tyciol: However, this is apparently not the case with Claude Vorihon (aka "Rael") and his followers known as the "Raelians." Other than feeding Vorilhon's seemingly insatiable desire for media attention, the swastika appears to mean more or less the same to him as it did the Nazi regime of Hitler, i.e. antagonism and animosity aimed at Jews.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I do not think it is right to make assumptions. A swastika is only recently a symbol against jews (by hitler) and prior to this it had other meanings. Those who use it may oppose its having been taken up by the Nazi cause and attempt to take it back. I think it is no different from those who use 'gay' or 'faggot' or 'N-' with new meanings to try and invalidate the ol
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

restless, I will second The Anticult's post. I will go step further for you. Do not let your heart be troubled with 2012. Yes, the Mayan calender "ends" 12-12-2021....but what the hucksters are NOT telling you is that the Mayan calender IMMEDIATELY RESETS and starts all over again. This is the beginning of a new era to them...no destruction, no mass extinctions...no change to hu
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

restless, if you read this, just be very careful. Exploring the "dark side" of Alien conspiracy theories can lead to serious trouble. As far as the 2012 End Of The World...that is a marketing scam. Someone started the 2012 thing, and now everyone is jumping on it. There are bookstores with entire 2012 sections, its a big money-maker. This is about that millionth time the world is g
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

restless: Minors under 18 may not participate at this message board.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Rest assured this is the only place I've been posting and having read your post, and you're right about me. I'm 17 years old (Sorry that I'm not actually 18 but I was too much sucked into Raelism to wait for another year) and I was born with Asperger's syndrome (Just in case, it might help.). Sure my last few posts are getting around in circles, I'm easily prone
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I have always had difficulty understanding what Restless is getting at. I originally asked him if he was an apologist for the Raelians or a member and he claimed not. I think he/she may be young and unable to explain what he/she is thinking in writing. I do agree that the many of his/her postings seems scattershot. I don't know if Restless has posted on other threads at RR or if this is
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

To whom it may concern: "Restless" seems to be wasting space here with often nonsensical questions. Does anyone else on this thread see any value in such posts? Maybe just a "troll"?
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Rael is quite clever. He probably sees himself as a type of performance artist, like Salvador Dali, just playing with reality, religion, and social customs. He puts out ambiguous things on purpose, to play with people's minds. For instance, his "playing" with anti-semitism. Is he, or isn't he? Why did he tried to get a Nazi swastika in a Star Of David into Israel? (notice
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I don't think this is so much "loaded language" is as much just "cult talk" It was part of a recruiting movement the raelians were doing. They raelians have a yahoo group and they send out news they think is proves their beliefs or shows stupidity of other At the end of message sent by rael it says: WARNING FROM RAEL: For those who don't use their intelligence
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I've read now. This one I found interesting: "One example is through "loading the language," a feature of thought reform, characterized by thought terminating cliches. Such cliches are easily memorized phrases and terms that essentially become communication shortcuts or "ultimate terms." This can have the effect of stopping critical thinking and independent analy
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

restless: You are wandering in circles. Do some reading. See This answers basic questions about cults. Also see This subsection covers the basics about cult mind control. First, read and learn the basics about cults.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Oh yeah. Sorry. Just now, I read some other post by you which mentioned the Raelians saying about not needing to believe but understand Rael just after remembering it. Do you know why they say that? and what is there (To them) to understand?
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoterestlessQuotenellejohnWhen I was approached by a raelian once I was told it isn't the need to believe but just to understand. "Need to understand"? You say other cults have this catch phrase? and it seems Raelism isn't the only UFO cult you're well informed about. I'm not really sure what you're talking about. The raelians are the only cult I�
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

And what about the saying "It isn't the need to believe but the need to understand"? I'm NOT disbeleiving you, I'm still wondering. and What other UFO cults are very similar to this one, I woudln't mind an example or two.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuotenellejohnWhen I was approached by a raelian once I was told it isn't the need to believe but just to understand. "Need to understand"? You say other cults have this catch phrase? and it seems Raelism isn't the only UFO cult you're well informed about.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

if you seach Google blogs for the Raelians, there are all sorts of entries also, various news stories of Raelians being "discriminated" against, planning public orgies, making dumb comments about the mid-east, etc. Possibly his fake name Rael is taken from Israel, (ISrael). Rael of course also puts out the false claim about reclaiming the Swastika, etc. That is all bullshit of
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Yea I always thought it was strange that he has claimed to be half alien. He says they(elohim) live a long life but he just looks like an average old guy. I've seen the bogus claims regarding the swastika as part of the raelian logo but it seems pretty weird to me especially when where they originally wanted to build this so called embassy was in Israel. When I was approached by a raelia
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteSparky And speaking of "old", didn't the Raelians make some claims of stem cell breakthroughs to make the old young again? You think Rael would have been first to try this "alien" medical breakthrough. He still looks old to me.[/quote Yeah, good point. They never had support from the major science companies and a whole lot of those Raelians are simple folk. Am
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The Anticult, you are so right about the Raelian "symbol". I find it offensive as well using the Nazi swastika. What does Rael claim? That it is the symbol of peace for India folklore so its not related to the Nazi symbol? I had a relative killed by the Nazi's. He was a Lt. in the Polish army and after surrendering after the blitzkreig, he and other captives were methodicall
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Certainly people are tricked into believing some of these things. But on the other hand, everyone knows people who believe in Roswell Area 51 alien conspiracies being covered up, for example, outside of any cult or strange group. That would be a study in itself, and there is a book called Why People Believe Weird Things. So even though Rael's theories are ridiculous, its not that far o
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteThe AnticultBut it is scary that some people seem to buy it without evidence. Because of the coercion to believe it without the need for evidence. One of books says something like that, right? If there was already a post with this same saying, I did this again 'cuz I thought I didn't post it after typing.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Sparky has spelled it out very nicely. One other point, is that the Raelians and Rael have been busted in numerous lies. Right after the clone claims, the media investigated, and it was all lies, there was no lab, nothing. So when someone lies like this, then their word is useless. From now on, everything Rael claims, has to be proven first. Facts. Evidence. But it is a good reminder, t
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

restless, in all respect; Quoterestless One more thing, have a lot of Sci-i stories been running during the 50's and 60's? As films as well? Many of the stories you attribute to "today" have run in holiwood and in literature for a generation. Jules Verne and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle published in the 1800's and their novels and stories were made into SILENT FILM
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

restless; QuoterestlessDefense wasn't what crossed my mind but yeah, you're right. I don't know what else to say. Isn't the definition of an Apologist one who defends a sect/cult/religion? Perhaps I don't understand the definition. I'm not that bright. There is more than enough information on culteducation.com to come to some logical conclusions regard
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

But I'm neither a cult member nor apologist.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Defense wasn't what crossed my mind but yeah, you're right. I don't know what else to say.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

restless, I am having difficulty understanding your defense (for lack of a better word) of the Raelians. You seem to demand proof that they didn't build space embassies and that they didn't clone. You have your demands backwards. You should be demanding of Raelians for proof that they have built space embassies and they have cloned humans, not proof from the members here that the
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Your first post had me going. So let me get it straight: (I would like a detailed answer for each and every line here please) Rael lied about having met aliens. He is a sick, clever, greedy, egotistic and sex-hungry psychopath. All or most of his claims about building embassies and hospitals and cloning are hoaxes. (How do you know precisely?) Of course, I already knew hi
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

restless: No. Just wanted to establish if you were an ex-member or not and what your level of involvement actually was or is with the group. Seems like you browsed the Internet and found their material and never really joined the group directly and/or participated with their programs.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"