Earlier today, I came across the following talk by religion scholar, Karen Armstrong:

http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/234

The talk discusses the "Golden Rule" as the "charter of compassion", which, if engaged forthrighly, could serve as a foundational principle for interreligious dialogue. What Armstrong proposes is far from some intellectually anemic and sentimental liberalism. Rather she recognizes the challenge of such dialogue all too well. The sort of engagement she advocates moves beyond any simplistic understanding of the complexities that exist between differing religions (and the Abrahamic religions in particular).

To begin thr process of truly engaging the other (whether of our own race, religion or nationality or another), is to begin to seriously live under the Rule that is more valuable than gold.