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
syncretic religion, based primarily on
theosophy[9] and incorporating
millenarian,
New Age, and
UFO religion aspects.
[9][10][11][12][13] Emphases of the religion include
altruism,
community service,
nature worship,
spiritual healing and
physical exercise. Members meet in congregations like those of churches.
John A. Saliba states that, unlike many other New Age or UFO religions, the Aetherius Society is for the most part considered uncontroversial, although its esoteric and millenarian aspects are sometimes ridiculed. The religion may be considered to have a relatively conventional
praxis, attracting members from mainstream society.
[14] The society's membership, although international, is relatively small.
David V. Barrett suggested in 2011 that the worldwide membership was in the thousands, with the largest numbers in the United Kingdom, United States (particularly Southern California) and New Zealand.
[15][16]
Overview[edit]
The theology of the Aetherius Society is regarded as firmly based in
theosophy,
[9][15][4][17] the Aetherius Society combines
UFO claims,
yoga, and
ideas from various world religions,
[2][3] notably
Hinduism,
Buddhism, and
Christianity.
[18][19] The society asserts itself as a
plural or liberal religion, stating "nor does God favor people of one religion over another – and certainly not people of one country or race over another".
[20] Stefan Isaksson notes that it has "become a complex religious belief system that includes an extraterrestrial hierarchy of various spiritual masters and such concepts as universal karma and religious healing."
[21][22][23] The religion's goal is to prevent worldly destruction by improving cooperation between humanity and various alien 'masters',
[2][24][25] and by using 'spiritual energy' to improve the spiritual calibre of the world.
[13][24][26] The society has claimed that various disasters may be prevented or relieved by prayer, often aided by "Spiritual Energy Batteries" meant to store
healing psychic energy[13][27][28] The society also believes that it is to prepare the way for the "Next Master," a messianic figure who will descend upon Earth in a flying saucer, possessing "magic" more powerful than all the world's armies.
[29][30][31] The society is named after Aetherius, a being King claims to have telepathically contacted and channelled. Aetherius is believed to be a Cosmic Master from
Venus, as are
Buddha and
Jesus.
[29][32][33]
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