Notice: Fredric Rice may have removed segments of the replies given to questions if they contained copoyrighted materials. After a very short while, Scientology "experts" refused to answer questions and started cut-and-pasting copyrighted cult propaganda. Additionally I removed URLs in some of the replies, and left them in others. And it's also important to note that eventually the unfortunate "Greg Churilov" cultist was ejected from askme.com for his typical Scientological behavior.

Anonymous asked this question on 2/3/2000:

hello again greg, first, let me thank you for your response. I totally disagree with just about everything you said, but you say it well, and I respect your right to believe as you do. But, I must address a couple of the statements you made. First of all the bible is not just a book for jewish people. a little investigation would show anyone who cared to inspect it that the bibles teachings apply to all human beings, dispite : race, geographtion, or the time frame in which they live, unless of course, someone thinks they can legitimitly claim that their are some people on the planet for whom Jesus surman on the mount would not be beneficial.

Secondly, Jesus christ is obviously the greatest man who ever lived, his popularity and notarity is still increasing almost 2000 yrs. after his death.

And in spite of any assertions to the contrary, there is not a single other notable person in world history, about whom an even remotely similar claim can be made! Is it really likely he borrowed something from someone, who is almost completely forgotten, and whos' teachings are even more obscure?

Greg here is a simple wisdom: you get what you pay for.

If you can afford the best, why settle for anything less. Christ Jesus is cleary the best spiritual teacher, and best of all, you don't have pay for his teachings. Why would an intelligent person such as yourself look anywhere else for spiritual enlightenment.

Before we can have a real discussion on the true religion, we must be committed to intellectual honesty. Any search for the truth which excludes Jesus Christ is flawed from the start. To exclude Jesus from the discussion is like discussing which is the best team in the National Football League, without considering the St. Louis Rams for the title.

For my argument to be true though, one has to believe that the bible is what it claims to be, The Word of God. And appearently, you don't believe that it is.

Why not?

Thanks and best wishes.

PS. None of my comments are intended to be offensive, but on the off chance you do get offended, I apologize in advance.

Greg Churilov gave this response on 2/3/2000:

I agree with several parts of your message but not with the whole. One of the things that made Jesus such a charismatic teacher is that his teachings are universal. (And I do believe he borrowed from Buddha.

[How utterly wrong. But then Scientology teaches that Jesus Christ was an "implant," the consequence, according to hubbard, of "some madman discovering a piece of R6." Hubbard claimed -- and I quote -- "the man on the cross? There was no man on the cross!" Hubbard, in a set of in-house documents that the crooks sell under the title "OT8" or "Operating Thetan Level 8" say that Jesus Christ was a lover of young boys.

First of all he was an Essene, and they already had eastern teachings in their sect. Secondly there are eighteen years unaccounted for in his life, from 12-30, during which he likely traveled to the East in search for knowledge.) about the rest of the Bible. Ezechiel is not universally digestible. Neither are the teachings in Leviticus, nor the story of the flood. Some of the letters of Paul (ne Saul of Tarsus) are not easily acceptable to non-christian ears. Most of the Old Testament is unpalatable judeo-centric history, for the non-judeo- christian viewpoint.

[The poor cultist has devolved to mere ranting. Amazing - flr]

Your letter is completely Christianocentric, taking for granted premises which are quite inaccurate. "And in spite of any assertions to he contrary, there is not a single other notable person in world history, about whom an even remotely similar claim can be made! Is it really likely he borrowed something from someone, who is almost completely forgotten, and whos' teachings are even more obscure?"

Actually, many more people follow the teachings of Lao Tzu than Jesus. And more people were civilized by Gautama Siddharta Sakyammuni (The Buddha) and his teachings than through Christianity.

Also, Christianity is ostly founded on the teachings not of Jesus of Nazareth, nor his original twelve followers, but of Saul of Tarsus, a former Roman tax collector who never had any personal interaction with Jesus.

You say that Buddha's teachings are obscure, but they are not any more obscure than the sermon on the mountain is. In fact they are clear as water, for any who care to learn.

The only reason Christianity gained prominence as a World Religion was due to the conversion in 313AD of te Roman Emperor who then made it the official state religion. This happened at the decline of the Roman Civilization, and was followed by the Dark Ages, Papal domination of Europe, the Inquisition, Colonialism with all its horrendous inhumanities, and the oppression of thinkers like Galileo, Voltaire and Russeau.

While I can agree with you that Jesus was probably a great man and probably one of the greatest prophets of this planet, the consequences of Christianity on this world have been less than ideal. This is a fact that most Christians are in total denial of.

The Greeks had a MUCH better society than Christianity ever created, and they had none of the christian credo. China saw ten thousand years of culture without Jesus ever influencing it.

As far as the Bible being the word of God, I do not believe it - and fail to see how anyone who is versed with it could believe such a thing. The obvious changes in style, manner and viewpoint of the various writers indicate a collective work of many people. Even in the Genesis one sees the work of at least two authors. And for most of Kings it is just a collective history of the judeic tribes, with a little fable and myth thrown in.

As far as Christianity being free, you dismiss tythes, state funding and other means of acquisition. And the Vatican is one of the wealthiest estates in the world.

At any rate, it is obvious that you already have your answer to your original question "is there one true religion". It is also clear we have different views, and I don't see that you will dissuade me nor I will change your viewpoint either, so we might as well part friends. Best,

[I wonder why the cultist forgot to mention Xenu - flr]

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