1. The Raelian Movement Founder: Claude Vorilhon (b. 1946) Race Car driver, magazine editor Clarmont-Ferrand region December 13, 1973 sees a UFO, talks to its occupant Told he had been directed to come telepathically; telepathically told to buy bible

2. The Raelian Message

3. Key points in the Message Extraterrestrials, called Elohim, created life on earth using biotechnology Unmentioned in video, but emphasized in Rael’s writings: –“Satan” is collective term for aliens who wanted to help us evolve farther than our creators intended –Home world aliens are threatened by us: destroy us with nuclear weapons –Noah builds space ship to save our genetic material Now, Elohim have decided we are not a threat: they want to teach us UFO seen by Rael

4. Contactee Pattern Follows other contactee stories Isolated location, light as symbol, telepathic communication, etc. Strong von Daniken element: Bible tells the story of alien contact Different from von Daniken, because Rael given explicit religious task to accomplish by aliens: name changed to Rael, meaning messenger Rael

5. Raelian Worldview Atheistic –There is no supernatural creator –Universe is eternal and infinite – no beginning, no end –No personal soul –Extraterrestrials not gods, just our “parents”

6. Raelian Worldview Materialistic –No supernatural or metaphysical component to human identity – no soul –Inheritance of acquired characteristics via biological mechanism –All sentient life is created by other sentient life – no such thing as evolution –Elohim want us to learn to clone ourselves, because they want humanity to survive in universe DNA

7. Raelian Worldview Materialistic, con’t –Overwhelming emphasis on science as the most important thing – emulate our creators –Elohim are 25,000 years in advance of us scientifically –Elohim will only return once enough humans have abandoned superstition in favour of science

8. Raelian Worldview Monistic and Multi-tiered –Universe is one complex whole, made up of infinite number of parts –Sentient life lives on all levels of parts – planets, suns, galaxies; atoms, quarks, etc. –Union with giant being that is universe is spiritual goal

9. Raelian worldview Hedonism –Defined as “the doctrine that pleasure is the only proper goal of moral endeavour.” –Elohim created us with senses – senses should be used to fullest, to experience fullness of universe, & to intitiate telepathic communication with Elohim –Nudity, sex are good, and should be explored –Rejection of mainstream sexual orientation categories and behaviours Pamphlet cover from sensual meditation teachings

10. Raelian Worldview Messianic and Millenial –Rael is 40 th prophet, following Jesus, Buddha, Mohammed –He is final prophet –His task: to spread message of Elohim, and to build an embassy –Embassy yet to be built: currently negotiating with Israeli govenment Model of embassy to be built

11. Raelian Worldview Messianic and Millenial, con’t –Elohim want to return – expected to return by 2035 –Will only return if enough humans have accepted message, focus on science, practice cloning, explore sensual meditation, etc. –If we haven’t reached that point in time, Elohim may destroy us to start over again; or, we may destroy ourselves and save them the trouble –Current stats on membership: 60,000 (almost double from 10 years ago…)

12. Organization and Practices Six levels of initiation: –Probationer (first level, having done two things: made funeral arrangements as required; undergone ritual “transmission of the code) –Assistant Animator –Animator –Assistant Guide –Guide –Priest Guide –Bishop Guide –Planetary Guide (Rael – Guide of Guides)

13. Organization and Practices Commandments: You will appear at least once in your lifetime before the Guide of Guides so that he may transmit your cellular plan through manual contact, or have it transmitted by an initiated guide, to the computer that will take this into account at your life’s final hour of judgement. You will think at least once a day of the Elohim, your Creators. You will try to radiate the message of the Elohim around you by every possible means. You will, at least once a year, give a donation to the Guide of Guides that is equal to at least one percent of your annual income, in order to help him devote himself full time to his mission and travel around the world to spread this message. You will, at least once a year, invite the Guide of your region into your home, and you will gather at your place people who are interested in hearing him explain the message in all its dimensions.

14. Organization and Practices Transmission of the Cellular Plan : –4 times a year, Elohim send ship to pick up telepathically transmitted genetic codes of new members –Codes stored in giant computer –Used to determine if cloning for eternal life should be done –Only done for exceptional people –Currently, only 8,700 humans from earth have been judged worthy to be cloned on alien homeworld Transmission of the cellular plan

15. Organization and Practices Sensual Meditation –All senses given us by our creators: all are good –Sex is good –Sensual meditation camps once a year – both members and non members welcome, but some events only open to members –24 hour fast, followed by meditation to focus mind of pleasurable things – taste, touch, smell, sight, etc. – including sex if desired Raelians at a Sensual Meditation camp

16. The Awakening Seminar