Editing Raëlism (section)

== Demographics ==
{{Main|Demographics of Raëlism}}

Established in France, Raëlism initially spread in Francophone areas of Europe, Africa, and North America.{{sfn|Barrett|2001|p=391}} As of the mid-1990s, membership clustered predominantly in France, Quebec, and Japan.{{sfn|Palmer|1995|p=107}} Palmer noted that in Canada, Raëlism had faced difficulty spreading from Quebec and into the country's Anglophone provinces.{{sfn|Palmer|1995|p=115}} In 1999, Bozeman said that the Movement had around 35,000 members,{{sfn|Bozeman|1999|p=155}} while in 2003 Chryssides said it had about 55,000 members worldwide.{{sfn|Chryssides|2003|p=45}} By the early 2010s, the group was claiming 60,000 members internationally, a number Palmer and Sentes thought was "probably inflated".{{sfn|Palmer|Sentes|2012|pp=167, 181}} In Britain, the sociologist [[Eileen Barker]] said that there were "only a dozen or so" committed members of the religion in 1989.{{sfn|Barker|1989|p=151}} By 2001, the sociologist David V. Barrett suggested that there were around 40 to 50 committed members in the country and around 500 sympathisers;{{sfn|Barrett|2001|p=391}} two years later, Chryssides thought there were about 40 members and 200 sympathisers in Britain.{{sfn|Chryssides|2003|p=45}}

An internal survey of the group's members in 1988 found that there were almost double as many men as women in the Movement.{{sfn|Palmer|1995|p=106}} Similarly, based on her attendance at Raëlian events in Quebec, Palmer noted that men usually outnumbered women.{{sfn|Palmer|1995|p=115}} She observed that many of the men acted in an [[effeminacy|effeminate]] fashion,{{sfn|Palmer|1995|p=115}} and were often attracted to other men.{{sfn|Palmer|1995|p=118}} Palmer also observed several [[transgender]] people at the meetings,{{sfn|Palmer|1995|p=119}} and found that a significant number of the women present worked as strippers.{{sfn|Palmer|1995|p=118}} On these grounds, she suggested that Raëlism had a particular appeal for "people who define themselves as sexually marginal".{{sfn|Palmer|1995|p=119}} Palmer also suggested that Raëlism had an appeal for "committed atheists who are hopelessly secularized yet suffering from the existential angst of living in a world devoid of order and higher values".{{sfn|Palmer|2004|p=194}}

=== Conversion ===
[[File:Raëlian lecture at Onyang High School, South Korea.jpg|thumb|right|A Raëlian lecturing on his religion at Onyang High School in South Korea]]

Raëlians engage in missionary activities to attract converts.{{sfn|Palmer|2004|p=64}} Members buy Raël's books to sell on the street, hoping to recoup their original costs.{{sfn|Palmer|2004|p=63}} They often encounter much resistance to 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.{{sfn|Palmer|2004|p=64}} Any Raëlian found trying to force someone to convert is banned from the organisation for seven years, the period which Raëlians believe it takes for every cell in the body to be replaced.{{sfn|Palmer|1995|p=107}}

Since 1979, new members of the Raëlian Movement have been expected to sign an "Act of Apostasy",{{sfnm|1a1=Palmer|1y=2004|1p=60|2a1=Palmer|2a2=Sentes|2y=2012|2p=175}} and send a letter of [[apostasy]] to any religious organisation that they were previously involved with.{{sfnm|1a1=Palmer|1y=1995|1p=107|2a1=Palmer|2y=2004|2p=60}} They also sign a contract which permits a mortician to cut a piece of bone from their forehead after death, which they understand as the "Third Eye". This specimen will be stored in ice at a Swiss facility until the Elohim return, at which time it may be used to clone the deceased individual.{{sfnm|1a1=Palmer|1y=1995|1p=107|2a1=Palmer|2y=2004|2pp=59–60|3a1=Palmer|3a2=Sentes|3y=2012|3p=175}} This process is known as "the lifting of the frontal bone".{{sfn|Palmer|2004|p=60}} In addition, people who join are expected to bequeath their assets to the local Raëlian group,{{sfn|Palmer|Sentes|2012|p=175}} although this is not obligatory.{{sfn|Palmer|2004|p=60}}

Some former Christian clergy-members have joined the Raëlians, sometimes being swiftly promoted to the level of Priest or Bishop due to the skills that are brought with them from their previous religious organisation.{{sfn|Palmer|2004|p=79}} In 2004, for example, Ron Boston, a former bishop of [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]], joined the Raëlian Movement, stating that doing so would allow him to embrace his homosexuality.<ref name="Cult Lures Gay Bishop into Fold">{{cite news |url=http://www.religionnewsblog.com/6958/cult-lures-gay-bishop-into-fold |title=Cult Lures Gay Bishop into Fold |website=Religion News Blog |date=23 April 2004 |accessdate=19 January 2022 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008094916/https://www.religionnewsblog.com/6958/cult-lures-gay-bishop-into-fold |archivedate=8 October 2007}}</ref>