Raëlism

Raëlism

A gathering of Raëlians in South Korea.
Formation 1974
Type New Religious Movement, UFO Religion
Headquarters Paris, France.
Founder and Raël Claude Vorilhon
Key people Claude Vorilhon, Brigitte Boisselier
Website Rael.org
A series of articles on the

Raëlian Movement
 Beliefs and Practices • History
Adam, Eve, and Elohim (Raëlism).gif

Founder • Funds • Cloning

Political views • Economic views

Raëlism is a UFO religion that was founded in 1974 by Claude Vorilhon, now known as Raël. Raëlism has been described as "the largest UFO religion in the world".[1] In academic circles, the religion is also known as the Raëlian Church.

The Raelian Movement teaches that life on Earth was scientifically created by a species of extraterrestrials, which they call the Elohim. Members of this species appeared human and when having personal contacts with the descendants of the humans they made, they were mistaken for angels, cherubim or gods. Raëlians believe messengers, or prophets, of the Elohim include Buddha, Jesus, and many others who informed humans of each era. The founder of Raëlism, members claim, received the final message of the Elohim and that its purpose is to pacify and inform the world about Elohim, who wish to be welcome only if humans are peaceful.

Within the Raëlian Church, there is a quasi-clerical structure with a height of seven levels (Vorilhon is at the highest level). Joining the movement involves a transmission ceremony as well as an official apostasy from other religions in recognition of Elohim, as the creators of life from the heavens.

Members are asked to follow the Raëlian ideals that speak against the use of recreational drugs, tobacco, coffee and limit alcohol to moderation, if at all. Sexuality is an important part of the Raëlian doctrine, though Raëlians recommend a non-contractual agreement between mature sexual partners. Although they hold liberal views of sexuality, the Raëlian Church has attracted some of its priests and bishops from other religions.[2] These views are shared by women who make up a significant minority in Raëlian Church. Some of these women are strong advocates of refinement and erotic sensualism and participate in groups within such as "Rael's Girls" and the "Order of Angels".

Raël founded Clonaid (originally Valiant Venture Ltd Corporation) in 1997, but then handed it over to a Raëlian bishop, Brigitte Boisselier in 2000.[3] In 2002 the company claimed that an American woman underwent a standard cloning procedure that led to the birth of a daughter, Eve (b. December 26, 2002). Although few believe the claim, it nonetheless attracted national authorities, mainstream media, and young adults to look further into the Raëlians' cult status.

The use of the swastika in its original logo halted Raëlian requests for territory in Israel, and later Lebanon, for establishing the Raëlian Embassy for Extraterrestrials. The Raëlians have officially revived the logo with its original meaning as a symbol of peace.

Contents

Beliefs

A passerby meets a Raëlian at a booth in Tel Aviv, Israel.

George D. Chryssides described the Raëlian Church as being in an "early developmental stage" and that their beliefs distance it from a "dominant intellectual climate".[4] Contrary to traditional theology, Raëlism claims that all life on Earth, humans included, was created scientifically by Elohim, members of an extraterrestrial race who appeared similar to small humans and so were often depicted as angels,[5] cherubs,[6] or gods.[7] Raëlians, who are not monotheists, believe the correct historical meaning of the word Elohim is the plural sense, "those who came from the sky". As a result, Raëlians believe in intelligent design.

Chryssides states that Raëlism is discernible from other UFO religions for its heavy support for physicalism and repudiation of supernaturalism.[8] Susan J. Palmer, a social scholar who had historically long contacts with Raëlians, associated epiphenomenalism[9] with the belief in Raëlism that mind transfer coupled with human cloning can implant mind and personality into a new and disease free body.[10] Raëlians publicly deny the existence of the ethereal soul and a supernatural god,[11] but they believe that humanity for many generations past will be resurrected, albeit in a scientific way.[12]

Raëlians believe that throughout the ages, members of the Elohim civilization sent different prophets, including Moses, Jesus, Buddha and many others whose role was guide humanity and to prepare humans for the future, all of whom were created as a result of a sexual union between a human woman and one of the Elohim. To Raëlians, this was possible because the Elohim had advanced DNA synthesis and genetic engineering. The Elohim later reduced the frequent visits so that humans were largely left to progress on their own, until the time of the Apocalypse/Revelation when they would send their final messenger and disclose themselves at an Extraterrestrial embassy, establishing political and economic ties.

Raëlians believe that sex is a normal, natural and healthy part of life and encourages people to be true to their natural sexuality.[13] They promote healing from damaging messages from strict puritanical belief systems and social stigmas that stifle one's natural sexuality. Acceptance of masturbation, homosexuality, bisexuality, pansexuality, naturism and any legal, safe and consensual adult activity is promoted as part of a healthy and long life, and this is used to attract young converts to the religion.[14] Raelians believe that sexuality is a gift of pleasure to mankind from the Elohim.[15] The Raëlian book Let's Welcome our Fathers From Space says that new advanced extraterrestrial civilizations will ultimately practice a final religion or "religion of the infinite" that involves ubiquitous practice of Sensual Meditation.[16]

Voluntarism

Raëlians are encouraged to do as they feel right, whether that matches the rules of the culture in which they live or not. According to Susan J. Palmer, a majority of loosely affiliated Raëlian Movement members have often strayed from following rules concerning "diet, drugs, and sexual activity" as described in the Raëlian books. Sometimes, they will not attend monthly meetings or pay a tithe in proportion to their income. Only the more committed members who do follow such rules can remain in the movement's structure.[17]

According to Michel Beluet, the former director of a Raëlian-built museum called UFOland, the only pressure exerted on members is to attend annual Raëlian seminars, which allows members convinced of Raël's enthusiasm to voluntarily tithe.[18] However, Palmer cited Raël, who claimed that more than 60% of the Raëlian Movement's members do not tithe.[19] Dawson College students conducted a survey of the membership in Canada 1991 which found that only one-third of respondents tithed.[18]

History

The beginnings of Raëlism are rooted in the claims of a former French automobile journalist and race car driver Claude Vorilhon. In his books The Book Which Tells the Truth (1974) and Extraterrestrials Took Me to their Planet (1975), Vorilhon alleges that he had alien encounters with beings who gave him knowledge of the origins of all major religions.

The movement traces its beginnings to a conference in Paris, France of two thousand people in 1974.[20] From there, the MADECH organization was born.[20] The name MADECH is a double acronym in the French language. The first stands for "Movement for the welcoming of the Elohim, creators of humanity" (Mouvement pour l‘accueil des Elohim, créateurs de humanité) while the second stands for "Moses preceded Elijah and the Christ" (Moise a devancé Élie et le Christ).[21] By 1976, Raël transformed MADECH into the International Raelian Movement.[22] Over the years, various news media have given estimates of the movement's size, and the statistics agree with a long-term trend of past growth. In some years, reported Raëlian Church membership estimates have varied by tens of thousands.

From 1980 to 1992 Raël and his movement became increasingly global. In 1980 Claude Raël's fifth Raëlian book Sensual Meditation was published and formal publication of the Raëlian Messages in the Japanese language began[23] as part of the Raëlian mission to Japan.[19] Two years later, Africa became another target area in the mission to spread the Raëlian messages.[19]

In December 26, 2002, Brigitte Boisselier, a Raëlian Bishop and CEO of a biotechnology company called Clonaid, announced the birth of baby Eve, supposedly the first-ever human clone, which at that point ignited much media attention, ethical debate, doubt, critics, and claims of a hoax. Spokespeople for the movement, such as Claude Vorilhon, have suggested that this is only first step in achieving a more important agenda, claiming that accelerated growth process and mind transfer, in combination with cloning are mechanisms by which eternal life may be achieved.[24][25]

Member hierarchy

Level 6:
Guide of Guides
Planetary guide
Level 5:
Bishop		 Level 4:
Priest		 Level 3:
Assistant Priest
Continental head
National guide
Regional guide		 National guide
Regional guide		 Regional guide
Level 2:
Organizer		 Level 1:
Assistant Organizer
Level 0:
Trainee
Sources [26][27]
See also: Raël, Glenn Carter, and Brigitte Boisselier

The structure of the Raëlian Church is hierarchical, with seven levels ascending from level 0 to level 6.[28] The top four levels consist of "Guides". The level 6 guide, known as the "Guide of Guides", has the final say on who becomes a level 5 "Bishop Guide" or a level 4 "Priest Guide".[28] Bishops and priests promote lower-level members one level at a time during annual seminars. Each bishop or priest can propose a new guide as long as the candidate is from a level below his or her own. Guides can assist "Regional Guides"—level 3 and above[26][27]—in their assigning of non-guide members to levels 3 ("Assistant Priests"), 2 ("Organizers") and 1 ("Assistant Organizers").

Members of the Raëlian structure begin as level 0 "trainees" during annual seminars. Structure membership counts by third parties are missing or nonexistent, but figures by the movement itself suggest that the size of the structure is small in relation of the size of the whole movement. Issue 331 of Raelian Contact Newsletter suggests that the structure in 2007 had about 2,300 members,[29] The Raëlian Press Release Site claims that 170 members are "Raëlian guides",[30] and an article on Raelianews.org says there are 41 bishops.[31] After completing three 7-year terms, Claude Vorilhon holds the highest position.[28]

Converts from other religions

Vorilhon, other Raëlians, and their critics have characterized Raëlianism as an atheist religion that believes, not in God, but in extraterrestrials.[32][33] Although it holds an irreverent position, there remain multiple accounts of former clergy of mainstream religions joining the Raëlian Church, especially in Quebec.[34][35][36] The structure of the movement had promoted some of them to the level of Priest or Bishop due to "extensive Bible training and teaching skills".[34]

Two ex-Roman Catholic Priests, Victor Legendre[35] and Charles-Yvan Giroux[37] wrote testimonials regarding their change of faith to Raëlianism.[38] According to one article, a former bishop of the Church of Christ (Latter Day Saints) joined the Raelian Movement in order to express his homosexuality.[36] In the same article, a quote from a Raëlian, Mark Woodgate, states that 8% of Raëlians worldwide are former Mormons. Religiously mixed couples are common, especially with spouses who are Christians or Buddhists.[2]

Organized activity

Raëlians drawing with sand

Throughout the history of Raëlism, members of the Raëlian Church have toured public settings advocating masturbation, condoms and birth control.[39] Raëlians hope that genetically modified food[40] and nanotechnology[41] will allow humankind to eliminate the obligation to work, in a world that embraces science and technology.[42]

Raëlians have founded Clonaid, a company that envisions that someday human beings can be scientifically recreated though a process of human cloning, and Clitoraid, an organization whose mission is to oppose female genital mutilation.[43][44]

Raëlian structure members have set up exhibitions about their beliefs of extraterrestrial intelligent designers sending crop circles,[45] UFOs, and spaceships for their arrival at an embassy.[46] While there have been smaller meetings of Raëlians and non-Raëlians, annual Raëlian seminars have been typically larger.[47][48][49] Music has been a feature of large gatherings, where at night, Raëlians have had multiethnic cabaret performances.[50] Seminarists have used colored bracelets to indicate whether they wanted to be alone, be in a couple, or simply meet people.[51] Raëlian structure members who run the seminars have organized group exercises involving meditation with the senses. James R. Lewis, an authority on fringe religious movements, spoke of Raëlians who practiced a Raëlian exercise called Sensual Meditation and discovered "playing fields" where "radical self-reconstruction," "new forms of authority," and "new modes of self-relating" were encouraged.[52]

Women-only groups

Raëlian Women at the Seoul Korea Love Hug Festival

Women are a minority in the Raëlian Church. However, two anecdotes in the Raëlian Contact newsletter report female majorities joining the movement's Asian Mongolian chapter.[53][54] Women such as Brigitte Boisselier, the Chief Executive Officer of Clonaid, play a powerful role in the Raëlian Church. There are two major groups of women in the Raëlian Church.

The Order of Angels, founded in the 1990s, consists of over a hundred Raëlian women who call for femininity and refinement for all of humanity.[55][56] The initiation rites include declaring an oath or making a contract in which one agrees to become defender of the Raëlian ideology and its founder Raël.[57][58] The Order of Angels has its own hierarchy of "rose angels" and "white angels" which, as of 2003, are six and 160 women, respectively.[22] After the Clonaid human cloning claim made the headlines, the Daily Telegraph wrote that members of the order not only provided sexual pleasure for Raël, but also helped donate eggs for efforts towards human cloning.[39] A few days later, Time magazine wrote that French chemist Brigitte Boisselier was an Order of Angels member.[59] Around this time, cult specialist Mike Kropveld called the Order of Angels "one of the most transparent movements" he had witnessed. However, he was alarmed by the women's promise to defend Raël's life with their own bodies.[58]

Raël has instructed some women members to play a pro-sex feminist role in the Raëlian Church. "Rael's Girls" is another group of women in the movement which are against the suppression of feminine acts of pleasure, including sexual intercourse with men or women. Rael's Girls solely consists of women who work in the sex industry.[60] In contrast to the teachings of the world's major religions, the women of Rael's Girls say there is no reason to repent for performing striptease or being a prostitute.[60][61] This organization was set up to counteract the influence of the "JC's girls" mission of the Christian ex-stripper Heather Veitch.[62] Rael's Girls and its founder Raël were featured in a pictorial in the October 2004 issue of Playboy.[63]

Retreat gatherings and outdoor demonstrations

On a yearly basis, Raëlian members organize seminars that are often attractive to the sexually adventurous.[64] News KNBC called the annual Raëlian seminars "a cross between a nudist camp and new-age retreat."[65] A Spanish television agency reported Raëlian men and women in cross-dressing plays.[66] Not all Raëlian gatherings are exclusive to seminar locations. For example, a photographer of the Associated Press snapped a picture of half-naked Raëlian women wearing pasties as part of an anti-war demonstration in Seoul, Korea.[67] A snapshot by Agence France-Presse revealed Raëlians in white alien costumes with signs bearing the message "NO WAR ... ET wants Peace, too!".[68] Raëlians have also been reported in Nevada's Burning Man festival of 2006, as verified on the Burning Man website and mentioned in Raëlian Contact Newsletter #321.[69][70]

Initiation of new members

The major initiation rite in the Raëlian Church is the "baptism" or "transmission of the cellular plan" and is enacted by upper-level members in the Raëlian clergy known as guides.[71] Canadian sociologist Susan J. Palmer says that in 1979, Raël introduced the "Act of Apostasy" as an obligation for those preparing for their Raëlian baptism.[72] CTV Television Network states that apostasy from other religions is required for new Raëlian members.[73] Joining the Raëlian Church through transmission of the cellular plan happens only in certain days of the year. There are four such days—marking anniversaries in the Raëlian calendar.[19]

The first ceremonial date is August 6, which marks the anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in 1945.[74] This is not to be confused with a celebration of the bombing, since Raëlians view events like Hiroshima as events common to socially primitive but intellectually developed societies in the universe. They believe societies that find enough energy to reproduce across star systems, will guarantee their own self-destruction if they become too violent—without ever being able to reach planets in other star systems.[74] The second date is December 13, 1973, the day that Raël says he had his first personal encounter with one of the extraterrestrial Elohim.[75] The third is October 7, 1975, in which the Elohim, Raël says, took him up in a spacecraft and the following day had meals with Jesus, Buddha, and other past religious figures.[76] The last anniversary that Palmer gives is the first Sunday in April, which Raëlians believe is the date when dark-skinned extraterrestrials created Adam and Eve.[19][77]

The Raëlian baptism is known as transmission of the cellular plan where "cellular" refers to the organic cells of the body and the "plan" refers to the genetic makeup of the individual. This Raëlian baptism involves a guide member laying water onto the forehead of the new member.[78] The practice began on "the first Sunday in April"[17] of 1976 when Raël baptised 40 Raëlians.[17] Raëlians believe that their genetic information is recorded by a remote computer and would become recognized during their final hour when they will be judged by the extraterrestrial Elohim.[79]

Critical reception

Susan J. Palmer, a sociologist from Canada, has studied the movement since 1987[80] and says the movement intentionally stirs a moderate level of controversy to maintain membership. For example, Rael and the group attempt to tie their views with topical matters, ranging from Tiger Woods' promiscuity to strained relations in the Middle East, in regular online postings[81] and press releases.[82] This view is shared by Mike Kropveld—the executive director of an anti-cult organization with the name Info-Cult—who says the controversy leads to criticism by both religious and non-religious people.[58]

Fears of human cloning

Raëlians asking to stop the prohibition of Raël's entry into Korea

The Raëlian Church has close links with the controversial company Clonaid.[24] Brigitte Boisselier, a Raëlian and chief executive of Clonaid, made a controversial and unverified claim that a human baby was conceived through cloning technology.[59] Around this time, Clonaid's subsidiary BioFusion Tech claimed to have in possession a cell fusion device that assisted the cloning of human embryos.[83] The Vatican, however, says that experimenters expressed "brutal mentality" for attempting to clone human beings.[84] Pope John Paul II criticized the experiment which he believes threatens the dignity of human life.[85] In response, the leader of the Raëlian Church dismissed the Pope's ethical concerns, calling them an "accumulation of religious prejudices."[84]

Raëlian organizers made deliberate attempts to shock, titillate and capture the media's imagination.[86] The book Yes to Human Cloning (2001) attracted media attention after its release, including segments on 20/20 and 60 Minutes.[87] Biophysicist Gregory Stock described the Raëlian Clonaid project as "sufficiently quirky to command instant media attention."[88] It has been estimated that the group received free publicity worth US$500 million as a result of the Clonaid claim.[89] Mark Hunt, a lawyer and politician who wished to clone his dead son with the help of the Clonaid services, was overwhelmed by the height of the media attention and in an interview said that Clonaid's chief executive had become a "press hog".[90]

In response to Raël's association with Clonaid, South Korean immigration authorities at the airport denied him entry into their country in 2003.[91] This decision led to the quick cancellation of the planned Raëlian seminar which seven hundred registered for. Raëlians of South Korea were instructed by Raël to protest near the center of the country of Ministry of Health and Welfare that ordered him to leave.[91][92] Officials detained Raël for nine hours at Incheon International Airport before he and his wife Sophie de Niverville left for Tokyo from where they would take another plane on their way back to Canada. Raël responded by saying that Korean officials treated him like a "North Korean" and that he would wait for an apology before coming back to Korea.[92]

Views of sex

Woman on bed adorned with Raëlian symbol

Susan J. Palmer writes that in 1991, a French journalist went to a Raëlian Seminar and taped couples having sexual intercourse in tents. These tapes gained widespread publicity—with news stories describing these practices as perverted and a form of brainwashing.[93]

Since 1991, Raël's teachings on sexual intercourse have caused controversy among other religious groups. The next year, Catholic schools in Montreal, Canada objected to a proposed condom vending machine as contrary to their mission. In response, Raëlian guides gave the Catholic students ten thousand condoms. The Commissioner of Catholic schools for Montreal said they could do nothing to stop them. Around this time, Raëlians dubbed the event "Operation Condom".[93][94]

Sexual predators and guides who force missionary ideas against members are excommunicated by the Raëlian Church for a minimum of seven years—the amount of time Raëlians believe it takes for all of a person's biological cells to be regenerated.[95] In a 2006 issue of Raëlian Contact (no. 324), a picture is included of Raëlians in Los Angeles, California expressing their condemnation of acts of pedophilia which Raelians consider a disease, particularly those associated with celibate Catholic priests. Their message is that minors and adults should not be mixed in the act of sex.[96] On the other hand, Raëlians claim children should have "complete sexual liberty" and be provided positive and healthy messages about sexuality providing it is legal.[97] Therefore, authorities in the Swiss canton Valais denied an application by Raël to live in their area.[97]

Perception as a cult

There is continuing debate on whether Raëlians can be identified as a cult. The government of France classifies the Raelian Movement as a "secte" (French word for cult). However, according to Glenn McGee, the associate director of the Center for Bioethics at the University of Virginia, part of the sect is a cult while the other part is a commercial website that collects large sums of money from those interested in human cloning.[98] The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor of the United States Department of State[99] and sociologist Susan J. Palmer[100] have classified the International Raëlian Movement as a religion.

In 2005, a Wired News report said that two young adults named Abdullah Hashem and Joseph McGowen were welcomed into a Raëlian seminar and had permission to videotape it. They believe the footage they took makes it clear that the Raelian Movement is a cult which should disband. However, a Raëlian guide said in a Wired interview that he is not ashamed of what is shown and that he has no concerns about this incident.[101][102]

Raelians caution that most Christians use the specific definition of a cult as a religious group that denies one or more of the fundamentals of Biblical truth. Or, in more simple terms, they define it as a group that teaches something that will cause a person to not be saved (according to Christianity) if they believe it. In distinction from a religion, this method defines a cult as a group that claims to be Christian, yet denies an essential truth of Biblical Christianity.[103] In this sense, most Raelians, who have officially apostatized from orthodox religions, are fine with this term.

His estranged former wife claims that the group leader, Vorilhon was routinely unfaithful to her, bringing groups of female Raëlians home and holding orgies which affected the children from an early age.

No child should be expected to witness adult nudity and exist in an environment so close to people having orgies.[104]

Use of the swastika as an image of peace or hate

The Raëlian symbol.
See also: Swastika and Raëlian Embassy for Extraterrestrials

Raelians believe in reclaiming the swastika by restoring its historical, peaceful meaning.[105] Raelians feel that education should prevail in teaching the ancient, international meaning of the swastika as a symbol of eternal peace. Raelians feel that this positive historic symbol of good luck should prevail over its recent historical connection with the Nazis.[105]

In 1991, a Montreal anti-cult organization called Info-Cult made statements against the Raëlian Church with an article on Le Devoir, branding Raëlians as promoters of fascism and racism.[93] One reason given was that the church uses a swastika as part of their logo and the other is the Raëlian description of an extraterrestrial global government in which those less than ten percent above average intelligence are excluded from the electorate.[106] Outside Info-Cult's office, Raëlians spoke against the act of discriminating against a religious minority.[93] On January 2, 1992, a dozen people protested against the use of the swastika in the Raëlian logo in Miami's Eden Roc Hotel. Claude Vorilhon appeared at the end of this one week seminar—at a conference with an attendance of 230. The use of the swastika and other Raelian practices has led to criticism from the group Hineni of Florida, a Jewish anti-cult organization.[107]

In February 1991, the Raëlian Church modified their symbol. The official reason given was a request from the Elohim to change the symbol in order to help in negotiations with Israel for the building of the embassy or Third Temple to greet the anticipated Elohim space vessels although the country continued to deny their request.[108] In 2005, the Israeli Raëlian Guide Kobi Drori stated that the Lebanese government was discussing proposals by the Raëlian movement to build their "interplanetary embassy" in Lebanon. However, one condition was that the Raëlians not display their logo on top of the building because it mixes a swastika and a Star of David. According to Drori, the Raëlians involved declined this offer, as they wished to keep the symbol as is.[109] From 1991 to 2007, the official Raëlian symbol in Europe and America did not have the original swastika, but Raël, founder and leader of the Raëlian Movement decided to make the original symbol, the Star of David intertwined with a swastika, the only official symbol of the Raelian Movement worldwide.[110]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Susan J. Palmer, "Women in Controversial New Religions", in New Religious Movements and Religious Liberty in America, ed. Derek H. Davis & Barry Hankins, p. 66. Baylor University Press, 2004. ISBN 0918954924
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 The Raelian Movement, Human Rights Without Frontiers. Retrieved 2 December 2006.
  3. ↑ Clonaid Homepage: History Retrieved 26 March 2008.
  4. ↑ Partridge, p. 47.
  5. ↑ Raël, Intelligent Design, p. 308-14.
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  8. ↑ Partridge, p. 21.
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  10. ↑ Raël, p. 167.
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  13. ↑ Exhibit on homosexual behavior in animal kingdom, Raelianews.org. 8 December 2006. Retrieved 11 April 2008.
  14. ↑ To stop Pedophilia, It is urgent to give right to sex to Catholic Priests, Raelianews.org. 9 December 2006. Retrieved 11 April 2008.
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  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Palmer, p. 58
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  52. ↑ Lewis, p. 133.
  53. ↑ Mongolia, Raelian Contact 288. 25 October 2005. Retrieved 13 July 2007.
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  59. ↑ 59.0 59.1 Gibbs, Nancy, Abducting The Cloning Debate, Time Magazine in partnership with CNN. 5 January 2003. Retrieved 12 May 2007.
  60. ↑ 60.0 60.1 I-Team: Alien Nation, Raelians Moving Headquarters to Las Vegas, WorldNow and KLAS. 8 May 2007. Retrieved 8 May 2007.
  61. ↑ Rael's Girls, 2006. Retrieved 1 June 2007.
  62. ↑ RAEL's Girls in Support of Strippers, PR Newswire. 10 May 2006. Retrieved 10 June 2007.
  63. ↑ Names in the news, Knight Ridder. 16 September 2004. 10 August 2007.
  64. ↑ The Sexual Messiah, National Post. 7 August 1999. Retrieved 3 June 2007.
  65. ↑ 'Clone Baby' & Raëlians, NBC 4 Los Angeles. 5 May 2005. Retrieved 12 March 2007.
  66. ↑ "Sensual seminars” and flying saucers, Agence France-Presse. 22 September 2005. Retrieved 13 March 2007.
  67. ↑ raelity show, Associated Press. Retrieved 13 March 2007.
  68. ↑ Translation: Global anti-war rallies map series, Agence France-Presse. 15 March 2003. Retrieved 13 March 2007.
  69. ↑ Embassy For Extra-Terrestrials, Burning Man. 2006. Retrieved 13 March 2007.
  70. ↑ Lara, RAËLIANS BUILD EMBASSY AT BURNINGMAN, Raëlian Contact 321. 16 October 2006. Retrieved 9 September 2007.
  71. ↑ Palmer, p. 58–9.
  72. ↑ Palmer, p. 60.
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  74. ↑ 74.0 74.1 Raël, Intelligent Design, p. 151.
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  76. ↑ Raël, Intelligent Design, pp. 145–178.
  77. ↑ RaelAfrica.org, RaelAfrica.org. Retrieved 9 August 2006.
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  79. ↑ Raël, Intelligent Design, p. 175.
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  81. ↑ Raelianews: News, Raelianews.org. Retrieved 10 March 2010.
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  88. ↑ Stock, p. 157.
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