Raël

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Raël (born Claude Maurice Marcel Vorilhon on 30 September 1946) is a French journalist who founded the Raelian Movement, an international UFO religion. Raël claims to have had an encounter with an extraterrestrial being in 1973, which led to the establishment of the movement.

Early Life

Claude Vorilhon was born in Vichy, France. He pursued a career in journalism and race car driving before his alleged encounter with an extraterrestrial.

Encounter with Extraterrestrials

In December 1973, Raël claims he was contacted by an extraterrestrial named Yahweh, who took him to their planet and revealed the origins of life on Earth. According to Raël, these beings, known as the Elohim, created humanity through advanced genetic engineering.

Raelian Movement

The Raelian Movement was founded in 1974 following Raël's encounter. The movement promotes a philosophy of world peace, universal love, and the belief that life on Earth was created by the Elohim. The movement also advocates for the establishment of an embassy to welcome the return of the Elohim.

Symbol and Beliefs

The symbol of the Raelian Movement is a combination of a swastika and a Star of David. The movement's beliefs include atheism, sensual meditation, and the pursuit of genetic engineering to achieve immortality.

Clonaid

In 1997, the Raelian Movement founded Clonaid, a company that claims to have produced the first human clone. The announcement of the birth of a cloned baby named Eve in 2002 brought significant media attention and controversy.

Criticism and Controversy

The Raelian Movement has faced criticism and controversy, particularly regarding its beliefs and practices. Critics have labeled it a cult, and its claims about cloning have been met with skepticism from the scientific community.

See Also

• UFO religion
• Clonaid
• Extraterrestrial life
• Genetic engineering
• Cult