Rael (alias Claude Vorilhon) gazing the sky, as shown on the cult webpage (Photo: www.rael.org)Tuesday, October 10, 2006
UFO Movement Seeks Cambodian Converts
By Erik Wasson
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
"[My parents] were concerned that it is not compatible with Buddhism, but they accept that I have freedom to believe what I want to believe"
—Vichet Am, Cambodian Raelian
The Raelians have arrived in Cambodia.
Dressed in signature white pajamas and matching white sneakers, Lee Ki-Tae a senior Raelian official, explained his movement to a gathering of some 60 Cambodians at a Phnom Penh hotel Saturday evening.
"If you look into the sky, you too will see the UFOs," the South Korean told his audience. "We must establish peace on earth...and build an embassy in Jerusalem, otherwise the aliens will not come back."
The International Raelian Movement was founded in 1973 by French journalist Claude Vorilhon, who subsequently changed his name to Rael. Rael claims that in 1973, he was visited by an alien race called the Elohim.
Raelians believe that the Elohim explained the secrets of existence to Rael and made him their ambassador on earth. The mission of the group, which many describe as a cult, is to foster peace and harmony by spreading those revelations.
The group claims to now have 35,000 members worldwide.
"I was concerned that there are no Raelians in Cambodia, so I decided to come here," Lee Ki-Tae said after Saturday's meeting, adding that he has made four trips to Cambodia since 2005.
Vichet Am, a Raelian and project manager at the NGO Care, said the group is now seeking permission from the Interior Ministry to open offices here.
Vichet Am said his parents were initially surprised by his new beliefs. "They were concerned that it is not compatible with Buddhism, but they accept that I have freedom to believe what I want to believe," he said.
Restaurant worker Pham Anan, a 25-year-old Raelian, said the group has 10 members in Cambodia.
"I am a seeker of wisdom," she said. "This is not a religion, it is an organization." She said the movement has made her more aware of the power of technology and science to improve human lives.
Several audience members voiced skepticism after the presentation.
"Scientists in America have so much money and they have not discovered UFOs—why have you?" one student asked.
"Just look into the sky and you will see the UFOs," Lee Ki-Tae replied.
Som Leung Ny, 55, the director of the Preah Vihear provincial department of industry, also voiced doubt. "I have been interested in UFOs for a long time, but I am not convinced," he said.
Sun Kim Hun, secretary of state at the Ministry of Cults and Religion, said Monday that people can disseminate any religion in Cambodia as long as it does not affect Buddhism or morality.
"This group is strange," he said, adding that the ministry will monitor its activities in Cambodia.
(Additional reporting by Yun Samean)
5 comments:
It is possible that life - and possibly intelligent life - is fairly common throughout the universe. But, there has never been any direct evidence that our planet has been visited by alien spacecraft. If this alien race really wants to foster peace and harmony on Earth they will have no problem doing it themselves with their advanced technologies. They will not need a membership organisation to do the job for them.
There are countless scientists, astrophysicists and astronomers around the world watching the stars and galaxies everyday, and none of them has ever come across an alien spacecraft. Huge investments have been made to develop powerful telescopes that will enable us to look deeper in the universe for any signs of intelligent life out there. The flying saucer stories are not credible because of the vast instellar distances, even between our solar system and the nearest one in our milky way galaxy. Intelligent life may have started around the same time throughout the universe after the Big Bang. So, what could possibly make an alien race more advanced than ours?
Of course, people are free to believe what they want. But, there is no need for them to seek further than their own religion for an infinite wisdom. There are also many alien-related cult organisations around the world that the Cambodian new initiates should know about. We certainly do not want a mass suicide of Cambodian members who may be convinced that would be the only way to please their god-aliens and bring them back to Earth. Keep an open mind!
Need not to say more. Thanks. They are taking this opportunity to hawk on the innocent, poor Khmer people.
Good day,
I had read on the subjects of UFO for sometime now. It seems to me that these alien want to use human for their experimentation and who know they might even use human for their source of food!
Please becareful, the alien is looking down on you!
I have seen UFO in Cambodia. Have you ever heard of flying saucer? Well, I heard and I have seen it. In Khmer, we called it Thaas Hors. One day, I saw Thaas Hors from my neighbour's house. Later, Chan hors, sorm hors, slap prear hors. A lot of UFO happened in Cambodia.
I must say, I laughed a lot reading the first comment here "But, there has never been any direct evidence that our planet has been visited by alien spacecraft."
Do some research please!!
For starters - http://www.ufoartwork.com or http://www.bibleufo.com, . I'm not saying I believe the Raelians, but no visitation from alien spacecraft? Just try googling "UFO".
"All truth passes through three stages: First, it is ridiculed; Second, it is violently opposed; and Third, it is accepted as self-evident." - Arthur Schopenhauer
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