I would post this in the other topic, but it seemed to have poofed, so forgive me if this really doesn't belong here.
In regards to folks that think any Sangheili still believing in the Great Journey is stupid, they seem to forget an actual in-game represtation of this: Tartarus.
Tartarus was told flat out by Guilty Spark that the rings killed people, not ascend them to godhood, yet he choose to deny it and go ahead with the ring activation anyway. Thel, in contrast, accepted the truth and now doesn't believe in the Great Journey at all (which is why Telcam apparently think's he's a traitor and wants him dead). Yes, Tartarus is a different specices than Thel, but that doesn't detract from the point.
When someone's faith is something is so strong, they can deny, even be completely blind to, evidence to the contray even when it is waving right in front of their faces with a big neon sign! There is even examples of this in our own species today: for instance, there are still people out there that think the Earth is flat!
So that there are some Sangheili that still believe post-Halo 3 is not 'stupid' or 'farfetched'. People will cling to what they know and feel comfortable with and tbh, Sangheili have a lot bigger problems than who believes what. Granted, the differences in faith (or lack of) is likely to drive the Sangheili to civil war anyway...with or without ONI's meddling.
Speaking of ONI, I admit I really don't like what it sounds like they are doing. The Sangheili are in enough trouble as is with their lack of scientists and whatnot, not to mention the forementioned likelyhood of civil war over the faith issue. They really don't need ONI messing with them and making things worse (not to mention the risk of the Sangheili finding out it was the humans edging things along).
And the thing about making a deal to have Thel killed? It wasn't clear from the summery if they accepted it or not, but either way it would be very stupid imo for them to do it. Wasn't Thel basically the champion of the alliance between the two species? Wasn't it Thel that convinced Rtas to not glass all of Earth? It's clear to me that Thel want's to keep things amiable between the two species...and you don't go stabbing such a guy in the back!