[Buddha-l] Greatest Religion Award

[Curt Steinmetz]

[T]here should be growth in the essentials of all religions. Growth in 
essentials can be done in different ways, but all of them have as their 
root restraint in speech, that is, not praising one's own religion, or 
condemning the religion of others without good cause. And if there is 
cause for criticism, it should be done in a mild way. But it is better 
to honor other religions for this reason. By so doing, one's own 
religion benefits, and so do other religions, while doing otherwise 
harms one's own religion and the religions of others. Whoever praises 
his own religion, due to excessive devotion, and condemns others with 
the thought "Let me glorify my own religion," only harms his own 
religion. Therefore contact (between religions) is good. One should 
listen to and respect the doctrines professed by others. 
Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadasi, desires that all should be 
well-learned in the good doctrines of other religions.

 From King Asoka's Rock Edict Number 14
http://www.cs.colostate.edu/~malaiya/ashoka.html

Curt