Editing Raëlism (section)

=== The Age of Apocalypse and the Elohim's Return ===
[[Image:Tent version of Embassy for Extraterrestrial Elohim for Raëlian seminar in Columbia, South America.jpg|thumb|right|A small-scale tent copy of the proposed Elohim embassy erected at a Raëlian seminar in Colombia]]

Raëlism is a [[millenarianism|millenarian]] philosophy.{{sfnm|1a1=Palmer|1y=1995|1p=105|2a1=Oliver|2y=2012|2p=23}} Raël claims that since the U.S. military's use of the nuclear bomb on Hiroshima in 1945, humans have been living in the "Age of Apocalypse" or "Revelation".{{sfnm|1a1=Palmer|1y=1995|1pp=106–107|2a1=Bozeman|2y=1999|2p=155|3a1=Barrett|3y=2001|3p=390|4a1=Palmer|4y=2014|4p=185}} Raëlian doctrine states that the human species must now choose whether to use science and technology to enhance life, or to use it to bring about nuclear annihilation.{{sfnm|1a1=Bozeman|1y=1999|1p=155|2a1=Palmer|2y=2014|2p=185}} It claims that if humans successfully get through this present age, they will live in an era of advanced technology, in which society will be tolerant and sexually liberated.{{sfn|Bozeman|1999|p=155}} Raël claimed that he was destined to help lead the human species away from its path of destruction.{{sfn|Palmer|Sentes|2012|p=169}}

According to Raël, beginning a peaceful age will cause the return of the Elohim to Earth.{{sfn|Palmer|Sentes|2012|p=169}} He added that those Elohim will bring with them the 39 immortal prophets who they had previously sent to guide humanity.{{sfnm|1a1=Chryssides|1y=2003|1p=54|2a1=Palmer|2a2=Sentes|2y=2012|2p=169}} Raël stated that humanity has to build an embassy for the Elohim prior to their arrival on Earth, and that it must include a landing pad for their spaceship.{{sfnm|1a1=Chryssides|1y=2003|1p=52|2a1=Palmer|2y=2014|2p=185}} He stated that it needed to be located on internationally recognised neutral territory, so as not to indicate favour towards any one particular nation-state.{{sfn|Barrett|2001|p=391}} Initially, Raël sought permission to build it in Israel,{{sfnm|1a1=Barrett|1y=2001|1p=391|2a1=Chryssides|2y=2003|2p=53}} explaining this by reference to how the ancient Israelites were once in contact with the Elohim.{{sfn|Barrett|2001|p=391}} He also stated that this embassy would constitute the "[[Third Temple]]" referred to in Jewish prophecy.{{sfnm|1a1=Chryssides|1y=2003|1p=53|2a1=Palmer|2a2=Sentes|2y=2012|2p=170}}

Receiving little help for this venture from the Israeli government, Raël instead suggested that a neighbouring country might be suitable, proposing Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and Egypt as possible locations. None of the governments of these countries were favorable.{{sfn|Barrett|2001|p=391}} Senior people of the Raëlian Movement suggested [[Hawaii]] as a possible alternative, and in 1998, Raël stated that he had received a new revelation from the Elohim, which stated that this location would be acceptable.{{sfn|Palmer|Sentes|2012|p=170}} Chryssides noted that, should the Elohim not arrive in 2035, the Raëlians will have to adapt to the new circumstance in which their [[eschatology]] remains unfulfilled.{{sfn|Chryssides|2003|p=60}} On 16 April 1987, the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' estimated the funding for the "cosmic [[kibbutz]]" at $1 million. In 1997–1998, the funding had risen to $7 million.<ref name="Human Cloning's 'Numbers Game'">Weiss, Rick, [Human Cloning's 'Numbers Game'], ''[[Washington Post]]''. 10 October 2000. Retrieved 21 March 2011. [https://news.google.com/archivesearch?q=%22which+claims+to+have+50000+members+in%22&btnG=Search+Archives&hl=en ''(highlight)'']<!-- Former url: http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-33260612.html --></ref><ref name="Alien ideas of Genesis?">[http://www.oakridger.com/stories/010298/aps_alien.html Alien ideas of Genesis?] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990220041138/http://www.oakridger.com/stories/010298/aps_alien.html |date=20 February 1999 }} ''Oak Ridger''. 2 January 1998. Retrieved 17 July 2007.</ref><ref name="The Raelian Church to Build Embassy on the Beach!!!">[https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/prnewswire/access/25694720.html?dids=25694720:25694720&FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:FT&date=Dec+27%2C+1997&author=&pub=PR+Newswire&desc=The+Raelian+Church+to+Build+Embassy+on+the+Beach!!!&pqatl=google The Raelian Church to Build Embassy on the Beach!!!] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930231623/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/prnewswire/access/25694720.html?dids=25694720:25694720&FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:FT&date=Dec+27,+1997&author=&pub=PR+Newswire&desc=The+Raelian+Church+to+Build+Embassy+on+the+Beach!!!&pqatl=google |date=30 September 2007 }}, ''[[PR Newswire]]''. 27 December 1997. Retrieved 17 July 2007.</ref> In 2001, group members claimed that they had saved $9 million for the embassy,{{sfn|Palmer|2004|p=64}} and in October 2001, the funding had reached $20 million.<ref name="Clones of Aliens Are Among US?">Nichols, Hans S. [https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-79439339?refid=gg_x_02 Clones of Aliens Are Among US?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728124348/https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-79439339/clones-of-aliens-are-among-us |date=28 July 2020 }}, ''Insight on the News''. 29 October 2001. Retrieved 17 July 2007. [https://news.google.com/archivesearch?q=million+%22Clones+of+Aliens+Are+Among+US%3F%22&hl=en&ned=us ''(highlight)'']</ref>

Once on Earth, Raël claims, the Elohim will share their advanced technology and scientific understanding with humans, and will help to usher-in a utopia.{{sfn|Palmer|Sentes|2012|p=169}} Raël teaches that the Elohim's arrival will herald a new and improved political system on Earth.{{sfn|Chryssides|2003|p=53}} This will be a single [[world government]] that Raël terms a "geniocracy",{{sfnm|1a1=Palmer|1y=1995|1p=110|2a1=Barrett|2y=2001|2p=394|3a1=Chryssides|3y=2003|3p=54|4a1=Palmer|4a2=Sentes|4y=2012|4p=173}} or "rule of geniuses",{{sfn|Palmer|Sentes|2012|p=174}} and which he discusses in his fifth book, ''Geniocracy''.{{sfn|Barrett|2001|p=394}} According to this system, only those few people who are at least fifty percent more intelligent than the average person will be permitted to rule.{{sfn|Chryssides|2003|p=54}} Raël's proposed geniocratic system bears similarities with the style of governance that [[Plato]] promoted in his work ''[[Republic (Plato)|Republic]]''.{{sfnm|1a1=Chryssides|1y=2003|1p=54|2a1=Palmer|2a2=Sentes|2y=2012|2p=174}} Raëlians thus reject [[democracy]], believing that it fails to ensure that society has the best leadership.{{sfn|Chryssides|2003|p=54}} Raël claims that this future society will have no war, and that crime will have been ended via genetic engineering.{{sfn|Chryssides|2003|p=54}} In this future, Raël states, humans will be able to travel beyond Earth, to colonise other planets.{{sfn|Palmer|1995|p=107}} Raël claims that robots will assume menial tasks, allowing humans to devote their time to pleasurable pursuits.{{sfnm|1a1=Chryssides|1y=2003|1p=55|2a1=Palmer|2a2=Sentes|2y=2012|2p=173}} He also argued that there would be biological robots which would serve as sex-slaves, akin to those which Raël states that he encountered on his visit to the Elohim planet.{{sfn|Palmer|Sentes|2012|p=172}} A single world currency will be introduced, as a prelude to the total abolition of money, while a unified world calendar will also be adopted.{{sfn|Chryssides|2003|p=54}}