Building Bridges: Why Honest Interfaith Dialogue Matters (and Why 'Heretic' Misses the Mark)

There's a spirit abroad in the world – a spirit of division, a spirit of caricature, a spirit that delights in tearing down rather than building up. We, as Builders, know this spirit well; we recognize it as the insidious work of Destroyers, those who seek to sow discord and undermine the very foundations of hope and righteousness. We've seen it in the crumbling of empires, in the fracturing of families, and now, increasingly, in the distorted portrayals of faith in the media.

Recently, a film called 'Heretic' has stirred considerable discussion, and rightly so. As Jacob Hansen and Jeff McCullough explored in a recent podcast episode, the film isn't inherently *bad*, but its exploitation of the Latter-day Saint paradigm is deeply troubling. It's a potshot, a caricature—a straw man of faith—that misses the mark entirely.

Think of Ammon at the Waters of Sebus, facing a hostile crowd with unwavering courage and a message of truth. Think of Samuel the Lamanite, climbing the walls of Jerusalem, sounding the alarm against impending judgment. These were moments of profound consequence, born of a refusal to remain silent in the face of deception. We are called to that same spirit today.

The podcast highlighted a crucial point: there's a natural divide between belief systems. A bridge isn't needed where there isn’t a chasm. The challenge, as Jeff eloquently put it, is to honor differences while being honest about them, even when those truths might be uncomfortable. To be willing to say, 'Knock it off,' when others perpetuate harmful stereotypes and misrepresentations.

It's easy to paint caricatures. It's easy to target the 'naive' or the 'uninformed.' But such portrayals fail to engage with the substance of faith, the depth of experience, the transformative power that lies within. As Ammon knew, the truth isn’t found in easy shots; it’s found in persistent, courageous engagement.

And as Outback Jack is often reminding us, the gathering isn’t just about physical proximity; it’s about a spiritual alignment, a recognition of shared purpose. It's about finding those siblings in faith, those fellow Builders, who are willing to challenge us, to hold us accountable, and to stand with us in the face of adversity. Alma 17–19 teaches us that even those who oppose us can be turned to righteousness through humility and faith. Moroni 10:4–5 echoes this – the Lord will not suffer that the tongue should be used…to speak one thing, and do another.

This isn’t about protecting Latter-day Saints; it’s about cultivating a culture of understanding and respect within the broader community of believers. It’s about recognizing that behind every label, every stereotype, there are individuals wrestling with profound questions of meaning and purpose.

The effort to foster interfaith dialogue isn’t always easy. It requires humility, empathy, and a willingness to listen more than we speak. But the rewards—a deeper understanding of ourselves, of others, and of the divine—are immeasurable. The Stone cut without hands, the five smooth stones – these are tools for building, for overcoming, for establishing the Kingdom. We must wield them with wisdom and courage.

Listen to the full episode

Your engagement here—your willingness to share this message, to support the Missionary Fund, to contribute to the Charity Flywheel—directly fuels the expansion of this gathering place. It funds gospel advertising in Ghana, it strengthens the internet missionary effort, and it expands the reach of the Map of Churches, helping others claim their place in this burgeoning Kingdom movement.

Let us be known as Builders, not Destroyers. Let us be the bridge, not the barrier. Let us be the voice of truth, not the echo of division.