Adam Muema: The SDSU star's bizarre path since declaring for the 2014 NFL draft - College Football - Lindsay Schnell - SI.com

Please note that "Lord Rayel" and his garbage is NOT the same as the Raelians group started by Claude Vorilhon in 1974!!  (More on them in a moment.)

Two months ago, Muema catapulted into the national spotlight during the NFL scouting combine. Word spread that the former San Diego State running back would not participate in drills on Feb. 23 because, according to Muema, God told him the Seattle Seahawks would draft him if he left Indianapolis. He disappeared, finally resurfacing in the Fort Lauderdale airport on Feb. 28. Shortly thereafter he became increasingly active on Twitter, telling his 3,600-plus followers that he believes in a man who calls himself "Lord Rayel," and claims to be the Messiah. Muema changed his Twitter bio to "God f1rst | Seahawks #8," (he has since deleted the Seahawks part) and never showed at San Diego State's pro day.

Since the week of March 17, multiple people say Muema has not been in regular contact with anyone except his aunt, Trina Washington Powell, who raised Muema. For the last two months, he has tweeted about traveling to Mexico, where Rayel has summoned his followers, the Rayelites, to gather in anticipation of the world ending. Based on his social media posts and brief interview with the San Diego Union Tribune this week, Muema appears to be there now.

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Spend a few minutes on ra-el.org, and it's clear why this story is so layered and bizarre.

The homepage declares "the Messiah has arrived," and plays a video that shows Lord Rayel "arriving" in Jerusalem, "exactly where and how the Holy Scriptures predicted." On his website, Rayel has issued "a call to priesthood," explaining to his followers that he has "revoked the authority and privileges of the entire Christian priesthood, and told the world that he would 'raise a new priesthood.'" Those who agree to serve Rayel "will be a full-time priest, wherever you are located" and "paid very well," according to the site.

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Rayel's site also warns of the impending end of days. For many Christian Evangelicals, this speaks of a time when believers are raptured to heaven and nonbelievers are left behind to experience tribulations before the second coming of Christ. Based on his tweets, Muema believes that time is near. On March 28, after an earthquake rocked southern California, Muema tweeted, "5.1 earthquake in Brea, yes! :) hahaha I can't wait to reign with @LORD_RAYEL ..."

As similar messages have increased, many have begun to wonder if Muema has become part of a cult. Steve Hassan, a mental health professional who has spent nearly four decades counseling victims of mind control, has worked with thousands of former cult members. An expert in the field of brainwashing, deprogramming and undue influence, he says there is a misconception that people who become victims of mind control are stupid, gullible or mentally weak. "It's just not true," said Hassan, who has published three books on the subject. "There are absolutely brilliant, talented people who become victims of mind control. Celebrities, athletes ... it's underreported in the media, but it happens to millions of people."

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But that, too, is complicated. Muema seems to present two different versions of himself, the one in person and the one online. According to Hassan, that's normal if someone is a victim of mind control.

"It's a dual identity," Hassan said. "People observe them switching it like a light switch, from 'real self' to 'cult self.' It's a dissociative disorder, but the 'cult self' doesn't erase the 'real self,' it just suppresses the 'real self.'"

Adam Muema: The SDSU star's bizarre path since declaring for the 2014 NFL draft - College Football - Lindsay Schnell - SI.com

See also:  
Football star who left NFL combine after 'message from God' is devoted to mystery MESSIAH Lord RayEl who claims to be the second coming and predicted his training no-show