Raelism
Raelism (also Raelianism or the Raelian Movement) is a UFO religion founded in France in 1973 by Claude Vorilhon, known within the movement as Raël. It is among the largest UFO-based new religious movements in the world by membership, with tens of thousands of followers across dozens of countries. The movement teaches that all life on Earth was genetically engineered by an advanced extraterrestrial species called the Elohim, and that the Elohim are responsible for the figures venerated as gods and prophets throughout human religious history.
| Also known as | Raelian Movement · Raelian Religion |
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Core Beliefs
- The Elohim: An advanced extraterrestrial civilization that created all life on Earth approximately 25,000 years ago using advanced biotechnology. The plural Hebrew word Elohim (commonly translated as "God" or "gods") is interpreted by Raelism as a direct reference to this species.
- Prophets as Elohim hybrids: Key religious figures in human history — including Buddha, Jesus, Moses, Muhammad, and 36 others — are identified as one of 40 Elohim-human hybrid "prophets" sent to guide humanity toward peaceful technological development.
- Raël as final prophet: Vorilhon claims he was contacted by an Elohim on December 13, 1973, near Clermont-Ferrand, France, and designated as the final prophet — the one who will inform humanity of its true origins before the Elohim return.
- Age of Apocalypse: The 1945 Bombing of Hiroshima inaugurated an "Age of Apocalypse" in which humanity entered the technological phase capable of nuclear self-destruction. The Elohim will not return until humanity demonstrates it can manage its technology peacefully.
- Embassy: Raelists seek to construct a formal embassy with extraterrestrial landing facilities for the Elohim's return visit, originally intended to be built in Israel.
Organization and Activities
The Raelian Movement is legally registered as a religion in some jurisdictions and operates openly, holding annual events and maintaining publications in multiple languages. It attracted significant controversy in 2002 when a Raelian biotech company, Clonaid, claimed to have produced the first human clone — a claim that was never independently verified.
The host of UAP Gerb describes the movement as a curiosity — unusual but not dangerous — and distinct from harmful UFO cults.