The Raëlian Movement

 

 

Keywords: Elohim, Clonaid, extraterrestrials, sensual meditation, telepathy, cloning, atheist, Raël, science, eternal life

 

I. Abstract

            The Raëlian Movement is an ostensibly atheist effort to prepare the world for the return of the Elohim, the extraterrestrials that created all of humankind.  Denying the existence of any supernatural beings or powers, the Raëlian Movement embraces science as the ultimate source of absolute truth.  Its leader, Claude Vorilhon (Raël) claims to have had direct contact with the Elohim, who promise to return and bestow upon humanity their significantly superior knowledge given that humans completely change their way of life.  Humans must adopt humanitarian, self-sufficient, scientific, and respectful values in order to prove their readiness to receive this scientific information.  The world’s major religions are addressed by the Elohim: all events recorded in the history of all religions are the misinterpretations of the actions and presence of the Elohim (“God” is a mistranslation of Elohim which means “Those who came from the sky”).  Furthermore, prominent religious figures (Buddha, Christ, Muhammad, etc.) were human voices conveying the moral doctrine of the Elohim. A main focus of the Elohim and the Raëlian Movement is eternal life made possible by cloning.  This interest in human cloning was made very visible to the public in 2002 by Clonaid™, the Raëlian Movement’s human cloning company.

 

II. Scope and Purpose of the System

 

            Associating itself with neither a supernatural god nor pure evolution, the Raëlian Movement claims that science should be humanity’s religion; for humanity, after all, was created scientifically by the Elohim, a group of humanoid extraterrestrials.  In December of 1973, the Elohim revealed themselves and their role in humanity’s creation to Claude Vorilhon, the founder of a leading French motor sport magazine.  Their purpose in doing so was partly to reveal information concerning the complete history of humans.  However, their main purpose was to warn humans about the current state of societies and warlike temperaments found on Earth.  The Elohim dictated that their wealth of scientific knowledge, including the key to eternal life, would be bestowed once humans recognized the Elohim as creators, wished for the coming of these creators, and adopted sets of “keys” and Commandments.  Fearing that humanity’s rapidly progressing technological processes and aggression will become dangerous to other worlds (especially their own planet), the Elohim advise that humans must change their priorities and lifestyles.    

            Raëlians, therefore, must alert the world to this new information.  They must warn humans to be mindful of the Elohim’s presence and accept their role as creators as well as their values.  According to the Elohim, only the intellectuals and geniuses deserve eternal life.  Standardized tests would determine those who have veritable intelligence.  Raëlians define intelligence as “the quality that can make peasants or workers much more intelligent than engineers or professors…this can be spoken of as common sense, as well as creative genius, because most inventions are nothing more than a matter of common sense.”1 Once the Elohim feel that a sufficient number of intellectuals recognize and love their creators, the secret of eternal life will be revealed and humans can enjoy the same technological and life status as their creators. 

Although the growing number of Raëlians is difficult to verify, there are about 60,000 members in at least l00 countries, with concentrations proportional to the size of the country.2  Efforts to build an embassy following precise Elohim specifications are still underway.  This embassy will provide a neutral location for the Elohim to temporarily inhabit when they reveal themselves to humanity.  Claude Vorilhon has also established multiple cloning organizations, all conducive to Elohim plans.  One of these, Clonaid™, claims to have produced the first cloned human in December of 2002.

            Raël claims that many Movement members hold PhD’s in psychology, biology, philosophy, sociology, theology, chemistry, and physics.  He and the Elohim expect that intelligent people unsatisfied with the ambiguity of faith-based religion will support the Raëlian Movement wholeheartedly and help draw other intelligent people to the cause.

            For example, in 1977 Nicole Bertrand (now 54) had a job, a boyfriend, but not the answer to life that she was seeking.  A friend recommended Raël’s book; Bertrand researched its claims of logic and science for two years before becoming a member of the movement.  In this system of knowledge, she found a “religion that rejects pure faith in favor of proven science, sees immortality as a natural outgrowth of genetic engineering and preaches sensual pleasure, not suffering, as the cornerstone of life on earth.”3 In 1981, Bertrand became the first female Raëlian guide—she can ‘baptize’ others.  While she does not deny the existence of the Order of Angels (women who plan to give themselves to the Elohim when they return) and sexually casual attitudes, Bertrand maintains that Raëlians lead normal lives.

 

III. Authority Structure

A.  Sources and Criteria of Valid Knowledge

Raëlians recognize the Elohim as the source of knowledge concerning the development of mankind; however, both the Elohim and Raëlians claim science is the ultimate source of truth.  As revealed to Vorilhon, religion is merely an attempt to explain the unexplainable while science provides absolute truth:

 

            The more primitive a society is, the more deistic religions will flourish within it.  These religions are actually cultivated by visitors from other planets…who continue to make appearances on Earth to see reactions of public authorities, governments, and the press…there is no God, and obviously, no soul.  After death there is nothing, unless science is used to create something.4

 

Jesus Christ, Buddha, Moses, Elijah, and other prominent religious figures did, in fact, exist.  However, they were merely humans created by Elohim scientists for a specific purpose.  As the Elohim pointed out to Vorilhon, every event in the Bible actually describes some event relating to these extraterrestrial creators.  And every sacred text has nothing but mistranslations and misinterpretations of the Elohim’s actions: credit for humanity is given to a nonexistent god rather than to the true creators.  To explain every event in the context of science and not of God would be unnecessary.  For clarification, however, a few examples will suffice.  The Elohim created the first two human beings (by scientific procedures similar to cloning) called Adam and Eve.  They and their children lived unnaturally long lives as a result of procedures used by the Elohim to increase longevity.  Humans lost this privilege when they attempted to sample from the “tree of life,” meaning the wealth of scientific knowledge held by the Elohim; hence the current efforts of the Raëlians regain this privilege.  Sodom and Gomorrah, the Wall of Jericho, Abraham’s sacrifice, and every other Biblical event likewise have scientific explanations. Christ’s role was to spread the truth of Biblical scriptures throughout the world so that they could serve as proof for all of humanity when the age of science would finally explain everything.5

            Even though the Elohim provide the true meaning for every religious event, there are no explanations of fossils and the apparent evolution tracing the progression of early primates into humanoid organisms; it is asserted that humans were created artificially 25,000 years ago.

            On a larger scale, these creators provide vague explanations regarding the origins of their race and the nature of the universe.  Experimentations of other-worldly scientists created the Elohim, just as the Elohim artificially designed human beings. Regarding the universe, the Elohim describe it not as infinite in the sense of one universe continuing for an eternity, but as infinite in two directions.  Each atom contains a universe and our universe is an atom in some other larger universe.

            The concept of eternal life, usually associated with religions and deities, is actually a strictly scientific reality.  Cells extracted from an individual during the zenith of their combined intellectual and physical condition are used to recreate the individual merely seconds after they die.  With such advanced scientific knowledge, the Elohim have not only the propensity to live an eternal number of lives, but to allow each life to span over a thousand years.  However, by no means do all individuals in the Elohim race experience eternal life.  The “Council of the Eternals,” Elohim and humans (e.g., Moses, Christ, Buddha) worthy of eternal life, select other individuals to join the council by a specific process:

           

[I]n order to limit the growth of the population, only geniuses have the right to eternity.  Once they have died, a grand council of the eternals assembles to decide in a “last judgment,” who among those who died during the year deserves to live another life.  For a period of three lifetimes, the eternal is on probation, and at the end of this time, the council of the eternals reconvenes to judge who deserves to join the council as a perpetual member.6

 

The Elohim dictated specific New Commandments and “keys” to Vorilhon; acceptance of these is the prerequisite to the revelation of the Elohim and their knowledge.  The Commandments concern political and economic matters and the necessity of removing control from those who are rich and powerful but not intelligent.  The first, Geniocracy, requires the abolition of electoral and polling systems because in their present form are unsuited to human development.  The only people eligible to vote would be those with a measured “intellectual coefficient” of ten percent above average; furthermore, those eligible for office must prove to be at least fifty percent above average.  In other words, democracy would no longer exist since only intelligent people would have power.  The second New Commandment, Humanitarianism, demands that property ownership must be abolished without establishing Communist societies.  Houses, land, and inheritances must ultimately be publicly owned.  Houses and land may be rented in 49 year installments and inheritances become public property after an individual’s death.  The Elohim bring attention to the Bible, where Humanitarianism is prescribed in Leviticus:

 

            You shall count seven Sabbaths of years, that is seven times seven years, forty-nine years…When you sell or buy land amongst yourselves neither party shall drive a hard bargain…No land shall be sold outright, because the land is mine [the Elohim’s], and you are coming into it as aliens and settlers.7

 

The last Commandment involves the creation of a World Government, as well as a completely new common language (created by scientists and linguists) and a common currency.

The Elohim provided the “keys” for enlightenment, mental reform, and liberation.

  • Acceptance of humanity allows the fulfillment of the individual and the recognition, but not necessarily the agreement with, society. 
  • Birth should be an act of love and a festive occasion.  Any type of initiation of an individual should not occur at birth; he or she must reach understanding and make choices of their own.  Children are to be tended to when behaving well and ignored when crying in order to enforce self-reliance.
  • Education should be centered around respecting the liberty and tranquility of others: corporeal punishment should be applied rigorously until the age of seven, religion should not be enforced, love for all individuals should be encouraged, the concept of infinity should be accepted with harmony, penitence before death is useless because nothing can be undone, etc.
  • All people, including children, should receive sensual education. The senses are meant to be enjoyed.  Meditation and reflection exercises develop an understanding of harmony.  A person should love their own body and sexual union should be freely possible without it becoming a definitive commitment.
  • Self-fulfillment should be sought according to a person’s desires and hopes regardless of the thoughts of others, as long as no other person is harmed.  A person should live with whom they wish, be entitled to suicide (including assisted), etc.
  • A Society should have a Government, but only one run by intelligence: a Geniocracy.  Total democracy is unacceptable, as is universal suffrage, due to the “sheep-like” nature most humans.  Robots should be created to do all menial labor on Earth (as they do on the Elohim’s planet) so there is no need for money.  Also like the Elohim, humans should create violent and dangerous worldwide sports to provide an outlet for those who want to fight; thus, war will become obsolete.
  • Meditation, specifically sensual meditation, should be performed to find one’s place in eternity.  During meditation, a person should try to communicate telepathically with the Elohim while loving them and wishing for their return.

 

Once again, humans on Earth may be candidates for receiving neither the Elohim’s technological knowledge nor the secret to eternal life that this knowledge includes until they accept the Elohim as their creators, embrace science as their religion, and donate time and funds to the International Raëlian Movement for the efforts of “awakening” others to the truth and building an embassy.

 

B.  Methods of Inquiry

            Since science is obviously the foundation of the Raëlian Movement, experimentation and the development of technology must be continued in order for humanity to gain knowledge.  Prayer and divine revelation are pointless and time-wasting since there is no deity. 

            Telepathy techniques and meditation are the prescribed methods for contacting the Elohim and assuring them of humanity’s love and support.  There is no real “method of inquiry” since humanity has but to become more peaceful and self-sufficient and it will receive seemingly infinite amounts of the Elohim’s scientific knowledge.

 

C.  Institutions and Professional Structure

            In structure, the Raëlian Movement is divided into National and International.  While National Movements (America, Japan, Australia, etc.) deal with “awakening,” educating about the Elohim and scientific truth, and personal preparations, the International Movement is active rather than passive: members use their own drive and initiative to co-ordinate preparations for the Elohim’s return.  Individual national movements organize rallies or meetings to attract people to Raëlianism.  According to the International Movement, the need for the embassy is high priority, second only to alerting people to the truth:

 

Any benevolent extra-terrestrial civilization deserves the chance to initiate contact in a gentle and non-invasive manner. The only solution that will ensure this is an official embassy located in internationally neutral territory that guarantees the appropriate provisions of security and mutual respect.8

           

Claude Vorilhon, renamed Raël by the Elohim, is the “Guide of Guides.”  Like Jesus Christ, Buddha, and other prophets before him, Raël’s duty is to promote the virtues and “keys” to happiness of the Elohim to humans on Earth.  Under him are Raëlian Bishops, scientists, and various National Movement leaders.  The most current undertaking of the Raëlian Movement is reproductive human cloning.   Dr. Brigitte Boisselier, scientist,  Raëlian bishop, and Managing Director of Clonaid™, claims that five cloned babies have been born in various countries since December 2002.9  Clonaid™ has failed to provide genetic proof of cloning in the five alleged cases.

 Currently, UFOLand—a museum center 90 miles from Montreal—serves as the Raëlian headquarters and information center (not the Embassy).  Previously a steadfastly Catholic community, Montreal has experienced a significant dropout rate of traditional churchgoers—mainly due to the gravity of the Raëlian Movement.  According to Susan Palmer, a Montreal sociologist and college professor, ''Raelians are seen by people [in Montreal] as harmless eccentrics, and viewed with a tongue-in-cheek tolerance.”10  The open minds and tolerant attitudes of the community view the message of message of sensual pleasure, sexual freedom, and love of science to be quite appealing.

 

IV. History

 

The history of Raëlianism must contain the history of mankind according to the Elohim, as was revealed to Raël.  The Elohim created all life on Earth through chemical and biological processes about 25,000 years ago.  The race to which the Elohim belong lives nine thousand billion kilometers away on an unnamed planet; the individuals who created life on Earth, the Elohim, were scientists who lost favor with public opinion because of advanced and dangerous experiments of cloning and genetic engineering.  Therefore, they left their planet in search of necessary conditions for their experiments.  Earth, along with a few other worlds, fulfilled the requirements.  Beginning with the alteration of Earth’s geographical characteristics, continuing with the creation of immensely diverse plants and animals, and concluding with the creation of beings of their own likeness (humans), the Elohim are fully and absolutely responsible for the history, current condition, and future of the Earth.

            The diversity of life on Earth, including multiple races of humans, results from the multiple groups of Elohim who made a contest of which group could create the best organisms.  The Hebrews became the “chosen” race and, therefore, the focus of the Elohim scientists.  The first Hebrews were allowed to sample from the “tree of life,” or the seemingly infinite scientific knowledge of the Elohim (“those who came from the sky” in Hebrew) that included the key to eternal life.  The Elohim gave Raël some information regarding the varying degrees of validity of the world’s religions:

 

            The Kabala is the closest book to the truth but almost all religious books allude to [the Elohim] with varying degrees of clarity.  This is especially true in those countries where the creators had their bases—the Andes, in the Himalayas, in Greece where Greek mythology also contains important testimonies as well as in the Buddhist and Islamic religions and among the Mormons.  It would take many pages to name all the religions and sects that testify in a more or less obscure way to [their] work.11

 

Authorities remaining on the Elohim’s planet protested the revelation of such knowledge; furthermore, the humans created on Earth began to misbehave.  As noted previously, the Elohim explain that all Biblical events represent an event involving the creators.  As time progressed, scientists either returned to their own planet or traveled to other worlds for experimentation, leaving their Earthly creations to their own devices.

            In December 1973, as Claude Vorilhon hiked up a volcano located in southern France, the Elohim appeared to him in a spaceship.  More specifically, a member of the “Council of the Eternals” named Yahweh, revealed the history of humankind to Vorilhon and also gave him the new name Raël.  The slightly green, childlike, bearded alien gave him a brief description of their planet and society: a highly developed and scientific culture with much leisure time that lives by the “keys” and Commandments dictated to Raël. 

A second encounter provided Raël with specific instructions on how to prepare Earth for the return of the Elohim.  During this encounter, Yahweh took Raël to another planet inhabited by the 700 Council of the Eternals.  There he met Jesus, Buddha, and beings from other planets who met the intelligence requirement for eternal life.  Raël was shown biological robots, instantaneous transit systems, and the sexually free lifestyle of the Elohim—all things Earth would experience once its people accepted the Elohim as their creators.

            After his encounters, Raël began to share his experience in lecture halls and public places.  His story gained him a fairly large following of people worldwide, many of which were scientists with advanced degrees.  As his following grew, the National and International Movements were formed, the plans for the embassy progressed, and the Raëlian scientists created various companies for human cloning purposes.  Raëlianism became most visible in the 2001 and 2002 when claims of human cloning cases were made.

 

V.  Representative Examples of Argumentation

 

            An effective rhetorical device used by Raëlians to defend their beliefs is the proclamation that only intelligent people see the truth in their teachings; therefore, only these people will be recognized by the Elohim.  Raëlians also claim that all scientific people should be able to recognize the truth.  With human cloning becoming (or possibly, having become) a practical possibility, the Elohim’s notion of eternal life seems to some more tangible than eternal life described by most religions.  These people are quick to use crop circles and UFO sightings as ‘evidence’ of the Elohim’s existence.  These sightings are intended to test the faith of humans in the existence of the Elohim12; a strange statement considering Raëlianism denounces virtues such as faith in the name of science.

            With only about 60,000 followers, the Raëlian Movement obviously has little credibility according to the majority of people in the world.  To its detriment, the movement’s teachings have scientific flaws that remain unaddressed.  For example, it claims that 25,000 years ago the Earth was covered with water when scientific evidence suggests otherwise.  As stated before, the Elohim gave no explanation of fossils that, according to scientific procedures, are millions, if not billions of years old. 

            While it can be argued that Raëlian thought and teachings are merely the translation of the world’s religions (especially Christianity) into scientific terms, Raëlians appeal to the logic and skepticism of naysayers by explaining that all religious textual information is merely human fabrication in response to a creator they cannot see:

           

These traces [of truth regarding human history], of course, have been somewhat distorted by successive transcribers who could not conceive of such high technology and could therefore only explain what was described as being a mystical and supernatural force.13

 

To many, this system of knowledge seems contradictory to its own scientific teachings: Raël has the qualities of a prophet, the Bible contains proof of the Elohim’s existence, the Elohim seem to posses divine power, the second coming of the Elohim is described with apocalyptic qualities, and members of the movement must have faith in Raël’s testimony, seeing as he is the only who has “seen” the Elohim.  The counterpoint, however, could mention that human confabulations twisted science into mysticism and religion when the Elohim first came; therefore, why would humans respond differently for the second coming?  Only this time, the Raëlians are present to reveal the truth about human creation and the promise of a technologically advanced future.

Of course, joining such a radical movement can affect the personal relationships of individuals with in it, often motivating members to defend their beliefs.  According to Daniel Heroux, composer and UFOLand tour guide, Raëlianism “drove a wedge between himself and long-time friends and collaborators.”14  In Montreal, the pro-abortion views of Raëlians clash violently with pro-life views of the Catholic Church.  UFOLand is often vandalized, most likely by those who disagree with Raëlian teachings.  Nicole Bertrand admits the hardships of being a part of the Movement, but refuses to loosen her convictions: “When you become Raëlian, you have to be prepared to be laughed at, to lose your job, to lose friends and family.  It is difficult for many people.  But for me, I am what I am.  I cannot be other.”15

 

VI. Suggested Position in Comparative Scales

A. Emphasis on traditional authority (1)-------testimony of experience (10):  10              

     Although the Elohim created humans and have superior scientific knowledge, humans

     could easily gain the same authority after they follow the instructions of the Elohim to   

     obtain the advanced scientific knowledge.  Ultimately, authority comes with   

     individual experience.

B. Emphasis on centralized authority (1) ------- decentralized authority (10): 5

Even though Raëlians claim that those in government only because of power from        wealth and force should be overthrown, they insist they be replaced with those of high 

     intelligence.  Furthermore, the Council of the Eternals only gives eternal life to those

     who are exceptionally intelligent.  It seems that centralized authorities are either

     overthrown only to be replaced by another centralized authority (intelligent people), or

     the authorities seem to be objective and fair (the Council) but are the final word on

     who receives eternal life.   Decentralized authority could be argued, however, to exist

     in the actual Movement due to the power of the individual.

  C.  Emphasis on the invisible realm (1) ------- visible realities (10): 5

     Ultimately, the Movement focuses on visible realities.  Even though the knowledge

     it hopes to gain is unavailable (only known to the Elohim) it is not invisible.  This

     information is scientific in nature and therefore feasible to many.  However, to some

     the reality of eternal life will only be real once it is presented.

D.  Emphasis on spiritual/moral goal (1) --- pragmatic objectives (10): 5

      Once again, it is difficult to delineate.  Moral goals (such as changing behavior to

      be more respectful of others) often go hand in hand with those that are pragmatic

      (changing behavior to prove worth to the Elohim and gain their knowledge).

E.  Emphasis on divine power (1) -------- individual power (10): 10

      There is no god or deity of any type.  The power ultimately lies in living organisms,

      in this instance, humans.  The extraterrestrials do have power, but are not divine,

      unless the definition of divine is changed to merely indicate those with more power.

 

Notes

 

      1.   Raël, The True Face of God (The Raëlian Foundation, 1998), 179.

  1. Raëlian Movement.  The Raëlian Revolution. www.rael.org.
  2. Monica Rhor, “Outside Montreal, Raelians Have Their Base: UFOLand.” The

Miami Herald.  http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/4856259.htm.

  1. Raël, 142.
  2. Raël, 60.
  3. Raël, 98.

7.   Raël, 89.

8.   www.rael.org.

9.   Clonaid.com: The First Human Cloning Company.  Retrieved February 15, 2003. www.clonaid.com.

10.   Monica Rhor,.

11.   Raël, 80.

12.   Raël, 182.

13.   Raël, 19.

14.   Monica Rhor.

15.   Monica Rhor.

 

    Bibliography

 

Primary Sources

 

Raël.  The True Face of God.  The Raëlian Foundation, 1998.

This was the most valuable source since it is 210 pages of primary source written by the “human” authority on this subject.  It contained almost all the information I needed, with the exception of  some specific conflicting view points.

Raël and the Valiant Venture Ltd. Corporation.  Clonaid.com. www.clonaid.com.

            This is helpful for up-to-date information on cloning efforts.

Raëlian Movement.  The Raëlian Revolution. www.rael.org.

Whatever occurred too recently to appear in the book is posted on this site.  There is much more information regarding the actual activities of the National and International Movements.

 

Secondary Sources

 

Apologetics Index: Raëlianism.  Gospel Communications International.  January 30, 2003. 

http://www.gospelcom.net/apologeticsindex/r12.html.

All the information on this site is repetitive of what is found on most other websites.  It is the same general information used for profiles.

“Brigitte Boisselier: Scientific genius or PR guru?”  BBC News World Edition. 

9 January, 2003.  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/2643445.stm.

Minimal background information.

Brown, DeNeen.  “The Leader of UFOLand.”  The Washington Post.  January 17, 2003. 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A4047-2003Jan16.html.

            Minimal background information; repetitive.

Butz, Marty.  The Rëelian Religion.  Watchman Fellowship Inc. 

http://www.watchman.org/profile/raelianpro.htm.

This site was useful in finding conflicting opinions and views.  The rest of the historical information could be found on other sites.

Rhor, Monica Rhor, “Outside Montreal, Raelians Have Their Base: UFOLand.” The

Miami Herald.  http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/4856259.htm.

This article provided actual testimonies of “converting” to Raelianism.  I believe these testimonies add a lot to the tangibility of this paper.