In a heated debate over the existence of God, free will, and fundamental life spirit, philosophy professor and outspoken atheist, Dr. Donald Cartwright, brought the discussion to a screeching halt by asking whether his debate opponent, Church of Scientology minister Raymond Jones, was high.
"I wasn't being flippant," said Cartwright, defending against accusations of using manipulative secular tactics to distract from the real issues. "He was talking about Xenu, the ruler of the galactic confederacy. How could I not ask if he was high?"
And it was a question Cartwright found necessary to pose more than once.
Pointedly ignoring Cartwright's initial inquiry regarding his mental state, a bristling Jones went on to discuss how Xenu had used a series of nuclear explosions to send people's souls into the air so that he could capture them. Once again, an incredulous Cartwright asked, "Seriously, are you high?"
This time, Jones didn't bother to hide his irritation. He retorted angrily that the account of Xenu's actions was perfectly plausible and that, in fact, United States President, Donald Trump, had proposed utilizing exactly the same approach in order to deter ocean-originating hurricanes from reaching continental shores. He concluded by stating proudly, "I'm no more out of touch with reality and science than President Trump."
The debate ended abruptly at that point, with both sides claiming a clear-cut victory for their respective positions.
"I'm not surprised," said Cartwright regarding the fact that Jones considered himself to have prevailed in the debate. "We've all got our own versions of reality. Honestly, I'd have been disappointed if he'd done any differently. It might have debunked my free will argument."
He chuckled and added, "You'll note that he never answered my question, though. I guess that one remains open-ended."
