Editing George King (religious leader) (section)

==Biography==
George King was born on 23 January 1919, in [[Wellington, Shropshire]], England and brought up in a protestant family with strong occult interests.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zuGoDwAAQBAJ&dq=%22Aetherius+Society%22+%22george+king%22+%22anglican%22&pg=PT27|isbn=9781941482100|title=The King Who Came to Earth: A Biography|date=25 August 2019|publisher=The Aetherius Society}}</ref><ref name=I2000Aeth>Isaksson, Stefan (2000). "The Aetherius Society". In [http://www.anthrobase.com/Txt/I/Isaksson_S_01.htm ''New religious UFO movements: extraterrestrial salvation in contemporary America''].</ref><ref name=Smith>{{cite book |editor-last=Partridge |editor-first=Christopher Hugh |year=2003 |title=UFO Religions |publisher=Routledge |chapter=Opening A Channel To The Stars: The Origins and Development of the Aetherius Society |first=Simon G. |last=Smith}}</ref>  His father (also called George King) was a school teacher and mother Mary a nurse and later small business owner. The family relocated on several occasions as his father sought better appointments, settling for a period in North Yorkshire. King was educated at [[Guisborough Grammar School]]. In 1937 King at the age of 18 left the family home and moved to London. Led by his belief in [[pacifism]] he became a [[conscientious objector]] during the [[Second World War]], serving in the [[Auxiliary Fire Service]]. Later he worked as a chauffeur and security officer.

As a youth and young man King studied [[theosophy]], [[Spiritualism (beliefs)|spiritualism]], [[anthroposophy]], [[rosicrucianism]] and [[yoga]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Coulombe |first1=Charles |title=Heretic of the week: George King |url=https://catholicherald.co.uk/heretic-of-the-week-george-king/ |access-date=8 December 2024 |work=Catholic Herald |date=4 April 2019}}</ref> In 1954, he claimed that a voice told him "Prepare yourself! You are to become the voice of Interplanetary Parliament".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Evans |first=Dr Christopher |title=Cults of Unreason |publisher=[[Harrap]] |year=1973 |isbn=0245518703 |location=London |pages=150}}</ref> Afterwards in 1955, he founded the [[Aetherius Society]] and published the book ''Contact Your Higher Self Through Yoga''.<ref name=Smith/> In 1959 he was interviewed on BBC television about his beliefs and experiences.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lifeline: Mars and Venus speak to Earth |url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/e0d931fe04cb41eb8b9e0f787abfdb57 |website=genome.ch.bbc.co.uk |publisher=BBC |access-date=8 December 2024}}</ref>

George King died in [[Santa Barbara, California]], on 12 July 1997, at the age of 78, according to the Aetherius Society.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Barrett|first1=David|title=A Brief Guide to Secret Religions: A Complete Guide to Hermetic, Pagan and Esoteric Beliefs|date=26 May 2011|publisher=Hachette UK|isbn=978-1849018111|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bbKeBAAAQBAJ|access-date=8 January 2018}}</ref> However, his death was not reported in major newspapers.