Apocalypse Soon > Religions, Cults & Sects

Rael under scrutiny

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Loki:
A group headed by manipulators thirsting for media attention. A guru who is on the verge of losing his grip. Followers who are ready to give up their lives. If you think the Raelians are inoffensive clowns, you'd better think again.

This is what Sun Media discovered when it infiltrated the Raelian religious sect for nine months. No reporters have gone this far to uncover what this organization is all about.

During the next five days, we will take you inside this so-called "atheist religion."

The Raelian movement captured world attention last December with bold claims its scientists would soon deliver the first human clone -- a girl, named Eve -- within weeks. No proof ever was furnished.

Claude Vorilhon, a former race-car driver and founder of the Raelians, later boasted media coverage garnered his organization about $500-million worth of publicity.

"This event saved me 20 years of work," he said.

But the guru known as Rael tells his indoctrinated disciples his own life is constantly threatened by so-called conspiracies fomented by the CIA and the French secret service.

Sun Media learned through confidential documents and interviewing one of Rael's "angels" that several women have committed themselves to die if needed to protect their "beloved prophet."

The results of our investigation alarmed Dianne Casoni, a psychologist and criminologist specializing in cult organizations.

"We mustn't be naive and believe that the Raelians form a run-of-the-mill group," says the University of Montreal professor.

The "paranoid attitude" recently adopted by the cult leader prompts Casoni to fear the worst.

Reporter Brigitte McCann and photographer Chantal Poirier got a taste of the Raelians' siege mentality during a two-week "awakening" seminar last summer at the movement's headquarters at Maricourt in Quebec's Eastern Townships.

They succeeded in mingling with women ready to offer their eggs to help Brigitte Boisselier, head of the Raelians's Clonaid organization, launch so-called new experiments in the area of human cell culture.

Our journalists went as far as their sense of decency would allow to witness the Raelians' strange custom of "sensual meditation."

Always incognito, McCann and Poirier were submitted to a troubling secret interrogation aimed at testing their faith in "their prophet." According to Casoni, this was clearly an intimidation and control tactic targeting the disciples.

Essentially, the objective of these control measures is to get the most money possible out of their followers. In less than 10 months, living as a Raelian cost our reporter more than $2,000.

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