Raëlism
From the UAP Encyclopedia, the open encyclopedia of UFO and UAP history · 🏢 Organization
Contents 5
| Type | Organization |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Raelism, Raëlian Movement, Raelian, Raëlian |
Raëlism is a UFO religion founded in France in the 1970s by former journalist Claude Vorilhon, who calls himself Raël. It teaches that humans were created in laboratories by extraterrestrials called the Elohim, who have been mistaken for gods. It is among the largest UFO religions in the world.[1][2]
Origins
In his 1974 book Le Livre qui dit la vérité ("The Book That Tells the Truth"), Vorilhon wrote that on 13 December 1973, while walking at the Puy de Lassolas volcanic crater near Clermont-Ferrand, he met a small being from a spacecraft. Over six days, he said, it explained the true meaning of the Bible.[1] He founded a group called MADECH, replaced in 1976 by the International Raëlian Movement, and later moved its operations to Quebec.[1]
Beliefs
Raëlism is atheist and describes itself as a "scientific religion". It teaches that the Elohim created all life on Earth using advanced science, and that they sent 40 prophets, including the Buddha, Jesus and Muhammad, with Raël as the last.[1] Scholars note that its ideas resemble the ancient astronaut writings of Erich von Däniken and earlier French authors, which Raëlians deny.[1]
The cloning claim
In December 2002 Clonaid, a company associated with the movement, announced the birth of the first human clone, a girl called "Eve". Clonaid promised independent DNA tests, while critics, including people who had visited the movement's compound, called the announcement a publicity stunt.[2]
Controversy
French and Belgian parliamentary reports have classed the movement as a cult, and critics have included journalists, former members and anti-cult groups.[1] The movement claims tens of thousands of members, mostly in French-speaking countries and East Asia.[1][2]
References
- Raëlism — Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org · archived copy
- "Sect leader: Cloning is just the beginning", CNN (30 Dec 2002), archived · web.archive.org · archived copy
This page was last edited on 31 October 2026. Articles are written in our own words from the sources listed under References; disputed claims are attributed to the people who made them.
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