Throughout history, figures like Jesus, Muhammad, Moses, Abraham, and many other prophets and messengers are believed, according to the Raelian sect, to have communicated with extraterrestrial beings. Followers of this controversial belief system assert that French racecar journalist Claude Vorilhon, later known as “Rael,” is the last and most important of these messengers.
In their theology, humanity’s creators are an alien race referred to as “Elohim.” The term, drawn from Hebrew scriptures, is traditionally interpreted to mean “God.” However, Rael claims it actually translates to “those who came from the sky,” arguing that humanity has misunderstood religious texts.
This is the core belief of Raelism, a religion that boasts 55,000 adherents worldwide. Beyond its unorthodox cosmology, the movement also promotes controversial practices, including acceptance of open relationships and advocacy for same-sex and bisexual relationships.
Near the Volcano: The Beginnings of Raelism and Alleged Divine Revelation
On the morning of December 13, 1973, Claude Vorilhon was driving to his office in Clermont-Ferrand, France. He was a journalist for a motorsport magazine. He claimed to have felt an inexplicable urge to bypass his office and instead visit a dormant volcano in the Auvergne region.
Upon reaching the volcano, Vorilhon parked his car and decided to hike toward its center. As he reached the summit, he took a moment to reflect. On his way back down, he noticed a red flashing light and an unidentified flying object heading in his direction. Vorilhon insisted that the craft was entirely silent.
According to Rael, a being emerged from the craft and informed him that he had been chosen to convey a message from extraterrestrial beings who had created humanity. This same message, Rael claimed, had previously been communicated by earlier prophets but was misunderstood. The being renamed him “Rael.”
The Core Beliefs of Raelism: Aliens Created Humanity and Will Return to Jerusalem
Rael claimed that his encounters near the volcano occurred multiple times, during which the aliens allegedly revealed hidden truths about the universe and the origins of life on Earth. According to him, these beings created humanity 25,000 years ago through genetic engineering in a laboratory resembling the Biblical Garden of Eden.
Rael taught that these extraterrestrial beings had previously communicated with humans through prophets, whom he described as hybrids of humans and aliens. However, the complete truth was deliberately withheld, and religious scriptures like the Torah and the Bible were misinterpreted.
Raelism asserts that humanity is now ready to know the “truth.” Rael claimed that these aliens, referred to as “Elohim,” intend to return to Earth, specifically to Jerusalem, where they plan to establish a global government with a single language and currency.
In Rael’s theology, Satan (or Lucifer) was one of the alien scientists who led a group studying human behavior. His “fall from grace” was, in fact, a result of his desire to reveal the truth about humanity’s origins.
Raelism reinterprets Biblical stories through an extraterrestrial lens. For example, Noah’s Ark is described as a spaceship used to preserve genetic material during the flood. The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, according to Rael, involved spies from the Elohim and was carried out using nuclear explosions.
Rael further claimed that since the U.S. military’s use of nuclear weapons in Hiroshima in 1945, humanity has been living in an “apocalyptic era.” He urged humanity to choose between using science and technology for progress or self-destruction.
Raelism envisions a future where, if humanity overcomes this critical period, society will advance into an era of technological sophistication, tolerance, and sexual liberation.
Women, Sexuality, and Controversy in Raelism
Rael emphasized sexuality as a fundamental aspect of his teachings. He claimed that women are superior to men because they resemble the Elohim more closely. Rael even suggested that if women held global political power, wars would cease.
In Raelism, sexual pleasure is seen as a therapeutic means to reduce violent tendencies. It is taught that pursuing sexual pleasure creates new neural pathways in the brain, enhancing individual intelligence.
Adherents are encouraged to explore their sexual identities, engage in same-sex experiences, and reject traditional marriage norms. Rael also advocated for severe measures against child predators, such as castration or confinement in mental health facilities.
Raelism claims to have tens of thousands of followers globally. However, it has faced significant criticism, with many accusing Rael, who continues to reside in France, of fabricating his narrative.
