Aetherius Society
Formation | 1955 |
---|---|
Type |
|
Membership | unknown |
Founder/President | George King (1919–1997) |
Website | www |
The Aetherius Society is a new religious movement founded by George King in the mid-1950s[1][2][3] as the result of what King claimed were contacts with extraterrestrial intelligences, to whom he referred as "Cosmic Masters".[4][5][6] The main goal of the believer is to cooperate with these Cosmic Masters to help humanity solve its current Earthly problems and advance into the New Age.[7][2][8]
It is a
Emphases of the religion includeOverview
The theology of the Aetherius Society is regarded as firmly based in
History
George King was born on 23 January 1919, in
King claimed that in 1954, a voice told him "Prepare yourself! You are to become the voice of Interplanetary Parliament." A week later, an unnamed but supposedly world-famous swami was reported to have entered King's locked apartment. King claims that the swami instructed him to form a group dedicated to helping the planet and that the swami further taught him yoga, prayer, and meditation. According to King, this training enabled him to receive telepathic messages from Venus, the first coming from Aetherius. King rented space in Caxton Hall in London, in which he allegedly channeled Cosmic Masters and recorded their messages. Based on his experiences and these messages, King founded the Aetherius Society.[6][38][39] It appears that immediately prior to founding the Society, King was earning his living as a London taxi driver.[40]
This version of events, however, is based solely on the Aetherius Society's hagiography, and not on external sources. Mikael Rothstein notes that a lack of objective, factual information is often a problem in studying religious leaders, even for new religious movements. The story of King, according to Rothstein, is part of an attempt (common to all religions) to portray their founder as an extraordinary individual to legitimize the religion.[41]
According to the Aetherius Society, George King died in Santa Barbara, California, on July 12, 1997, at the age of 78.[42] His death was not reported in major newspapers.
Belief and activities
In Aetherius Society teachings, various religious figures come from different planets,
King taught a belief in reincarnation based on the "Law of Karma" according to which humanity progresses life by life towards the goal of perfection. Everyone is destined eventually to become a Master and to continue evolving from there.[19][51][52] The society claims that evolution also includes planet Earth, which is regarded as a living entity at a much higher state of evolution and importance than its inhabitants.[18][51][55] They allege that because of the backward evolution of humans, the Earth has been under frequent attacks from evil forces from other parts of the universe and that the Cosmic Masters of other planets are fighting off a number of evil alien invaders.[56]: 92–93 [57][58]: 73 In Aetherius Society literature, the cosmic battles with evil forces or intelligence "bear some resemblance to the fundamentalist Christian concept of 'spiritual warfare', shorn of its imminent apocalyptic content."[59]: 132
As in other New Age religions,
Probably the best known of these is the "Spiritual Energy Battery". Its precise design and composition are not in the public domain. Its purpose is to hold a 'charge of spiritual energy for an indefinite period'. When connected to a "Spiritual Energy Radiator" (again designed by King), it can be 'discharged'.[27][28][63] 'Spiritual workers' pray, chant mantras, and 'focus the energy' into the battery where it is 'stored'. The society's belief is that in times of crisis the energy can be released in a concentrated form and manipulated by cooperating Masters to the area in need. King named this activity "Operation Prayer Power".[27][28][61] The Aetherius Society claims that under the guidance of the Cosmic Masters and with the aid of Spiritual Energy Batteries, they have prevented wars, and relieved the effects of natural disasters. King taught that these spiritual exercises help to prevent worldly destruction.[27][28][59]: 135
To help with this, the Aetherius Society regularly engages in "Spiritual Pushes" in which they pray and meditate to draw Prana to Earth from an orbiting spaceship known as "Satellite Number Three" which increases the amount of spiritual energy available. They claim that this satellite is shielded from telescopes and radar.[24][28][64] In "Operation Starlight", between the years 1958 and 1961, King and various members climbed eighteen mountains throughout the world, so that the mountains could be 'spiritually charged' by the Cosmic Masters using King as the link.[28][56]: 89 [65] Members often make pilgrimages to these mountains where they have painted the movement's symbol, believing they receive more power than they can send out to the world through prayer.[28][62]: 127 [59]: 134 They believe that service to mankind is the most essential yoga or religion in the modern day.[28][51]
King is now regarded by the Aetherius Society as an Avatar and Cosmic Master, though he did not make any claim to being either in his lifetime.[1][47] The Aetherius Society also believes that King was the only person in the society to receive mental transmissions.[60]: 121 [66]
Eschatology
King claimed to have been contacted by many aliens, including
As Zeller notes in his chapter "Apocalyptic Thought in UFO Religions," King believed there would not be a catastrophic end to the world, but that the planet was on the verge of a new millennium of peace and enlightenment and the Age of Aquarius; King believe that this would also require human effort.[30][67][68] The Aetherius Society's teachings share the individualism of not only other New Age teachings of the era, but of the Protestantism King grew up in, i.e. individual humans face the decision of whether to join the millennial kingdom.[31][67][68]
The society also predicts the coming of 'the next Master' from space at an indefinite time, which is said to depend on the advancement of humans and the balance of karma.[10][48][69] It is claimed he will arrive in a spacecraft with great power, and present his credentials to the leaders of Earth.[30][31] Those who engage in war or ignore the 'Divine Law', will be removed from the Earth and reborn upon another planet where they will continue their progress. Those who understand the law will be left on Earth to enjoy the new millennium.[30][70][59]: 130–132 [71]: 148
Zeller also compares King's call to correct living (with threats of suffering otherwise) to many forms of Christian apocalypticism, with King's claimed mental transmissions replacing the
King claimed that Aetherius enabled him "to speak all terrestrial languages"—although he seemed unable to respond when asked questions in Norwegian and French.[73]
The Silence Group
The Society claims that the 'Space Beings' have contacted the leading Governments of the world in many ways but a rather sinister group of individuals called 'The Silence Group' (a pseudonym coined by UFO researcher Major Donald E. Keyhoe)[74] have been deliberately suppressing this information so as to keep people uninformed, or misinformed, as to their true nature.[75] According to King, the Silence Group uses fear and ignorance to control humanity.
Theology
The Aetherius Society's theology is theosophical[15][17][45] and is also based on the continual evolution of all beings back to the source which is God.[18][51] The society also refers to God as being "All in All, and All in All That," and the highest aspect of God as "The Absolute." The society believes that other beings exist that are so evolved compared to humanity that they are sometimes referred to as 'Gods' to distinguish them.[4][76][77] "There is nothing but God in the cosmos, in varying stages of evolution. Everyone will eventually become a Master and will continue evolving from there."[19][52] The society regards itself as a spiritual path rather than a religious movement per se.[5][78]: 168 Its path contains various stages of spiritual evolution from earthly to cosmic.[43][79] Karma and reincarnation are accepted by the religion as laws of nature.[51][80][81] The society claims it is "not out to change existing religions so much as to add a cosmic dimension to them".[30][79] Its religious services use both Christian prayers and Eastern mantras.[52][82]
Criticism
Many of King's claims, particularly claims to various titles and honors, have been shown to be questionable at best.[83][84]
Simon Smith states that the Aetherius Society has to bridge a number of credibility gaps exacerbated by scientific and technological advances, and mentions some seemingly insurmountable problems facing its world view, such as the non-existence of life on the other planets of the Solar System, and scarce evidence of spacecraft visiting Earth. The society uses the concepts of 'higher spheres of existence' to explain life on the other planets, and the 'lowly karmic position' of mankind to explain why extraterrestrials do not land openly.[84] Hence the movement, while failing to keep pace with science and technology, has tried to explain consequent incompatibilities. However, explanation has become increasingly unnecessary for adherents due to their growing acceptance of King's charismatic authority.[66]
Rothstein notes that while the Aetherius Society touts a television appearance of King's as a momentous event, contemporary media coverage of King was mostly negative.[85]: 18
In 1958, the society's publication "Cosmic Voice" claimed to give details transmitted by the Cosmic Masters of an atomic accident in Russia, i.e. the
George King's titles
King is referred to by the society "as an author, inventor, metaphysician, occultist, prophet, psychic, spiritual healer, spiritual leader, teacher, yogi and Aquarian master". He was also lavished with innumerable titles, degrees, and honors[1] from unorthodox sources. According to the society, the various honors were all given to King as a "token offer of gratitude" for his work.[83] Rothstein observes that all of this hagiographical material is primarily aimed at believers who have special, 'esoteric' knowledge about King, whereas the society's communications during publicity campaigns are angled differently.[85]: 13–15
Accordingly, many of King's titles and awards stem from obscure sources. Barrett notes that amongst King's titles are listed a Knighthood in the Sovereign Military Orthodox Dynastic Imperial Constantinian Order of Saint Georges, which was from the Byzantine Royal House in exile, and was not recognized by the College of Arms in England, as the title "Sir" might imply.[83] King received other chivalric titles and various degrees. Barrett states that neither the chivalric titles nor the degrees were recognized by any mainstream bodies.[89]
The Aetherius Society usually refers to King as "Dr. George King".[90] The society does not, however, document where King received his doctorate. Barrett states that King received his doctorate from the "International Theological Seminary of California, a degree mill with no accreditation". King is also referred to as Metropolitan Archbishop of the Aetherius Churches. His consecration as a bishop was from the Theosophy-related Liberal Catholic Church.[89]
In 1991 King was "presented Letters Patent of Armorial Bearings also known as a Grant of Arms, by Bluemantle Pursuivant, a Herald of Her Majesty's College of Arms in England."[91][92] A Grant of Arms is applied for; anyone can receive a Grant of Arms if they can satisfy one of several requirements.
According to one source,[93] King's "proper title" was "His Eminence Sir George King, O.S.P., Ph.D., Th.D., D.D., Metropolitan Archbishop of the Aetherius Churches." The knighthood is not British but from "an unspecified foreign source." American radio personality Long John Nebel had King as a guest on his show and later wrote: " 'George King of England' – is what he calls himself, and you can't be sure whether he's pausing after 'George,' or after 'King,' but it doesn't really matter because after about three minutes you get the idea strong and clear."[94]
The society claims that King was a chaplain of the American Federation of Police.[90] The organization's full name is "American Federation of Police and Concerned Citizens".[95] Anyone who is a concerned citizen appears to be able to become a member for $45.[96] Charity Navigator gives this organization its lowest ranking (0 stars).[97] Several police organizations have warned that solicitations by the American Federation of Police are possible scams.[98][99][100] The site does not appear to have any official way to apply for a position as a chaplain and does not provide any list of official chaplains.
According to skeptic James Randi, George King's titles of 'Reverend', 'Doctor' and 'Sir' are unverified.[101]
Aetherius Society bibliography
Books
By George King:
- The Nine Freedoms
- The Twelve Blessing
- Visit to the Logos of Earth
- A Book of Sacred Prayers
- The Practices of Aetherius
- Jesus Comes Again
- You Too Can Heal
- Cosmic Voice - Volume I
- Cosmic Voice - Volume II
- Cosmic Voice Volume No. III
- Cosmic Voice Volume No. IV
- Cosmic Voice Volume No V
- Cosmic Voice Volume No VI
- Wisdom of the Planets
- This is The Hour of Truth
- Contact with a Lord of Karma
- Become a Builder of the New Age
- Operation Sunbeam - God's Magic in Action
- The Five Temples of God
- Join Your ship
- You Are Responsible!
- Karma and Reincarnation
- Contact Your Higher Self through Yoga
- The Importance of Commemoration - Spiritual Happiness
- Realize Your Inner Potential (with Richard Lawrence)
- Contacts with the Gods from Space (with Richard Lawrence)
By Richard Lawrence:
- UFOs and the Extraterrestrial Message
- Unlock Your Psychic Powers
- Prayer Energy
- The Magic of Healing
- Gods, Guides and Guardian Angels
- The King Who Came To Earth: A Biography (with Brian Keneipp)
Others:
- The Holy Mountains of the World by Rev. Charles Abrahamson
- Operation Earth Light by Brian C.Keneipp
- Power Prayer by Chrissie Blaze and Gary Blaze
- Workout for the Soul by Chrissie Blaze
Periodicals
- Cosmic Voice
- Aetherius Society Newsletter
See also
References
- ^
- ^ ISBN 9780203009437.
- ^ ISBN 9780810855885.
- ^ a b c d Rothstein Mikael (2003) p.143
- ^ a b Smith, Simon G. (2003) p.84
- ^ a b c d Barrett, David V. (2011) p120
- ^ Saliba, John A. (2003) pp134-138
- ^ Barrett, David V.(2011) p124-6
- ^ S2CID 238055182.
- ^ ISBN 1-57392-964-6.
- ^ Smith, Simon G. (2003). "Opening A Channel To The Stars: The Origins and Development of the Aetherius Society". In Partridge, Christopher Hugh (ed.). UFO Religions. Routledge. pp. 84, 90–91.
- ISBN 0-7914-2330-1.
- ^ ISBN 9780195301052.
- ^ John A. Saliba (1999). Bulletin of the Royal Institute for Inter-Faith Studies. The Institute. p. 169.
- ^ a b c Barrett, David V. (2011). A brief guide to secret religions. Running Press. p. 122.
- ^ Melton, J. Gordon (1996). Encyclopedia of American Religions (5th ed.). Detroit, MI: Gale Research, Inc. p. 677.
- ^ a b Smith. Simon G. (2003) p.96
- ^ a b c Barrett, David V. (2011) pp.122-3, 125
- ^ a b c Saliba, John A. (2003) p.128
- ^ God and the Gods - The Aetherius Society
- ^ a b c Isaksson, Stefan (2000) New religious UFO movements: extraterrestrial salvation in contemporary America, section: "The Aetherius Society"
- ^ Saliba, John A. (2003) pp.126, 128-9
- ^ Barrett, David V. (2011) pp.123-5
- ^ a b c d Smith, Simon G. (2003) pp.89-90
- ^ Rothstein, Mikael (2003), p.144
- ISBN 0-13-773045-4.
- ^ a b c d e Smith, Simon G. (2003) pp.93-4
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Barrett, David V. (2011) p.125
- ^ ISBN 9780195301052.
- ^ a b c d e f g Barrett, David V. (2011) p.124
- ^ a b c d Saliba, John A. (2003) p.131
- ^ Saliba, John A. (2003) p.126
- ^ Barrett, David V. (2011) pp.120, 124
- ISBN 9781941482100.
- ^ Smith, Simon G. (2003) pp.84-5
- ^ ISBN 1-57392-964-6.
- ^ Smith, Simon G. (2003) p.85
- ^ Smith, Simon G. (2003) p.86
- ^ Saliba, John A. (2003) p.124-5
- ^ Moore, Patrick, Can You Speak Venusian? (1972, London, Wyndham Publ'ns) page 96.
- ISBN 9780815608585.
- ISBN 978-1849018111. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
- ^ a b Saliba, John A. (2003) pp.128-9
- ^ Barrett, David V. (2011) pp.122-4
- ^ a b c d Isaksson, Stefan (2000), section: "The World According to Aetherius"
- ^ Saliba John A. (2003) p.127
- ^ a b Barrett, David V. (2011) pp.121-2
- ^ a b Ellwood, Robert S. (1988) p.128
- ^ Barrett, David V. (2011) pp.123-4
- ^ Saliba, John A. (2003) p.129
- ^ a b c d e f Smith, Smon G. (2003) p.92
- ^ a b c d e Barrett, David V. (2011) p.123
- ^ a b Smith, Simon G, (2003) p.95
- ^ Isaksson, Stefan (2000), sections: "Ancient Extraterrestrials" and "The Spacecraft and Their Crew"
- ^ Isaksson, Stefan (2000), section: "Mountains and Operations"
- ^ a b Smith, Simon G. (2003)
- ^ Saliba, John A. (2003) pp.132-3
- ^ Wojcik, Daniel (2011)
- ^ a b c d Saliba, John A. (2003)
- ^ a b c Barrett, David V. (2011)
- ^ a b Scribner, Scott (2003) p.158
- ^ a b Ellwood, Robert S. (1988)
- ^ Out Of This World UFO contactee documentary, BBC May 1977
- ^ Isaksson, Stefan (2000), section: "Sacred Days - Spiritual Pushes"
- ^ Isaksson, Stefan (2000), section: "Operation Starlight"
- ^ a b Smith, Simon G. (2003) p.98
- ^ ISBN 9780786453597.
- ^ a b Rothstein, Mikael (2003), p153
- ^ Smith, Simon G. (2003)p97
- ^ Zeller, Benjamin E. (2009) pp331-2
- ^ Rothstein, Mikael (2003)
- ^ Zeller, Benjamin E. (2009)
- ^ Moore, Patrick, Can You Speak Venusian? (1972, London, Wyndham Publ'ns) pages 97-98, also in Moore, Patrick, Countdown! or How Nigh is the End? (1983, rev. 2009, Stroud, Gloucestershire, UK, The History Press) pages 137-138.
- ISBN 978-1-122-70944-6.
- ^ King, George (1957). Cosmic Voice. 2. Aetherius Society: 37–38.
{{cite journal}}
: CS1 maint: untitled periodical (link) - ISBN 0-937249-02-5.
- ^ The Aetherius Society. "The 50th Anniversary Twelve Blessings Podcast". Aetherius.org. Retrieved 2011-05-04.
- ^ Scribner, Scott (2003)
- ^ a b Isaksson, Stefan (2000), section "The Nine Freedoms"
- ^ King, George. Karma and Reincarnation. U.S.: The Aetherius Society. pp. 1–22.
- ^ The Aetherius Society. "Karma". Retrieved 2011-05-04.
- ^ Scribner, Scott (2003) p163
- ^ a b c Barrett, David V. (2011) pp119-120
- ^ a b Smith, Simon (2003) pp.94-5
- ^ a b Rothstein, Mikael (2007)
- ^ ISSN 0262-4079. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
- ^ [1] Archived April 30, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Nebel, Long John, The Way Out World (hardcover, 1961, NY, Prentice-Hall) page 53, (paperback, 1962, NY, Lancer) page 48.
- ^ a b Barrett, David V. (2001) p119
- ^ a b "Dr. George King: Master Of Yoga & Founder Of The Aetherius Society". aetherius.org. 2014. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
- ^ Rothstein, Mikael (2003) p13
- ^ Cosmic Voice. 17. January–February 1996.
{{cite journal}}
: CS1 maint: untitled periodical (link) - ISBN 1-871473-16-0, pages 11-12.
- ^ Nebel, Long John, The Way Out World (hardcover, 1961, NY, Prentice-Hall) page 52, (paperback, 1962, NY, Lancer) page 47.
- ^ "American Federation of Police Family Survivors Fund". Afp-cc.org. 2014. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
- ^ "Application for Membership" Archived 2014-10-30 at the Wayback Machine, Afp-cc.org. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
- ^ "American Federation of Police and Concerned Citizens". Charity Navigator Rating. 2014. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
- Sun Journal. Lewiston, Maine. 16 August 1990. p. 40. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
- ^ "Police think scam money will be used in Virginia". The Free Lance–Star. Fredericksburg, Virginia. 16 March 1992. p. 40. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
- ^ "Around the Nation: News". Law Enforcement News. 15 December 1995. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
- ^ "An Encyclopedia of Claims, Frauds, and Hoaxes of the Occult and Supernatural". James Randi Educational Foundation. 2007. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
External links
- The Aetherius Society – official website of the movement
- Page about the Aetherius Society at Religious Movements site
- A scholarly article by John A. Saliba in the Marburg Journal of Religion: link to the article
- Aetherius Society: Jesus, Venusians, and some bad astronomy - Skeptical look at the society's astronomy claims
- Aetherius Society: A lack of proof - Skeptical look at the society claims of King's pre-knowledge of certain historical events
- Peakbagger.com (For a large map showing the locations of the Aetherius Society Holy Mountains)