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New religious movements and science: Rael's progressive patronizing parasitism

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Author

  • Stefano Bigliardi

Summary, in English

The article examines the concoction of religion and science contained in the revelation that substantiates a new religion: Raelianism, founded and led by the prophet Claude Vorilhon/Rael after having received a revelation in 1974. After a detailed examination both of Rael's prophetic message and his/the Raelians' interpretative practices, an ad hoc model is presented to describe such concoction (progressive patronizing parasitism), and it is compared to other models. It is in particular claimed that Rael, while seemingly talking about science, is actually constructing a science-fictional and even pseudoscientific narrative. The article finally raises the question whether the discussion of the science-religion interaction from the viewpoint of traditional religions can be considered to be immune to the usage of such rhetorical devices.

Publishing year

2015

Language

English

Pages

64-83

Publication/Series

Zygon

Volume

50

Issue

1

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Wiley-Blackwell

Topic

  • Other Social Sciences

Keywords

  • new religious movements
  • pseudoscience
  • Rael
  • Raelianism
  • science
  • fiction
  • UFO religions
  • Claude Vorilhon

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 0591-2385