Editing Raëlism (section)

=== Religious symbol ===

{{Multiple image
 | total_width = 300
 | image_style = border:none;
 | image1 = Raelian symbol.svg
 | alt1 = A six pointed star with a swastika inside it
 | image2 = Raelian symbol alternate.svg
 | alt2 = A six pointed star with a swirl inside it
 | footer = The two variants of the Raëlian logo; the former uses the swastika in the centre and the latter a swirl representing the shape of a galaxy. The latter was adopted to avoid the connotations of [[Nazism]] that the swastika has in Western countries and was used between 1991 and 2007.
}}

The symbol initially used to signify Raëlism was a six-pointed star with a [[swastika]] in the centre.{{sfnm|1a1=Barrett|1y=2001|1p=394|2a1=Palmer|2a2=Sentes|2y=2012|2p=174}} Raël stated that this was the symbol he originally saw on the hull of the Elohim's spaceship.{{sfnm|1a1=Chryssides|1y=2003|1p=53|2a1=Palmer|2a2=Sentes|2y=2012|2p=174}} Raëlians regard this as a symbol of infinity.{{sfnm|1a1=Barker|1y=1989|1p=201|2a1=Barrett|2y=2001|2p=394|3a1=Palmer|3a2=Sentes|3y=2012|3p=174}} Practitioners also believe that this symbol helps facilitate their own telepathic contact with the Elohim.{{sfnm|1a1=Barker|1y=1989|1p=201|2a1=Barrett|2y=2001|2p=394}}
Raëlists typically wear a medallion of the symbol around their neck.{{sfnm|1a1=Barker|1y=1989|1p=201|2a1=Palmer|2y=1995|2p=115|3a1=Barrett|3y=2001|3p=394|4a1=Palmer|4a2=Sentes|4y=2012|4p=174}}

The Raëlian use of the swastika, a symbol that had been prominently used by Germany's [[Nazi Party]] during the 1930s and 1940s, resulted in accusations from the Montreal anti-cult organization Info-Cult that the Raëlians promoted [[fascism]] and [[racism]].<ref name="SusanJPalmer"/> Outside Info-Cult's office, Raëlians spoke against the act of discriminating against a religious minority.<ref name="SusanJPalmer"/> On 2 January 1992, a dozen people protested against the use of the swastika in the Raëlian logo in Miami's Eden Roc Hotel. The use of the swastika and other Raëlian practices has resulted in criticism from the group [[Hineni]] of Florida, an Orthodox Jewish organization.<ref name="USE OF SWASTIKA LOGO PROMPTS BEACH PROTEST">[http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MH&s_site=miami&p_multi=MH&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB3457A4A98020D&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM Use of Swastika Logo Prompts Beach Protest] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019001448/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MH&s_site=miami&p_multi=MH&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB3457A4A98020D&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |date=19 October 2012 }}, ''[[The Miami Herald]]''. 3 January 1992. Retrieved 8 June 2007. [http://news.google.com/archivesearch?q=raelian+cult+riled+Hineni+OF+Florida%2C+A+Jewish+anti-cult+organization&btnG=Search+Archives&um=1 ''(highlight)'']</ref>

In 1992, the Raëlian Movement altered their symbol, replacing the central swastika with a swirling shape. They explained that this was due to a request from the Elohim to change the symbol in order to help in negotiations with Israel for the building of the Extraterrestrial Embassy, although the country continued to deny their request.{{sfnm|1a1=Barrett|1y=2001|1p=394|2a1=Chryssides|2y=2003|2p=53|3a1=Palmer|3a2=Sentes|3y=2012|3p=174}}<ref name="Religious Movements Homepage: Raelians">[http://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu/nrms/rael.html Religious Movements Homepage: Raelians] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060829194959/http://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu/nrms/rael.html |date=29 August 2006 }}, ''University of Virginia''. 11 April 2001. Retrieved 4 March 2007.</ref> Raël also stated that the change was made to show respect to the victims of the [[Holocaust]].{{sfn|Palmer|Sentes|2012|p=174}} The newly added swirling shape was explained as a depiction of a swirling galaxy.{{sfn|Palmer|Sentes|2012|p=174}} In 2005, the Israeli Raëlian Guide Kobi Drori stated that the Lebanese government was discussing proposals by the Raëlian movement to build their interplanetary embassy in Lebanon. However, one condition was that the Raëlians not display their logo on top of the building because it mixes a swastika and a [[Star of David]]. According to Drori, the Raëlians involved refused this offer, as they wished to keep the symbol as it was.<ref name="Raelians want to establish ET embassy in Jerusalem">Thomas, Amelia, [http://wwrn.org/articles/19567/ Raelians want to establish ET embassy in Jerusalem], ''[[Middle East Times]]''. 18 November 2005. Retrieved 13 March 2007.</ref> From 1991 to 2007, the official Raëlian symbol in Europe and America did not have the original swastika, but Raël decided to make the original symbol, the Star of David intertwined with a swastika, the only official symbol of the Raëlian Movement worldwide.<ref name="Official Raelian Symbol">[http://www.raelianews.org/news.php?item.206.3 The Official Raelian Symbol gets its swastika back], ''Raelianews.org''. 17 January 2007. Retrieved 20 October 2007."</ref>