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[[Category:Raëlian]]
[[Category:Raëlian]]
[[Category:New religious movements]]
[[Category:New religious movements]]
[[Category:Cult]]
[[Category:Cults]]

Revision as of 20:56, 7 September 2006

File:Raelian Meditation.jpg
A picture of Raelians taking part in Sensual Meditation exercises.

The Raëlian Church or International Raëlian Movement is a steadily growing[1] atheist religious organization spread across 84 countries[2]. The foundation of the Raëlian Church's beliefs, Raëlism, is set forth by books written by Raël known as the Raëlian messages, which as of August 2006, are available 28 languages[3].

The International Raëlian Movement says that membership in movement is particularly high in France, Japan, Canada (especially Quebec), and the United States (especially Miami, Las Vegas, Chicago and Los Angeles). The Raelian Movement spreads its philosophy through many books, e-books[3], press releases[2], and websites, as well in public urban areas where pedestrian traffic is common.

The International Raelian Movement is classified as a new religious movement by some scholars and governments[4] but has been perceived by some people and governments as a cult. It has been characterised by some observers as a type of "UFO religion", although the group itself does not focus on UFOs.

Awakening (Open Mind) Seminars

Raëlian seminars[5][6][7] are gatherings of Raëlians and non-Raëlians alike who come for their own said purpose, whether it is to enjoy the mediations and flavors of personality and humor, or to simply observe the nature of such gatherings. These Raëlian gatherings often take in areas such as hotels in Japan and Thailand, gardens in Canada, and the hotels of Nevada in its warm desert climate. 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 about the many themes Raëlians focus on, as well as other topics that are relevant to their beliefs and philosophy. At the end of the evening, mainly at 9:00 PM, especially in the larger seminars, people, both Raëlians and non-Raëlians may gather to watch shows prepared and executed 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 actual costs of running the Raelian seminars. Only returning people who are of age are required to cover these costs.

Guide Seminars

After the Raelian seminars are completed, Guide seminars follow their suit. The said purpose of these seminars is to prepare members of the Raelian movement for the responsibility of maintaining the higher functioning of the International Raelian Movement.

Booths

Some Raëlians often use temporary public displays with the idea to diffuse the Raëlian message via discussions, brochures, and books. These booths have also been utilized for promotion of values such as gay rights[8] and to spread the word[9][10] about their belief concerning a connection which they say crop circles and UFOs have with extraterrestrial creators of mankind (Elohim) and their said ideas to arrive at a proposed embassy.

Parades

File:Raelian Parade Float Japanese.jpg
Two Japanese Raelians stand on a float which Japanese Raelian women used during a Flower Parade sponsored by Hiroshima in 2005.

Raëlians around the world have participated in parades. Their liberal activism during parades emphasizes the philosophical aspects of the International Raelian Movement. Raëlians often appear in Flower parades as well as gay pride parades with the idea to express their support for ideals such as love and sexual freedom.

In the flower parade event in Hiroshima, Japan (2005), Japanese Raëlians set up a float decorated with flowers, the Raelian symbol for infinity of space and time, and a poster of the embassy for extraterrestrials which Raëlians intend to build within the coming few decades[11].

In gay pride parades[12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20], 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".

Activism in Africa

The International Raelian Movement is a strong supporter of a concept of a "United States of Africa" following a more honest and complete "decolonization"[21]. They are said to foresee the disbanding of corrupt rulerships as a result of Africans returning to their religious and territorial roots which existed before colonization by Europeans. Consequently, the growth of Raelian membership in Africa is the highest of all continents[1].

The International Raelian Movement denounces excision of the clitoris and have consequentially began a massive fundraising effort to pay for repairs of clitorises[22].

Leadership Roles

Guide Seminars are designed to prepare people to take elected leadership roles of the International Raelian Movement. Those who attend "guide seminars" are initially trainees (Level 0). There are 6 Guide levels and these are:

Level 6: Guides of guides
Level 5: Bishop guide
Level 4: Guide
Level 3: Assistant guide
Level 2: Animator

Level 1: Assistant animator

Raelian guides are required to become actual 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 for the said purpose of covering the costs of the movement and to invest in the future construction of the "embassy for extraterrestrials."

Order of Angels

File:Raelian angels Santa Monica Group.jpg
Raëlian Angels of Santa Monica, California

One aspect of the movement is the Order of Angels, an international group of women whose primary idea is to help humanity develop the qualities of femininity and refinement. Raëlians believe that people must grow beyond the current aggression and violence on Earth and that this will only happen if men as well as women develop their femininity.

Members of the Order of 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. Many people have expressed concern about the commitment required in order to be an angel. 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[23].

Different ranks are indicated by the number (and colour) of feathers worn around the Angels' neck.

Guide of Guides

Main article: Raël

Infiltrations

Infiltrations are encouraged by the International Raelian Movement[24]. 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.

Trivia

  • Every year in the United States, a meeting of Raelians and Non-Raelians take place in a multi-day event known as a Raelian Seminar (or Festival) - in the city of Las Vegas, NV [25][26].
  • Raelians have been participants in events such as gay pride parades and other festivals such as Burning Man[27] and the Cannes Film Festival[28].
  • The continent with the strongest growth in Raelian Membership is Africa. On the day of April 1, 2006, Africa officially had 251 new Raelians receive their Raelian "Baptism" (also known among the Raelians as a "Cellular Transmission"), and 121 of those transmissions took place in Burkina Faso[1].

See also

Further Reading

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b c First Sunday of April celebrations. 378 new Raelians on the planet!, Raelian Contact 304. 8 April 2006. Retrieved 2 August 2006.
  2. ^ a b Raelian Press Site, The International Raelian Movement. Retrieved 6 August 2006.
  3. ^ a b The Raelian Movement: Downloads, The International Raelian Movement. Retrieved 6 August 2006.
  4. ^ International Religious Freedom Report 2003, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor. 18 December 2003. Retrieved 6 August 2006.
  5. ^ Raelian Seminars in the Americas, The International Raelian Movement. Retrived August 6 2006.
  6. ^ Raelian Seminars in Asia, The International Raelian Movement. Retrived August 6 2006.
  7. ^ Raelian Seminars in Europe, The International Raelian Movement. Retrived August 6 2006.
  8. ^ eric_bolou's photos, Yahoo! Photos. Retrieved 6 August 2006.
  9. ^ Bourgeaux, Par Pierre, CROP-CIRCLES in the Streets of Switzerland, Raelian Contact 309. 23 May 2006. Retrieved 6 August 2006.
  10. ^ Raelian Exhibitions in Japan, (West) Japanese Raelian Movement. Retrieved 6 August 2006.
  11. ^ Ichikawa, Hiroko, IN HIROSHIMA, JAPAN, Raelian Contact 271. 9 May 2005. Retrieved 6 August 2006.
  12. ^ In Boston..., Raelian Contact 276. 21 June 2005. Retrieved 6 August 2006.
  13. ^ GAY PRIDES ..., Raelian Contact 277. 28 June 2005. Retrieved 6 August 2006.
  14. ^ Contreras, Miguel, GAY PARADE IN GUADALAJARA, MEXICO, Raelian Contact 278. 3 July 2005. Retrieved 6 August 2006.
  15. ^ Lara, GAY PARADE IN LONDON, Raelian Contact 279. 27 July 2005. Retrieved 6 August 2006.
  16. ^ CANADA, Raelian Contact 280. 9 August 2005. Retrieved 6 August 2006.
  17. ^ Andre, GAY PRIDES, Raelian Contact 312. 24 June 2006. Retrieved 6 August 2006.
  18. ^ Alaric, Chicago, USA, Raelian Contact 313. 1 July 2006. Retrieved 6 August 2006.
  19. ^ 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.
  20. ^ Picture of the week..., Raelian Contact 315. 27 July 2006. Retrieved 17 August 2006.
  21. ^ AFRICA, THE FUTURE OF HUMANITY, The International Raelian Movement. Retrieved 9 August 2006.
  22. ^ Clitoraid.org, Raelian effort to promote sponsorship of clitorises. Retrieved 9 August 2006.
  23. ^ McCann, Brigitte, Raelian Nation angels poised to die for prophet, Calgary Sun, 7 Oct 2003.
  24. ^ Barathieu, Yves, In Turkey, Raelian Contact 268. 10 April 2005. Retrieved 8 August 2006.
  25. ^ The LAS VEGAS Seminar.... A Hit, Raelian Contact 309. 23 May 2006. Retrieved 2 August 2006.
  26. ^ A VERY SPECIAL SEMINAR IN LAS VEGAS, Raelian Contact 273. 26 May 2005. Retrieved 2 August 2006.
  27. ^ Lara, Burning Man Diffusion, Raelian Contact 310. 3 June 2006. Retrieved 2 August 2006.
  28. ^ Demba, Guillaume, The Cannes festival.. a good year, Raelian Contact 310. 3 June 2006. Retrieved 2 August 2006.
Official Raelian Sites
Study concerning this New Religious Movement

Criticism from Skeptics

Odd Connection...

Unofficial Raelian Sites

Raelian Research Interests

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