Editing Raëlism (section)

== Definition and classification ==

Raëlism is classified as a [[new religious movement]] by [[religious studies|scholars of religion]].{{sfnm|1a1=Barker|1y=1989|1p=10|2a1=Palmer|2y=1995|2p=105|3a1=Barrett|3y=2001|3p=394|4a1=Chryssides|4y=2003|4p=45|5a1=Gallagher|5y=2010|5p=15}} It has also been described as a UFO religion,{{sfnm|1a1=Bozeman|1y=1999|1p=155|2a1=Lewis|2y=2003|2p=99|3a1=Palmer|3y=2004|3p=3|4a1=Thomas|4y=2010|4p=6|5a1=Palmer|5y=2014|5p=204}} a UFO movement,{{sfnm|1a1=Palmer|1y=2004|1p=3|2a1=Oliver|2y=2012|2p=22}} and an ETI ([[Extraterrestrial intelligence|extra-terrestrial intelligence]]) religion.{{sfn|Thomas|2010|p=6}} The organization that promotes Raëlianism is the International Raëlian Movement (IRM),{{sfnm|1a1=Palmer|1y=2004|1p=16|2a1=Palmer|2a2=Sentes|2y=2012|2p=167}} which is also called the Raëlian Church.{{sfn|Palmer|Sentes|2012|p=176}} In France, where the religion originated, the government's [[Parliamentary Commission on Cults in France|Parliamentary Commission on Cults]] labels it as a "[[:Status of religious freedom in France|''secte'']]", a French term that is equivalent to the English word "[[cult]]".{{sfn|Palmer|Sentes|2012|p=179}}<ref name="fr99annex">{{cite web|url=http://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/dossiers/sectes/r1687anx.asp|title= Les sectes et l'argent – Annexes (Cults and money – Appendices)|access-date=20 April 2009|author= Assemblée Nationale|author-link= National Assembly of France|date= 10 June 1999|publisher= République Française|language= fr}}</ref> In 1997, a parliamentary inquiry commission issued a report through the [[Belgian Chamber of Representatives]] which likewise categorized the Belgian Raëlian Movement (''Mouvement Raëlien Belge'') as a ''secte''.{{sfn|Palmer|Sentes|2012|p=179}}<ref>[http://www.dekamer.be/FLWB/pdf/49/0313/49K0313008.pdf  Human Rights Without Frontiers International: Human Rights in Belgium] Annual Report (Events in 2005).</ref>

[[File:A gathering of Raëlians in South Korea.jpg|thumb|left|A public gathering of Raëlists in 2006 in the [[Insa-dong]] neighbourhood of [[Seoul]], South Korea, protesting their government's 2003 ban on Raël entering the country]]

Raëlism is among the largest [[UFO religion|UFO religions]] in existence,{{sfnm|1a1=Bozeman|1y=1999|1p=155|2a1=Palmer|2y=2004|2p=32|3a1=Palmer|3a2=Sentes|3y=2012|3p=167}} and in the mid-2000s, the scholar of religion [[Andreas Grünschloß]] called it "one of the most consolidated UFO groups internationally active today".{{sfn|Grünschloß|2004|p=432}} In its beliefs, Raëlism differs from many other UFO-based philosophies,{{sfn|Palmer|2004|p=16}} with the scholar of religion [[James R. Lewis (scholar)|James R. Lewis]] terming it "the most thoroughly secular of all the UFO religions".{{sfn|Lewis|2010|p=31}} Most other UFO religions, such as the [[Aetherius Society]], [[Ashtar (extraterrestrial being)#Ashtar Command|Ashtar Command]], and [[Heaven's Gate (religious group)|Heaven's Gate]], use many of the beliefs of the late-19th-century religion [[Theosophy]]; Raëlism does not.{{sfn|Palmer|2004|pp=20-21}} Raëlists have also been characterized as having a "belief in ufology",{{sfn|Chryssides|2003|p=57}} but Raëlians often stress that they do not regard themselves as [[Ufology|ufologists]].{{sfn|Barrett|2001|p=392}}

Raëlism is [[materialism|materialistic]] and rejects the existence of the [[supernatural]],{{sfn|Chryssides|2003|p=45}} endorsing [[atheism]] and rejecting the idea that gods exist.{{sfnm|1a1=Palmer|1y=1995|1p=107|2a1=Barrett|2y=2001|2p=392}} The religion's founder, Raël, characterizes traditional religion as irrational and unscientific,{{sfn|Lewis|2010|p=31}} presenting his alternative as a philosophy free from "obscurantism and mysticism".{{sfn|Palmer|Sentes|2012|p=170}} Raëlians call their belief system a "scientific religion",{{sfnm|1a1=Lewis|1y=2003|1p=102|2a1=Palmer|2y=2004|2p=2}} with the International Raëlian Movement using the motto "Science is our religion; religion is our science".{{sfn|Palmer|Sentes|2012|p=171}} The religion emphasizes the use of science to solve the world's problems,{{sfn|Palmer|2004|p=24}} and practitioners regard Raël as a pioneer of science who will one day be regarded as a peer of [[Galileo]] and [[Copernicus]].{{sfn|Palmer|2004|p=47}} Many of its members call it an "atheistic religion",{{sfnm|1a1=Barker|1y=1989|1p=146|2a1=Chryssides|2y=2003|2p=47|3a1=Grünschloß|3y=2004|3p=433}} and compare it to [[Buddhism]], some branches of which similarly do not promote belief in gods (especially [[Theravāda Buddhism]]).{{sfn|Grünschloß|2004|p=433}}

Along with science, the other main basis of Raël's ideas is the [[Bible]].{{sfn|Palmer|2004|p=23}} Noting the "central role" of the Bible in Raëlism, the scholar of religion [[Eugene V. Gallagher]] suggested that it was a "thoroughly biblical and thoroughly Christian" philosophy.{{sfn|Gallagher|2010|p=15}} Similarly, the sociologist of religion [[Susan J. Palmer]] characterised Raëlism as both [[Fundamentalism|fundamentalist]] and [[Abrahamic religions|Abrahamic]] in its reliance on the Bible.{{sfn|Palmer|2004|p=30}} Raël nevertheless criticised [[Christianity]] for what he believed was its role in perverting the Bible's message, presenting himself as an opponent of the [[Roman Catholic Church]].{{sfn|Gallagher|2010|p=24}} Raëlism is not inclusive of other religions, with new members expected to formally renounce any previous religious affiliations.{{sfn|Oliver|2012|p=23}}