Claude Vorilhon

Claude Vorilhon
Born	Birth date -1st March 1966 Vichy, France
Nationality	French
Other names	Raël
Occupation	Founder of Raëlism

Claude Vorilhon (born 30 September 1946), also known as Raël, is a French author, musician, and founder of the Raëlism religious movement. Born in Vichy, France, Vorilhon became a sports-car journalist and test driver before founding Raëlism in the 1970s following a purported extraterrestrial encounter.

Early life

Claude Vorilhon was born in Vichy, France. Details about his early life are sparse, but he pursued a career as a sports-car journalist and test driver. His life took a significant turn following his reported alien encounter in 1973.

Raëlism

In December 1973, Vorilhon claimed to have encountered an extraterrestrial being in the crater of a volcano in central France. According to his accounts, the alien revealed that humans were created by an advanced alien civilization known as the Elohim. This encounter and subsequent messages he claimed to have received led to the foundation of Raëlism. Vorilhon took the name Raël, meaning "messenger of the Elohim."

Raëlism teaches that life on Earth was scientifically created by the Elohim, who are mistaken for gods. The religion calls for world peace, sharing, and nonviolence. Its teachings emphasize the importance of love, sensuality, and the pursuit of scientific knowledge.

Publications and teachings

Raël has written several books that outline the beliefs and teachings of Raëlism, including The Book Which Tells the Truth and Intelligent Design: Message from the Designers. His writings cover topics from human origins to futuristic concepts like human cloning and terraforming.

Controversies and criticisms

Raëlism has been the subject of various controversies, primarily due to its unconventional beliefs and practices, such as advocacy for human cloning and a liberal approach to sexuality. The movement's views on cloning led to claims in the early 2000s that they had successfully cloned a human being, though these claims were met with skepticism and no scientific proof has been provided.

Personal life

Details about Vorilhon's personal life, including his family and relationships, are not extensively documented. He has lived in several countries, advocating for the global spread of Raëlism.

Legacy

Claude Vorilhon's establishment of Raëlism has led to a new religious movement that has attracted followers worldwide, though it also faces significant scrutiny and criticism from mainstream society and religious groups.