Aliens Adored

Aliens Adored: Raël's UFO Religion presents a sociological examination of Raëlism, a UFO-based religious movement founded by Claude Vorilhon (Raël) in 1973. Author Susan J. Palmer draws from over a decade of direct research and interviews with both Raël and his followers to document this controversial organization. The book explores the group's core beliefs, which center on claims that extraterrestrial scientists created all life on Earth. Palmer examines the movement's organizational structure, recruitment methods, and its blend of scientific and religious ideologies, including its stance on human cloning and sexual liberation. The text covers the movement's evolution from a small French group to an international organization claiming thousands of members across multiple continents. Palmer analyzes the leadership dynamics, member demographics, and the ways Raëlism positions itself in relation to mainstream religions and scientific institutions. This ethnographic study contributes to broader discussions about the nature of new religious movements, the intersection of science and faith, and how emerging religions adapt to contemporary social contexts.

Readers note that this academic study of the Raëlian movement provides an insider's view through Palmer's field research and interviews. Several reviews mention that the writing style makes dense academic content accessible to general readers interested in new religious movements. Readers liked: - Balanced perspective without sensationalism - First-hand accounts and observations - Historical context and details about founder Claude Vorilhon - Analysis of media coverage and public reactions Readers disliked: - Some academic jargon in methodology sections - Limited discussion of post-2000 developments - Focus more on leadership than rank-and-file members Online Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (12 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (4 ratings) Google Books: 4/5 (6 ratings) One Goodreads reviewer called it "the definitive scholarly work on the Raëlians," while an Amazon reader noted it "avoids the tabloid approach common in other books about the group."

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🛸 The Raëlian Movement grew to become one of the largest UFO religions worldwide, with an estimated 90,000 members across 90 countries at its peak 🧬 The book explores how Raëlians were among the first religious groups to openly embrace human cloning, establishing Clonaid in 1997 to pursue the technology 👽 Claude Vorilhon, the founder, was a former French race car driver and sports journalist before his alleged extraterrestrial encounter in December 1973 📚 Susan J. Palmer spent 15 years conducting field research on the Raëlian Movement, attending their seminars and gatherings across multiple continents 🔬 The movement combines elements of science fiction with actual scientific pursuits, maintaining laboratories and research facilities while promoting the idea that advanced aliens created humans through genetic engineering