Raëlian Church
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
|
The Raëlian Church or International Raëlian Movement is an organization whose foundation, Raëlism, is set forth by books written by Raël known as the "messages", which as of December 2006, are available in 30 languages.[1] The Raëlian Movement was originally named MADECH.
Contents |
[edit] Structure
[edit] Demographics
The International Raëlian Movement claims adherents across 86 countries.[2] In the 20th century, independent sources estimated the number of adherents worldwide (as of 1998) between 27,000 (in 67 countries) and 40,000 (in 80 countries), and in 1995, according the source providing the latter estimate, there were about 4,000 in Quebec, 4,000 in Japan, and 10,000 in Europe.[3] More recently in the 21st century, the Raelian Movement estimates its own membership at over 65,000 (as of December 2006)[2].
The International Raëlian Movement says that membership in the movement is concentrated in France, Japan, Canada (especially Quebec), and as for the United States, in Miami, Las Vegas, Chicago and Los Angeles.
Meanwhile, the growth of Raelian membership in Africa, as of 2006, ranks number one of all continents.[4]
Religiously mixed couples are common in the Raelian Movement - usually with Christian or Buddhist partners.[5]
[edit] Guides
Attendees of "guide seminars" are initially trainees (Level 0). There are 6 levels by which trainees can be elected as guides and these are:
- Level 1: Assistant animator
- Level 2: Animator
- Level 3: Assistant guide
- Level 4: Guide
- Level 5: Bishop guide
- Level 6: Guides of guides
These people are required to be members of the International Raelian Movement (who must also be members of the Raelian Movement of their country), which requires them to pay 10% of their income after taxes and other deductions as a long as they remain in the structure.
Active members of the Raelian Movement, especially Raelian Guides, use various attention-getting media, including books, e-books[1], press releases[6], websites, and public displays of attraction.
[edit] Guide of Guides
[edit] Raëlian Angels
- See also: Sex-positive feminism
Raëlian Angels are a group of women around the world who advocate femininity and refinement for all of humanity. Raëlians believe that people must grow beyond the current aggression and violence on Earth and that this will only happen if men too, as well as women, develop their femininity.
Raëlian Angels are required to sign a contract or an oath when they begin their service. The idea which this oath signifies is one's preparedness to do anything for Rael as long as it agrees with one's conscience. A cult specialist has since expressed their lack of concern for the cult, as he believes it is "One of the most transparent cults" he has ever been witness to.[7]
Different ranks are indicated by the number (and colour) of feathers worn around the Angels' neck.
[edit] Seminars
[edit] Public
- See also: Sensual Meditation
Raëlian seminars[8][9][10] are gatherings of Raëlians and non-Raëlians who come for their own said purpose, whether it is to enjoy the mediations and flavors of personality and humor, or to observe the nature of such gatherings. These Raëlian gatherings often take in areas such as hotels in Japan and Thailand, gardens in Canada, and hotels and deserts of Nevada. Each seminar takes place over the period of several days. Each day begins with a meditation mainly at around 9:00 AM local time. The Raëlian form of mediation is outlined in Raël's book of Sensual Meditation. During the day, Raëlian guide(s) or even Raël himself are present in the area to lecture. At the end of the evening, mainly at 9:00 PM, both Raëlians and non-Raëlians may gather to attend shows by Raëlian artists and/or to meditate under the stars. As a rule, first-time seminarists, students, and people under the age of 25 are exempted from paying the basic seminar fee, which is responsible for covering the costs of running the Raelian seminars. Only people who are returning or are of age are required to cover these costs.
[edit] For Guides
Guide courses or Guide seminars are scheduled right after the continental Raelian seminars. The aim of these courses is to prepare members of the Raelian Movement for operating the International Raelian Movement.
[edit] Public Displays
[edit] Booths
There are Raëlians who diffuse the Raëlian message at booths. Through these, Raelians have advertised feminine values, gay rights[11], and their beliefs of extraterrestrial creators of mankind (Elohim) sending crop circles, UFOs, and spaceships in preparation for their arrival at an embassy.[12][13][14]
[edit] Parades
Around the world, Raëlians have participated in parades. Raëlians often appear in parades which advocate femininity and gay rights.
In the Flower Parade event in Hiroshima, Japan (2005), Japanese Raëlians set up a float with flowers, the Raelian symbol for infinity of space and time, and a poster of the embassy which Raëlians intend to build within the coming few decades.[15]
In gay pride parades[16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24], the color pink is taken to a high degree. In those parades Raëlians have made and displayed statements such as "Religions created homophobia" and "Apostatize now".
[edit] Campaigns
[edit] Atheism
- See also: Giordano Bruno
The year 2004 was promoted by the Raelian Movement as the year of atheism.[25]
[edit] Activism in Africa
The International Raelian Movement is a vocal advocate of the concept of a "United States of Africa" following a more honest and complete "decolonization".[26] They advocate the disbanding of corrupt rulerships as a result of Africans returning to their non-Christian religious and territorial roots which existed before colonization by Europeans.
The International Raelian Movement founded a public fundraising effort to pay for repairs of clitorises, especially for women in Africa where excision is rampant.[27]
[edit] Infiltrations
An infiltration of the International Raelian Movement occurs when a member of society who is not Raelian decides to intervene in the affairs of Raelians. Infiltrations are encouraged by the International Raelian Movement.[28]
[edit] Associations with famous people
- See also: Betty Dodson and Hugh Hefner
[edit] Betty Dodson
Betty Dodson came to a meeting titled "Yes to Masturbation" which was set up by Raelians at a place in Montreal, Canada 1993.
|
Betty has an excellent recollection of it and tells me that no other organization had invited her to speak publicly about masturbation. Our applause made her quiver with pleasure, she still vibrated when she spoke to me about it. She loves our Prophet and supports his actions.[29] |
[edit] Hugh Hefner
Two days after the release of Raelian Contact 268[30] (April 12, 2005), Rael and a few of his partners met with Hugh Hefner at the Playboy Mansion.[31]
|
We share so many ideas and ideals for the world. What you accomplished in your life is much more important that what most of the "politically correct conservative" people realize. As a scientist wrote recently[32][33], all war criminals like Adolph Hitler and many others had a very poor sexual life and that was why they committed so many atrocious crimes. People with an harmonious and guilt free sexual life are non violent and try to make everybody around them as happy as they are themselves. By creating your magazine in the heart of the very conservative prudish America you helped a lot of people to set themselves free from judeo-Christian guilt and then they were able to become more harmonious and spread non violent values around them. That's why if you die in the future (as late as possible!) you will be able to do it with a clear and harmonious consciousness, being aware that what you accomplished during your lifetime was much bigger than the "erotic magazine publisher" image that people without deep thinking want to give of you. These people don't have a clue about what really helps humanity to be better. It's not the so called "moral values" of church goers which make the world a better place but people like you liberating the mind and consciousness of human beings from the guilt of traditions.[31] |
[edit] Criticisms and Allegations
- See also: New Religious Movement, Cult, Sex, and Raelian Foundation
[edit] Cult accusations
There is disagreement over what the International Raelian Movement should be called. There are governments (as well as scholars)[34] which classify the International Raelian Movement as a new religious movement, while others, such as France, classify it as a cult.
During the height of the cloning story several news sources listed Raelism as a cult.
The said to be Raelians seem to meet the said to be requirements of cult checklists. The Raëlian movement has received especially negative attention in the French press. Some believe this is due to the said to be fact that Raël is French born. Although France has had a somewhat aggressive policy on "sects" in general, as would later be witnessed in a French Report.
| Over the years, I’ve watched Guides—members of the Raelian priestly hierarchy—preside over monthly meetings by reading out the latest news reports on Rael. Most are clearly tongue-in-cheek, disrespectful, even anti-cult, yet they elicit an astoundingly enthusiastic response from the assembled rank and file. It seems that just being in the news is quite sufficient to please the Elohim, who are (so Rael assures us) benevolently hovering over their "creations" in invisible UFOs. The faster we spread the message, the sooner the Elohim will come back and bequeath to us their vast wealth of scientific knowledge.”[35] |
[edit] About sex in the Raelian Movement
- See also: Sensual Meditation
Raël's teachings on sexual liberalism have been subject of much controversy. One journalist who attended a Raëlian seminar said "Just take away the sex, and you would have a very good thing." The Raëlians said they do not go door-to-door to advertise sex, and that celibate Raëlians are welcomed with open arms to the movement.
In Montreal, the Catholic schools refused to put a condom vending machine on school grounds deeming it contrary to their mission. The Raëlians in response began distributing condoms to the students. The Commissioner of Catholic schools for Montreal accepted that they could do nothing to stop the distribution of condoms, which was dubbed by Raelians as "Operation Condom".
|
[In 1991,] ...a French journalist signed up for the week-long nudist Sensual Meditation Camp, and covertly taped couples making love in the tents. This was played over the radio, and subsequent news stories presented the Raelian Movement as an unbridled sex orgy where brainwashing was perpetrated and perversions were encouraged.[35] |
Raelians would counter that real sex problems exist in another religion - for example:
| We all recently heard the story of Ted Haggard, yet another Christian Evangelist who was exposed for saying one thing while doing another. While he preached eternal damnation for homosexuality, he was exposed by a male prostitute for paying for homosexual sex and doing meth amphetamines. A few years back, Jim Baker was caught paying for sex while preaching to millions that sex was evil, dirty or shameful. Maybe saddest of all are the thousands of reports of paedophilia among clergy. And these are only the stories that surface. ?
The Raelian philosophy gives an easy solution to these problems: sensual and sexual pleasures are among our main sources for blossoming and everyone should practice them freely as long as it doesn’t harm anyone and it is done by adults, with consenting adults. We should each follow that which is pleasurable and ignore the teachings of the institutions which have grossly distorted and even often contradicted what Jesus taught. This “pleasure principle” is written in us on the most basic biological level. Second only to the “survival program”, sex is the strongest need which every living thing lives for. To repress this desire, this energy, this program in each of us will cause both emotional and physical damages. One does not need to look far for the proof. Wherever there is a culture which abhors sex or considers it shameful, sinful or dirty, one will also find more violence. In the Japanese culture where sex has no taboo and is celebrated freely (see the picture of a young girl in a Japanese festival at http://raelianews.org/news.php?extend.194 one counts 1.5 rape per 100,000 inhabitants.[36] In the USA where an image of partially nude breast at primetime on the television screens is a scandal, one counts 32 rapes per 100,000 inhabitants.[37] The old “Make Love Not War” really holds true![38] |
[edit] About finances of the Raelian Movement
Some have claimed that Raël himself has used donations for his own benefit. This is partially true, but only through the Raelian Foundation may money be donated to Rael.[39]
[edit] See also
- Raëlism
- History of Raëlism
- Sensual Meditation
- Raelian cosmology
- Honorary Guides of the Raëlian Movement
- Raelian Foundation
- Geniocracy
- Clonaid
- Humanitarianism (Economic)
- Raël
- Glenn Carter
- Nayah
[edit] Further reading
- Rael, Intelligent Design. Nova Distribution, 2006. ISBN 2940252203.
- Rael, Geniocracy. The Raelian Foundation, 2004.
- Rael, Maitreya. The Raelian Foundation, 2003.
- Rael, Sensual Meditation. Tagman Press, 2001.
[edit] References
- ^ a b The Raelian Movement: Downloads, The International Raelian Movement. Retrieved 7 December 2006.
- ^ a b Rael: Messenger of the Elohim, The International Raelian Movement. Retrieved 1 December 2006.
- ^ Review of estimates at adherents.com
- ^ First Sunday of April celebrations. 378 new Raelians on the planet!, Raelian Contact 304. 8 April 2006. Retrieved 2 August 2006.
- ^ The Raelian Movement, Human Rights Without Frontiers. Retrieved 2 December 2006.
- ^ Raelian Press Site, The International Raelian Movement. Retrieved 6 August 2006.
- ^ McCann, Brigitte, Raelian Nation angels poised to die for prophet, Calgary Sun, 7 Oct 2003.
- ^ Raelian Seminars in the Americas, The International Raelian Movement. Retrieved August 6 2006.
- ^ Raelian Seminars in Asia, The International Raelian Movement. Retrieved August 6 2006.
- ^ Raelian Seminars in Europe, The International Raelian Movement. Retrieved August 6 2006.
- ^ eric_bolou's photos, Yahoo! Photos. Retrieved 6 August 2006.
- ^ Bourgeaux, Par Pierre, CROP-CIRCLES in the Streets of Switzerland, Raelian Contact 309. 23 May 2006. Retrieved 6 August 2006.
- ^ Raelian Exhibitions in Japan (old), (West) Japanese Raelian Movement. Retrieved 6 August 2006.
- ^ Raelian Exhibitions in Japan II (new), (West) Japanese Raelian Movement. Retrieved 28 Novemeber 2006.
- ^ Ichikawa, Hiroko, IN HIROSHIMA, JAPAN, Raelian Contact 271. 9 May 2005. Retrieved 6 August 2006.
- ^ In Boston..., Raelian Contact 276. 21 June 2005. Retrieved 6 August 2006.
- ^ GAY PRIDES ..., Raelian Contact 277. 28 June 2005. Retrieved 6 August 2006.
- ^ Contreras, Miguel, GAY PARADE IN GUADALAJARA, MEXICO, Raelian Contact 278. 3 July 2005. Retrieved 6 August 2006.
- ^ Lara, GAY PARADE IN LONDON, Raelian Contact 279. 27 July 2005. Retrieved 6 August 2006.
- ^ CANADA, Raelian Contact 280. 9 August 2005. Retrieved 6 August 2006.
- ^ Andre, GAY PRIDES, Raelian Contact 312. 24 June 2006. Retrieved 6 August 2006.
- ^ Alaric, Chicago, USA, Raelian Contact 313. 1 July 2006. Retrieved 6 August 2006.
- ^ Marco Franceschini, Carlo Nanni, Saori, Francois Pithon, and Laurence Casile, GAY PRIDE: More Adventure And Fun, Raelian Contact 314. 9 July 2006. Retrieved 17 August 2006.
- ^ Picture of the week..., Raelian Contact 315. 27 July 2006. Retrieved 17 August 2006.
- ^ ThereIsNOGod.info, The International Raelian Movement. Retrieved 25 November 2006
- ^ AFRICA, THE FUTURE OF HUMANITY, The International Raelian Movement. Retrieved 9 August 2006.
- ^ Clitoraid.org, Raelian effort to promote sponsorship of clitorises. Retrieved 9 August 2006.
- ^ Barathieu, Yves, In Turkey, Raelian Contact 268. 10 April 2005. Retrieved 8 August 2006.
- ^ Clitoraid America, Raelian Contact 316. 11 August 2006. Retrieved 30 September 2006.
- ^ New Nominations, Raelian Contact 268. Retrieved 26 November 2006.
- ^ a b OUR BELOVED PROPHET MET HUGH HEFNER AT THE PLAYBOY MANSION, Raelian Contact 269. Retrieved 26 November 2006.
- ^ Brown, Johnathan, Portrait of the Fuhrer as a dreamer with a complex about his sexuality, The Independent UK. 1 April 2005. Retrieved 27 November 2006.
- ^ "Portrait of the Fuhrer as a dreamer with a complex about his sexuality" @ Rael-Science-Select, The Independent UK. 1 April 2005. Retrieved 27 November 2006.
- ^ International Religious Freedom Report 2003, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor. 18 December 2003. Retrieved 6 August 2006.
- ^ a b Susan J. Palmer, The Rael Deal, Religion in the News, Summer 2001, Vol. 4, No. 2.
- ^ Q: Crime rates for different countries, Google Answers. 23 April 2002. Retrieved 6 December 2006.
- ^ United States Crime Rates 1960 - 2005, The Disaster Center. Retrieved 8 December 2006.
- ^ Pleasure is the reason for our existence, WestEnder: Brisbane's Urban Voice. 2006. Retrieved 6 December 2006.
- ^ The Raelian Movement: FAQ - You accept donations, where does the money go?, The Raelian Movement: FAQ. 2005. Retrieved 1 October 2006.
[edit] External links
Official Raelian Sites
|
|
Study concerning this New Religious Movement
Criticism from Skeptics
Odd Connection...
|
Unofficial Raelian Sites
Raelian Research Interests |
