I'm going to write something that will probably confuse some of my Christian friends. I'm hoping not to cause offense, which to me means sort of insensitively causing senseless injury. On the other hand, I'm okay with "provocation" so long as there's room for disagreement. Personally, I think Christianity is plenty big enough for varying ideas. So, here goes.
I think there's truth in other religious perspectives. Lots of truth. Like, "Truth" with a capital "T." If you're finding yourself wanting to burn me at the stake, take a deep breath and keep reading.
I've been considering the Buddhist Eightfold Path, and I can't help but notice how much of it mirrors what we find in the Christian Bible. The Tenets of Right Speech have been particularly amazing. Here they are:
1.) To abstain from false speech, especially not to tell deliberate lies or speak deceitfully.
2.) To abstain from slanderous speech or use words maliciously against others.
3.) To abstain from harsh words that offend or hurt others.
4.) To abstain from idle chatter that lacks purpose or depth.
Practicing these them has had an interesting effect. It is bringing me into a sort of interrogative relationship with my thoughts because I have to examine them against the four tenets. I find that I have to retract, alter or mitigate about half of what I say after I say it because I speak too quickly. What an realization! At least half of what I say is inaccurate, untrue or unnecessary. To put it another way, I could be listening twice as much as I do now.
You'll find every one of them in the Bible from the very mouth of Jesus. Check the gospels and see for yourself. Does it make any difference whether it comes from Jesus or the Eightfold Path? I don't think so.
Justin Martyr, a first century Christian philosopher and apologist (also known as Saint Justin) said, "(w)here you find truth, there you will find God." I agree completely.
