Editing Raëlism (section)

=== Origins ===
[[Claude Vorilhon]] was born in [[Ambert]], France, on 30 September 1946.{{sfnm|1a1=Palmer|1y=2004|1p=32|2a1=Palmer|2a2=Sentes|2y=2012|2p=167}} He was the illegitimate son of a 15-year-old mother; his father had been a [[Sephardi Jew]] who was then in hiding from the [[Nazi Germany|Nazi]] authorities.{{sfnm|1a1=Palmer|1y=2004|1p=32|2a1=Palmer|2a2=Sentes|2y=2012|2p=167}} Vorilhon later recounted being raised as an atheist by his grandmother and aunt, although for a time he attended a Roman Catholic boarding school.{{sfnm|1a1=Palmer|1y=2004|1p=32|2a1=Palmer|2a2=Sentes|2y=2012|2p=167}} As a teenager, Vorilhon hitch-hiked to Paris, where he pursued a career as a singer, releasing singles under the name "Claude Celler".{{sfnm|1a1=Palmer|1y=2004|1pp=33–34|2a1=Palmer|2a2=Sentes|2y=2012|2p=167}} He then married a nurse, and had two children with her.{{sfnm|1a1=Palmer|1y=2004|1p=34|2a1=Palmer|2a2=Sentes|2y=2012|2p=167}} In 1973, he founded the [[racing car]] magazine ''Auto Pop'', and also worked as a test-driver for such vehicles.{{sfnm|1a1=Palmer|1y=2004|1p=34|2a1=Palmer|2a2=Sentes|2y=2012|2p=167}} In November of 1973, a new law was introduced in France which banned speeding on the highway, ending his work as a test driver.{{sfnm|1a1=Palmer|1y=2004|1p=34|2a1=Palmer|2a2=Sentes|2y=2012|2p=167}} ''Auto Pop'' ceased publication in September 1974.{{sfn|Palmer|2004|p=36}}

[[File:Puy Lassolas 1.JPG|thumb|left|The Puy Lassolas, the mountain where Raël claimed he first encountered the Elohim in 1973]]

There had been a range of reported UFO sightings in the 1970s in France,{{sfn|Palmer|Sentes|2012|p=168}} and the ancient astronaut theory was "very much in vogue" in the country by the middle of that decade.{{sfn|Palmer|2004|p=28}} In early 1974, Vorilhon announced that in December of 1973, he had been contacted by the Elohim while walking along the Puy Lassolas mountain. He began promoting these ideas in interviews on French television and radio.{{sfn|Palmer|2004|pp=31, 36}} He began lecturing on his alleged experiences in Paris, where he attracted a group of followers,{{sfn|Palmer|2004|p=37}} many of which were science-fiction fans or amateur ufologists.{{sfn|Palmer|2004|p=28}} In December of 1974, an organisation based upon his ideas, called the Mouvement pour l'accueil des Elohims créateurs de l'humanité (MADECH; "Movement for the Welcoming of the Elohim, Creators of Humanity"), was launched.{{sfn|Palmer|2004|p=37}} Vorilhon began referring to himself as "Raël".{{sfn|Palmer|2004|p=37}} A newsletter, called ''Apocalypse'', began publication in October of 1974.{{sfn|Palmer|2004|p=37}} MADECH began raising money for the self-publication of Vorilhon's first book,{{sfn|Palmer|2004|p=37}} which appeared as ''Le livre qui dit la verité'' that year.{{sfn|Barrett|2001|p=390}} Raëlians treat his first book with reverence, often referring to it simply as ''Le livre'' ("the book").{{sfnm|1a1=Palmer|1y=2004|1p=31|2a1=Palmer|2a2=Sentes|2y=2012|2p=173}}

Some members of MADECH wanted the organisation to take a broader interest in Ufology beyond Raël's own claims, and also desired to restrict his authority within the group.{{sfn|Palmer|2004|p=37}} Amid an internal power struggle, Raël called an emergency meeting in April 1975. The feud continued, and in July of that year, he dismissed MADECH's executives, and replaced them with seven of his own supporters.{{sfnm|1a1=Palmer|1y=2004|1p=37|2a1=Palmer|2a2=Sentes|2y=2012|2p=173}} Raël also announced that he had been contacted by the Elohim for a second time, and that on this occasion, they had taken him to visit their planet. He outlined these claims in his 1975 book ''Les Extra-Terrestres M'ont Emmené sur Leur Planète''.{{sfnm|1a1=Barrett|1y=2001|1p=390|2a1=Palmer|2y=2004|2p=38}} Opposition to Raël remained evident in MADECH, and in 1976, he disbanded the group, beginning the Raëlian Movement as a replacement in February 1976.{{sfnm|1a1=Palmer|1y=2004|1p=39|2a1=Palmer|2a2=Sentes|2y=2012|2p=173}} It operated along a strict hierarchy, with Raël as its director, referred to as the "Guide of Guides".{{sfn|Palmer|Sentes|2012|p=173}} Unlike MADECH, it promoted a broader religious structure, including ritual practices.{{sfn|Palmer|2004|p=57}} It continued publication of ''Apocalypse'' to spread its message.{{sfn|Palmer|Sentes|2012|p=173}}

In 1976, the Raëlians sent a mission to the Canadian province of Quebec, to attract converts in the Francophone region.{{sfn|Palmer|2004|p=65}} The next year, a Quebecois branch of the Movement was established.{{sfn|Palmer|2004|p=66}} Raël's first two books were then published in a single English edition, titled ''Space Aliens Took Me to Their Planet'' in 1978, and republished as ''The Message Given To Me By Extra-Terrestrials: They Took Me to their Planet'' in 1986, and in a new translation, as ''The Final Message'' in 1998.{{sfn|Barrett|2001|p=390}} He expanded upon his ideas with several additional books: ''Accueiller Les Extra-Terrestes'' in 1979 (translated as ''Let's Welcome Our Fathers from Space'' in 1986),{{sfn|Barrett|2001|p=390}} ''La Méditation Sensuelle'' in 1980 (translated as ''Sensual Meditation'' in 1986), and ''Geniocracy''.{{sfn|Barrett|2001|p=390}}