Nishka Nanani (Dubai)
‘Let us embrace Science and the new technologies unfettered, for it is these which will liberate mankind from the myth of god, and free us from our age-old fears, from disease, death and the sweat of labor.’ – Claude Vorilhon
Raëlism or more commonly known as the ‘UFO religion’ was originally founded by a man named Claude Vorilhon, now known as Raël. Raëlism teaches that there exists an extraterrestrial species known as the Elohim. Raël stated that the word "Elohim", which is used for God in the Old Testament, is actually a plural term which he translates as meaning "those who came from the sky." Raël claimed that he initially encountered these alien beings on 13 December 1973, when he was 27 years old. Raë has claimed that Elohim are physically smaller than humans and have almond-shaped eyes and pale green skin; they are also allegedly divided into seven different races. Raëlism teaches that around 25,000 years ago the Elohim arrived on Earth so that biological life could emerge. It states that the Elohim used their advanced technology to establish all life on the planet. Raëlians also believe that accounts of gods in various mythologies and religions around the world are just misinterpretations of memories about the Elohim. Raël claims that since the U.S. military's use of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima in 1945, humanity have been living in the "Age of Apocalypse" or "Revelation." It states that the human species must now choose whether to use science and technology to enhance life or to use it to bring about nuclear annihilation. It claims that if humans successfully get through this present age, they will live in an era of advanced technology in which society will be tolerant and sexually liberated.
Raëlism insists on a strict ethical code for its followers. Members are expected to take responsibility for their own actions, respect cultural and racial difference, promote non-violence, strive for world peace, and share wealth and resources. Raël viewed gender as an artificial construct and emphasized its fluidity. Raël avoided a macho persona and is instead has often been described by his followers as "gentle" and "feminine". It has also been suggested that Raël regarded women as being superior to men because they were described as being more like the Elohim. In Raël's account, the inhabitants of the Elohim planet "have 10 percent of masculinity and 90 percent of femininity." Raël also proposed that if women were in positions of political power across the world, there would be no war. The Raëlists reject both enforced monogamy and marriage, regarding these as institutions that have been enforced to enslave women and suppress sexual expression and the movement discourages its members from marrying.
The International Raëlian Movement claims tens of thousands of members, the majority in Western Europe and North America, as well as in parts of East Asia. Raëlians engage in missionary activities to attract new people to their religion. Members buy books written by Raël and then sell them on the street. Raëlians often encounter a lot of resistance in their attempts to convert others; Raël explains that this is to be expected, for the Elohim told him that only 4% of humanity is intelligent enough to be receptive to the Raëlian message. There is ongoing debate on whether or not Raëlism can be viewed as a cult or a genuine religion, but several professors of religion who have studied this topic at far greater lengths have claimed that Raëlism is a real religion and should be taken seriously.
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