Our Attitude Towards the Religious Other: Keith Lane

I recently came across a devotional address given November 17, 2009 by Keith H Lane, Associate Professor of Religious Education at BYU-Hawaii.  Professor Lane holds a Ph.D. in the Philosophy and Theology of Religion from Claremont Graduate University.  He recently published “Kierkegaard & the Concept of Religious Authorship” in the German series Religion in Philosophy & Theology 45 (Mohr Siebeck, 2010), and presented this topic at the SMPT Conference in March 2010.

I listened to his address while doing the final edits of my response to the recent article by Richard J. Mouw, where in he called for Christian hospitality.  As I listened to Prof. Lane I began to be surprised at his message, for two reasons.  First, he drew upon many of the same quotations from Joseph Smith and other LDS leaders that represent a tolerant tradition that is often not discussed.  Secondly because of two paragraphs that spoke openly and bluntly about our discourse about those not of our faith.

Let us as Latter-day Saints reach out to others not of our faith. Let us never act in a spirit of arrogance or with a holier-than-thou attitude. Rather, may we show love and respect and helpfulness toward them. We are greatly misunderstood, and I fear that much of it is of our own making. We can be more tolerant, more neighborly, more friendly, more of an example than we have been in the past. Let us teach our children to treat others with friendship, respect, love, and admiration. That will yield a far better result than will an attitude of egotism and arrogance. (Gordon B. Hinckley, “A Time of New Beginnings,” Ensign, May 2000, 87)

Professor Lane then explained:

Note that we are being asked not merely to settle with being tolerant, but to be affirmative and grateful. We are to be positive and confirming, expressing love and showing genuine gratitude for all that is good in the teachings, practices and lives of our friends of other faiths.

Unfortunately, I’m afraid we do not always do this, even at the basic level of tolerance and respect. Having listened many years to comments made in our meetings, our classes, our informal conversations, I know we can do much better. My experience has been that much that we say is either wrong and does not truly represent what others believe, or that the tone and spirit of what we say often borders on mockery, condescension, or contention.

Please remember that we do not make the gospel any truer or more persuasive by denigrating the beliefs or practices of others. We do not make the Church any more Divine by mocking other religions or by making them seem stupid. We do not make ourselves into better saints by pointing out the bad behavior of some of those of other religions (behavior that the teachings and devout followers of those religions would probably condemn as well).

I truly am convinced that an attitude of tolerance, respect, appreciation, and love towards those of other faiths is the one the Lord would have us adopt. It will help us live and do His work in His way.

Rarely have I heard anyone honestly and clearly articulate what I too have often witnessed.  In our meetings and classes, I too have heard things spoken about the faiths of others that have often been inaccurate, and displayed a lack of understanding.  It is clear that Latter-day Saints need to learn more about the faith of others, especially if we are to avoid doing that which we often accuse others of doing to us—misrepresenting our faith.  What we say about others, especially when we think no one else is listening, tells us much about our faith.  I appreciate Prof. Lane’s talk and I agree that we can and must do better.

I’m reminded of Craig Blomberg’s talk a few years ago where he stated:

You don’t have to agree with the theology.  Be polite!  If we can’t show Christian love we have no right to talk to them about anything.

I’m encouraged as I come across both Evangelical and Latter-day Saints who recognize that we face challenges and who continually speak to their respective communities with a message of greater understanding and hospitality.

Watch the video.  Read the transcript.