A Raelian says 'Hi'

[xan-i]

Greetings, Josh

I find the following extremely interesting. It seems that this particular symbol has not been in use in the US & Europe again until this year - having been remodified in 1991? 

The Official Raelian Symbol gets its swastika back

After 15 years wearing a symbol without the original swastika when traveling in Europe and America, Rael, founder and leader of the Raelian Movement has decided to make the original symbol, the Star of David intertwined with a swastika, the only official symbol of the Raelian Movement worldwide. Out of respect to the Jewish people who may feel bad seeing the swastika associated to the Star of David in the original symbol, Rael agreed to remove the swastika and replace it by a swirling galaxy in Europe and America. However this courteous gesture didn’t help educate people so that they know this symbol is the symbol of the Scientists who created us, symbol that has been given to every one of their Messengers, which explains why we find it on every continent, usually associated to spiritual and peaceful groups.

The swastika has been a symbol of peace for millions of Hindus and Buddhists and for the Raelians as well as it is their symbol of infinity in time, their symbol of eternity. Today, in order to redeem themselves for past horrible discriminations done under a flag wearing this symbol, German authorities are about to discriminate again telling Hindus, Bhuddists, Raelians and all other groups who have been using this symbol for centuries for some of them, that their beliefs are not welcomed in Europe!

Banning cannot solve anything, education is the only way. European children should be told at school what a beautiful symbol the swastika is instead of referring only to the dark use made by the Nazis. The word is derived from the Sanskrit "svastika" and means "good to be". In Indo-European culture it was a mark made on people or objects to give them good luck. It has been around for more than 5000 years as a Hindu symbol in the holy texts, to mean luck, Brahma or samsara (rebirth). It is commonly seen in Indian artwork and current and ancient Hindu architecture, and in the ruins of the ancient city of Troy. If you look at a map in Japan, every Buddhist temple location is marked with a swastika like crosses are sometimes used to show churches on European maps.

Ramesh Kallidai of the Hindu Forum of Britain, whom we gladly support, said that banning the swastika was equivalent to banning the cross simply because the Ku Klux Klan had used burning crosses. How would Christians feel if they were told, landing in Tokyo, that wearing the cross is illegal because it is a torture symbol? They would certainly complain at every level and make sure their cross is respected.

Raelians of the World are now joining forces with Hindus and Buddhists in order to educate the European population about the true history of the swastika and make sure their symbol is forever respected.

More information: ProSwastika.org
Posted on Wed 17 Jan 2007
http://www.raelianews.org

And from wiki :

In February 1991, the Raëlian Church modified their symbol to remove the swastika to help in negotiations with building the "Third Temple of Israel". The official reason given was a telepathic request from extraterrestrials called Elohim to change the symbol in order to help in negotiations with Israel for the building of a Raëlian "embassy" or "third temple of Israel" to greet the anticipated coming of extraterrestrials and founders of past religions, although the country still denies their request...

Religious Movements Homepage: Raelians, University of Virginia. 11 April 2001.

For those who may be sensitive to these symbols - please do not click on the following link :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Raelian_symbols.svg

Is it possible to confirm the above information & that those are the symbols in question please, Josh? 

Many Thanks
~xan-i