Editing Unarius Academy of Science (section)

== History ==
The group was founded in February 1954 in Los Angeles, California by [[Ernest Norman]] (1904–1971)<ref name="zeller2">Zeller, Benjamin E. (2009). Apocalyptic thought in UFO-based religions. In Kinane, Karolyn and Michael A. Ryan, eds. ''End of days: essays on the apocalypse from antiquity to modernity'' McFarland, {{ISBN|978-0-7864-4204-1}}</ref> and his wife [[Ruth Norman]] (1900–1993).<ref name="bloom1993">Bloom, Barry M. (July 29, 1993). Ruth Norman, 92; poet, humanitarian, cosmic visionary. ''[[San Diego Union-Tribune]]''</ref>

From 1954–1971, when Ernest still controlled the organization, the organization defined "the mission" as the explanation and promotion of an inter-dimensional science of life in the books he wrote. He said that he had [[Mediumship#Channeling|channeled]] the material via his psychic connections with extraterrestrial intelligences.

Between 1972–1993, while Ruth Norman guided it, the organization grew and had a raised public profile.<ref name=tumm/> "The mission" evolved into bringing Unarius to the masses. She accepted interviews, appeared on ''[[Late Night with David Letterman]]'' and ''[[David Susskind Show|The David Susskind Show]]'' and built a video production studio in the late 1970s. Unarius video productions began appearing on [[public-access television]] [[Cable television|cable TV]] stations all over the United States.<ref>Unarius Light Newsletter, 1978–80</ref> In 2000, Diana Tumminia stated that in several cities in Southern California, the local public access channels carried weekly showings of Unarian films.<ref name=t2000/>

As it gained notoriety, Unarius was featured in newspaper and magazine articles as well as radio and television spots.<ref>Tumminia (1995) p85</ref>

After Ruth's death in 1993, Charles Louis Spiegel<ref name=T2005p165>Tumminia, Diana (2005) p165</ref><ref>Tumminia, Diana (2003) p65-67</ref><ref>Tumminia, Diana (2005) p193</ref> (also known as Antares) became director, a post he retained until his death on December 22, 1999.<ref name=S2003p192>Saliba, John A. (2003) p192</ref> Since Ruth's death in 1993, the organization struggled, particularly since 2001, when a space-fleet landing predicted by Spiegel in 1980 failed to occur.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/11398098.html?dids=11398098:11398098&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Apr+07%2C+1997&author=DUANE+NORIYUKI&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=Age+of+Unarius%3B+El+Cajon+Group+Believes+UFOs+are+Coming+to+Them+in+2001&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130131151735/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/11398098.html?dids=11398098:11398098&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Apr+07,+1997&author=DUANE+NORIYUKI&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=Age+of+Unarius;+El+Cajon+Group+Believes+UFOs+are+Coming+to+Them+in+2001&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 31, 2013|title=Age of Unarius; El Cajon Group Believes UFOs are Coming to Them in 2001|last=Noriyuki|first=Duane|date=April 7, 1997|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=24 September 2012}}</ref>

Unarians<ref>Although often spelt ''Unarian'' other in sources (using the standard English suffix [[wikt:-ian|''-ian'']]), the word is invariably spelt ''Unariun'' on the Academy's website (see the "External links" section below).</ref> believe in the [[immortality]] of the soul, and that all people have [[Reincarnation|reincarnated]] many times.<ref>Tumminia (2005) p6</ref> They also believe that the [[Solar System]] was once inhabited by ancient interplanetary civilizations.

The aliens are said to be "human beings" who have lived on Earth and on other planets outside the Solar System.  They are said to be more advanced than humans, spiritually and scientifically.<ref name=S2003p194>Saliba, John A. (2003) p194</ref>

While the group seems to have similarity to the [[Aetherius Society]] or [[Raëlism]], as they emphasize "[[space brothers]]" who will come from the stars in 33 spaceships to improve humanity, these beliefs are not held by all Unariuns and in fact, are discounted by many as contradictory to true Unariun principles.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}

In his book, ''The Truth About Mars'', Ernest claimed that the [[China|Chinese]] evolved from ancient interstellar migrants who began colonizing [[Mars]] a million years ago. They are reported to have returned to Mars, where they live in underground cities, after being attacked by natives of the Earth. A group which had become separated did not return with them and this group branched off and formed the various Asian racial genotypes.<ref>{{cite book |last=Norman |first=Ernest L. |title=The Truth About Mars |year=1956 |publisher=Unarius Science of Life |location=El Cajon, CA}}</ref>