent side of Mormonism cannot be captured by caricature and stereotype.”
I can’t help but apply this to inter-faith dialogue. What “inspires, motivates and moves someone” is the experiential dimension which I had in mind in a previous post. A list of doctrines or differences between two faiths is one thing. Really understanding what drives someone and what moves them is something else entirely. Why is it that this is not discussed to a greater degree?
As an example where a substantial attempt was made by journalists to go beyond soundbite, the article refers to the discussion at the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life conference where Richard Bushman, whom The New York Times appropriately dubbed ‘ambassador for Mormonism to the outside world’, gave the most insightful and articulate answers to questions by reporters from various media outlets that I’ve ever come across.
Every faith has a world view, and being able to understand or at least appreciate the world view of the person you are engaging in dialogue with is a key to understanding. One of the reasons I enjoy dialogue is that I don’t simply want to know which verses or scriptures a faith uses to support their view, though this is a start. I want to know what about this view is inspiring to the person I am speaking with. I can’t imagine someone devoted to their faith, who seek to serve others, and who strive for a close relationship with God, to go through life largely uninspired. Perhaps learning that a belief different from our own (perhaps one we serious disagree with) actually inspires another human being is uncomfortable, but it is necessary if we are to place ourselves in the shoes of another.
I recall the words of Krister Stendahl, Lutheran Bishop of Stockholm, Sweden, and Dean of Divinity Emeritus, Harvard University. At a press conference in 1985 he offered three rules for interfaith discussion. The event was related by Truman G. Madsen, professor at Brigham Young University who was in attendance at the press conference (see video).
Madsen: “Professor Krister Stendahl, of Harvard Divinity School, became the Bishop of Stockholm, in Sweden. During a visit we made there, he called a press conference, invited various of his friends, and then said the following;
“He said, ‘I have three rules for interfaith discussion, to wit:
Number one: If you’re going to ask the question, what do others believe, in their various faiths, ask them – not their critics, not their enemies.’” (see also Mauss Interview)
Stendahl: “Because what one religious tradition says about another is usually a breach against the commandment, ‘Thou shalt not bear false witness’.”
Madsen: “‘Number two: if you’re going to compare, don’t compare your bests with their worsts, but compare bests with bests.’”
Stendahl: “Most people think of their own tradition as it is at its best and they use caricatures of the others.”
Madsen: “And then number three, he said, ‘Leave room for holy envy’ and then he said, ‘Let me give you an example of my holy envy for the Latter Day Saints: We Lutherans, when we lose our loved ones, we have funerals, we have cemeteries, but that ends our concern with those who have gone before. But the Latter-Day Saints care about their forebearers to the point that they want to bring the blessings of Christ’s atonement to them, so they build temples, and according to Paul’s instruction in First Corinthians, they perform baptisms for the dead,’ and then he smiled and said, ‘I have holy envy for that.’”
Stendahl: “In a world where we finally have learned what I call the “holy envy”, it’s a beautiful thing; I could think of myself as taking part in such an act, extending the blessings that have come to me in and through Jesus Christ. That’s generous, that’s beautiful, and should not be ridiculed or spoken badly of.” Citied from “Between Heaven and Earth” DVD, 2002, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
I love that recollection of Madsen’s. It inspires me to query sites like this and see what I can learn about what drives other people. Spirituality is such a beautiful thing. I think, (hope?) our faith gives us room to engage in this conversation to improve our own faith. After all, we do follow the admonition of Paul, whenever there is something virtuous, lovely… or of good report, we seek after it. I saw a lot of “holy envy” in Mitt Romney’s faith speech. I think he must have heard Bro. Madsen at some point as well.
You are referring to the part of the speech where Romney talked about what he liked about other faiths. I have never heard of “holy envy” till now, but yes, that makes sense. We are told to seek the truth out wherever it may be. I remember sending a rather long and somewhat biting email to a pastor who I thought was trying to make the Book of Mormon work to his point of view and say something bad about its origins. As I now realize I may have misjudged this pastor. I realize that he saw something wonderful within the Book of Mormon and saw it has a testament to his faith. If that pastor ever reads this comment, I am truly sorry. The Lord reveals things in his own time. He speaks to us through his words on our spiritual level of understanding. I will never again be so harsh to a person who doesn’t understand some spiritual thing because I may be further along in spiritual understanding than maybe that person.
I should remember those three rules. I am going to post this on my blog.