[The Avon Lady]

Originally Posted by Letum

From Avon's Link:

I really don't see how Hinduism can "imitate" Judaism. Hinduism appeared around 500 years before Judaism and a long time before Judaism became a major religion.
Other religions liken Taoism developed in places almost entirely isolated from Jewish influence.

Sounds about right.

Both Christianity and Islam have a firm base in Jewish belief, but neither are "imitations".

False. Both plagiarize heavily from Judaism both in text, commandments and morals and ethics.

Rather, they have built upon Judaism by integrating parts of other religions and adding new features or removing old ones.

This falls within the definitions of "imitate":

im·i·tate
–verb (used with object), -tat·ed, -tat·ing.
1. to follow or endeavor to follow as a model or example: to imitate an author's style; to imitate an older brother.
2. to mimic; impersonate: The students imitated the teacher behind her back.
3. to make a copy of; reproduce closely.
4. to have or assume the appearance of; simulate; resemble.

Likewise, Buddhism built its beliefs upon Hinduism.
All religions share the links that make them religions; in the same way that all spoons share characteristics, like handles, that make them spoons. However, this does not mean that different spoons, such as the spork, are trying to imitate other spoons.

Again refer to definitions 1 and 4, even 2 somewhat.

I seriously doubt the H.H.D.L. said "All religions are an imitation of Judaism". If he did say this, then he was clearly either wrong or expressing his views with the wrong words.

H.H The Dali Lama does ask people to look closely at their own religion and culture rather than converting as he believes that in all religions provide the spiritual food that people desire. He does ask people why they want to convert to Buddhism when they already have their own religion and it is plausible that he asked this person to "open his eyes" to his own culture and religion.

The writer of the article is writing at least 3 years after his meeting with H.H. The Dali Lama (according to the article). I think that with the writer's new found Jewish zeal he may have remembered what H.H.the D.L said in a different way. Everyone fits memories so that they are appropriate to the current situation.

This is a good example of how memory works. If you can't remember something word-for-word (i.e. you don't have a photographic memory from 3 years ago) you fill in the gaps using your other experience's of the world.
This can change things a lot. Take a look at the psychological studies on crime witness's memory to see some good examples.

Nothing new there. Yet we do not automatically dismiss testimonies unless we have evidence otherwise.