--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Krister Stendhal, a Lutheran minister and…" description: "\"“Krister Stendhal, a Lutheran minister and Harvard University Dean gave these rules of Religious understanding for reporters to use when they are repor..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8e/kristner-stendhal-151885_faith_krister-stendhal-a-lutheran-minister-and_1165553.jpg" --- # Krister Stendhal, a Lutheran minister and Harvard… ![“Krister Stendhal, a Lutheran minister and Harvard University Dean gave these rules of Religious understanding for reporters to use when they are reporting on a religion. Stendahl’s Three Rules of Religious Understanding (1) When you are trying to understand another religion, you should ask the…” quote by Kristner Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8e/kristner-stendhal-151885_faith_krister-stendhal-a-lutheran-minister-and_1165553.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8e/kristner-stendhal-151885_faith_krister-stendhal-a-lutheran-minister-and_1165553.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8e/kristner-stendhal-151885_faith_krister-stendhal-a-lutheran-minister-and_1165553.jpg) > ““Krister Stendhal, a Lutheran minister and Harvard University Dean gave these rules of Religious understanding for reporters to use when they are reporting on a religion. Stendahl’s Three Rules of Religious Understanding (1) When you are trying to understand another religion, you should ask the adherents of that religion and not its enemies. (2) Don’t compare your best to their worst. (3) Leave room for “holy envy.” (By this Stendahl meant that you should be willing to recognize elements in the other religious tradition or faith that you admire and wish could, in some way, be reflected in your own religious tradition or faith.)”” Kristner Stendhal ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Stendahl outlines three principles for fair religious reporting: ask believers, avoid comparing best to worst, and allow admiration of other faiths. **In simple terms:** Guidelines for respectful interfaith journalism. Key Takeaway Apply Stendahl’s rules when covering religion. Themes interfaith dialogue journalism ethics respect learning Mood thoughtful educational Type instructional ethical interfaith When to use this quote - newsrooms - academic courses - interfaith workshops Key Concepts religious literacy bias avoidance holy envy Questions to Reflect On - How do you ensure balanced coverage? - When is “holy envy” appropriate? A Different Perspective Applying these rules can be challenging in hostile environments. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Religious faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious-faith/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) ## Related quotes > [Our religious understanding and beliefs should evolve just like everything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/our-religious-understanding-and-beliefs-should-evolve-just-like/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [I don't criticise anybody, but I just don't understand religion. Like I don't understand nationalism. These are the two things that cause wars. 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But it could also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-auditors-had-tried-to-understand-religion-because-so-much-that/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [It is a masterpiece of the devil to make us believe that children cannot understand religion. Would Christ have made a child the standard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-l-moody/it-is-a-masterpiece-of-the-devil-to-make-us-believe-that-children/) [Dwight L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-l-moody/) > [Believers are right when they say that to understand a religion properly you need to get under its skin. But to understand it fully,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-baggini/believers-are-right-when-they-say-that-to-understand-a-religion/) [Julian Baggini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-baggini/) > [“I, myself, searched for Sham-bha-la for eleven years. 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For You are a fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/eternal-trinity-mystery-deep-as-the-sea-you-could-give-me-no-greater/) [St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/) > [Keep the faith, and keep going strong!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doreen-virtue/keep-the-faith-and-keep-going-strong/) [Doreen Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doreen-virtue/) > [It’s so important to create in your own voice, to hold onto what makes you unique, and have faith in your vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/it-s-so-important-to-create-in-your-own-voice-to-hold-onto-what-makes/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [Faith gives you a certain structure and meaning to your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riffat-hassan/faith-gives-you-a-certain-structure-and-meaning-to-your-life/) Riffat Hassan > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. 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