Are we biological robots created by extraterrestrial scientists to serve as their genetic experiment?
In short: Raëlism, a secular UFO religion, claims humanity was engineered by an advanced extraterrestrial species called the Elohim. Founded in 1974 by Claude Vorilhon, the movement views history as a series of genetic experiments and believes that scientific progress, specifically human cloning, is the only path to achieving physical immortality.
Raëlism posits that the Elohim, an extraterrestrial race, arrived on Earth 25,000 years ago to create life through advanced technology. Practitioners interpret the Bible as a record of these encounters, viewing figures like Jesus and Muhammad as prophets guided by the Elohim. Raël, the movement's founder, claims to be the 40th and final prophet, tasked with preparing humanity for the Elohim's return. The group rejects traditional supernaturalism, framing their belief system as a scientific religion that views humans as biological robots.
Central to Raëlian eschatology is the construction of an embassy with a landing pad to welcome the Elohim. The movement has sought locations for this site since the 1970s, with funding estimates reaching $20 million by 2001. They believe that if humanity survives the current Age of Apocalypse—a period defined by the threat of nuclear annihilation since 1945—the Elohim will return to establish a utopia. This future society would be governed by a 'geniocracy,' where only the highly intelligent hold power, and menial labor is handled by robots.
The movement is noted for its liberal social values and emphasis on sexual experimentation, which Raël claims enhances intelligence by forging new neural pathways. While the group promotes women's rights and has staged public demonstrations, it also maintains hierarchical structures, such as the Order of Angels. Critics, including government commissions in France and Belgium, have labeled the movement a 'secte' or cult, while scholars of religion highlight its unique position as a thoroughly secular, materialistic philosophy that rejects Darwinian evolution in favor of scientific creationism.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Raëlism
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