July 10 [10:00 EDT] -- It seems that now that Oasis has a new record to sell, there's no such thing as too much press, and the British press is only too willing to cooperate...even initiate.

When The New Musical Express lobbed the softball question to Noel Gallagher asking if youth cared more for Oasis than religion, Gallagher stepped right up to the plate. "Without a shadow of a doubt, that's true," he answered, adding, "Has God played Knebworth recently?

John Lennon made the infamous statement back in 1966 that the Beatles were more famous than Jesus Christ, seemingly inspiring this imitation.

The comment, of course, is causing a stir, although it's a sure thing the carbon copy backlash is not going to be as severe as the original reaction to Lennon. The Beatles had their records banned in a number of areas including South Africa and several American States, and some centers even held public burnings. Lennon ended up apologizing five months later.

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British media, as expected, is having a field day. The Daily Mirror quotes a Roman Catholic Church spokesman as saying: "About a billion members of our church don't think Noel Gallagher is bigger than God. God has been around longer than Oasis...and He made Knebworth.

Beirut hostage-turned minister Terry Waite told them: "He (Gallagher) probably sells a lot of records, but he hasn't been selling them for 2,000 years.

Gallagher, naturally, is standing by his comments. They're cheaper than ads.