Little known religion at centre of cloning controversy

The Raelian religion is a little known movement which owes its existence to a French motor racing journalist.

Claude Vorilhon claims on December 13 1973 he was contacted by an extra terrestrial in a remote part of central France and given a message about how life was created on Earth.

The journalist said the revelation dictated to him was that life on Earth was not the result of evolution, nor the work of God, but the creation of scientifically advanced aliens who made human beings in their own image using their DNA.

Vorilhon said he was spoken to by a 4ft tall extra-terrestrial with olive skin, long black hair and almond shaped eyes called Yahweh Elohim.

It told him he was the final prophet sent to relay a message of peace and sensual meditation to humankind under his new name of Rael (messenger).

He was also instructed to establish an embassy near Jerusalem so the extra-terrestrials could return in 2025.

Vorilhon, 55, has spent the intervening years spreading the word of the Elohim and now has an estimated 55,000 followers in 84 countries.

The movement has a base in England and its leader Glenn Carter has described the religion as “Buddhism with the mysticism taken out”.

In closed retreats followers are encouraged to practise “sensual meditation”, “awakening the mind by awakening the body”.

Vorilhon remains the leader and figurehead of the movement he founded and, as a former journalist, appears to understand how to grab the attention of the press.

In 1997 the movement announced it would soon clone people and reportedly said individuals could order a duplicate of themselves for about £140,000.

After the September 11 terror attacks it declared monotheism as the “root of evil” and the “cause of the greatest tragedies humanity has known”.

Vorilhon has even confirmed honorary membership on George Michael for the singer’s record criticising the American war on terror.

Dr Patrick Dixon, a leading expert on the ethics of cloning, has met the mother at the centre of the cloning furore.

Describing her personality he said: “She is a very religious person and her heart has been captured by Rael.”

“She is drawn by a religious philosophy which most people would find hard to understand, but cloning is at the heart of the ideology.

“She believes with all her heart that she is building a better world by building clones. She is a warm and compassionate person. She is not a cruel fanatic, she’s someone who is guided by a sense of personal destiny.”