shezmear wrote:Psi I read all of Von Daniken`s work when I was in school,(it`s been a while) I might be able to offer something if a new thread is started, although I must confess, I openly accept that it is a very big universe and sometimes people visit and choose to stay on this planet, so I`m not quite sure if I could offer a hell of a lot.
Yes, I think Von Daniken is worth a thread. Like you, I read him a long time ago and still refer to him from time to time. As you did deeper, you'll discover many similarities to TP but also many things that are in conflict. Can't give any examples off the top of my head, but I recall flagging the discrepancies at the time of reading.
My thinking is that it's important for us to consider all information - as I know everyone here does - to either verify or even challenge TP. So, can I leave it to you to get the ball rolling?..
shezmear wrote:I have not herd of Rael, read all of Streiber`s work, Do you think he is telling the truth?
I have my doubts...
Whitney Strieber was a journalist cum novelist who apparently was not very successful until he wrote 'Communion', a non-fiction account of his encounter with greys. The book is entertaining, as was the movie in the 1980s with Christopher 'The Dead Zone' Walken (an appropriate choice, me thinks). The book propelled Strieber on to the bestseller lists and made the greys a hit as well. To the best of my knowledge, he was the first to describe and illustrate (it's on the front cover of the book) the bug-eyed, smooth-featured look of the greys. Michel was asked if Streiber was a real abductee on Thiaoouba Truth and he said he didn't know. Since then, Strieber has even questioned his own encounter - not knowing if it was real. He has, since then, written several more bestsellers including as retrospective novel on Roswell and also has a UFO/paranormal radio show in the US. I must say, ever since reading the book and seeing the movie, I was of two minds about the experience: Some things rang true; many others did not (therefore, I concluded it was manufactured).
On to our great 'adversary' Rael. You'll find more on him here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rael
Rael, as you'll see, was a French journalist cum sports car driver who recorded a couple of albums of music. That was all before his claimed encounter in the early 1970s near a volcano crater in France. The rest of the story you can read online. Rael is not his real name but the one given to him by the aliens, since he is now the new messiah and also founder of the Raelian Foundation - an atheistic religion. Yep, there is no God.
I have read his first two books. That's all I could stand without powerful medication (joking, of course - I don't think I could stand reading any more in any state). Both concern a small grey-like figure who is part of a race called the "Elohim". They were responsible for creating human life on Earth and elsewhere. The representative goes by the name of Yahweh (heard that somewhere before?) and he asked Rael to bring along a copy of the Bible. For most of Book 1 - 'The Book that Tells the Truth' (how can you beat that for a title?), the alien chooses passages from the Bible and then gives Rael the true interpretation. It's like one long philosophical / theological lesson without any punchlines. There are some points of interest; some which actually correlate with what Michel has said (eg the aliens playing a role in humanity's past and been seen as gods) - he talks of the parting of the Red Sea (Sea of Reeds) by a repellent ray from the mothership, to give one example.
The second book - 'Extra-Terrestrials Took Me To Their Planet - says it all. On their planet, he meets a few characters you've heard of from history: Jesus, Mohammed, Buddha, Moses and they have lunch. Yep, lunch. Apparently they discussed various things with Rael over a platter of meats while lying on fur rugs (stay with me) but they must not have been of much interest because there is not one mention - directly or indirectly - of what was discussed in the book. I was hoping, after enduring that far, that JC or Buddha would come through with a couple of gems. Gee, I would have taken a morsel from Jerry Springer. But, no, only indigestion.
The 'best part', Rael saves for last. He has been charged with creating a new religion (just what we need) which he has done. I read somewhere that it has raised something like US$10 million (Remember what Hubbard said before he founded Scientology: "If you want to make REAL money, start a religion") and that he must construct an interstellar embassy for Elohim's return to Earth. This, of course, requires a great deal of money - and I think the Elohim are a bit hard up at the moment, so it's up to us. It also has to be constructed in Israel. So far, Israel has not agreed to donating any land to Rael despite repeated requests over the years. I read, I think on their website, that if Israel does not contribute, then they may be punished again by the Elohim. Clearly, these aliens are fans of the Old Testament.
Sorry, I digress. Back to the gripping conclusion of Book 2. Rael's message in a nutshell:
1. There is no God.
2. Rael is the last of the prophets.
2. Aliens - the Elohim - created this world and all creatures in it, including humans.
3. The Raelian Movement is the only way to salvation.
4. Divorce and contraception are acceptable (I'm not arguing)
5. Suicide and assisted suicide are acceptable (I am arguing)
6. Oh, and if you want to be saved, if you want to join your Elohim brothers and sisters, you need to contribute to the cause - both in terms of energy and (you guessed it) money. He suggests that you make regular donations (I think the good old 10% tythe) annually and including the Foundation in your will.
Where do I sign?..
Ironically, I first heard about Rael at a spiritual fair I was attending on the Gold Coast in the early 1990s. I just caught the last half of the lecture and just managed to avoid the hat being passed around at the end. Years later when I heard of Michel, I immediately assumed they were one and the same (it was a natural assumption - what's the odds of two Frenchman who were abducted by ETs?). And that's my point: Organisations like this can - and do - damage the true message that Michel shares.
I would love for others to expand upon their knowledge / understanding of the Raelians. I have not considered this carefully here, just rattled it off quickly in response to your query.