In 1973, a French motorsports journalist claimed to have been visited by a UFO that revealed to him the secret origins of humanity. For the next half-century, the man known as Raël would go on to create a new faith with tens of thousands of adherents all around the world.
The media have portrayed the Raelians as not just a cult, but a strange phantasmagoria of extraterrestrials, orgies and clones. But its followers insist it is the only true path forward for humanity.
Featured in this episode: Nicole Bertrand, Susan J. Palmer, Harold Henning
To learn more:
Aliens Adored: Raël’s UFO Religion by Susan J. Palmer
The Prophet and the Space Aliens by Yoav Shamir
The UFO sect campaigning against female genital mutilation by Monica Mark in The Guardian
Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Annette Ejiofor (Managing Editor), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)
Additional music from Audio Network
Sponsors: Douglas, Athletic Greens
If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.
You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ep.76 - Amy Goodman/The Constitutional Clusterf**k
Ep.75 - Drink Like A Conservative
Ep.74 - Cultural Appropriation Is An Inherently Political Act
Ep.73 - That's Why We Live In A Democracy
Ep.72 - Commons Gets High
Ep.71 - Being Icky Is The Job
Ep.70 - You Have No Rights At The Border
Ep.69 - "I'm Ashamed Of Myself For Being Afraid"
Ep.68 - Strong Hearts To The Front
COMMONS returns!
COMMONS host search
A Message About the Future of COMMONS
Ep.67 - A Hodge Podge of Political Hacks: Inside the War Room
Ep.66 - A Hat Trick of Deceit: First Nations and the LNG Project
Ep.65 - Drunk on Liberal Power / Kellie Leitch on Anti-Canadian Values
Ep.64 - Conservative Leadership Showdown Part 2: Tony Clement & Maxime Bernier
Ep.63 - Conservative Leadership Showdown Part 1: Michael Chong & Brad Trost
Ep.62 - When Your Councillor Spams You on Facebook
Ep.61 - When CSIS Comes Knocking pt. 2
Ep.60 - MMIW: What Justice Means for a Family Member
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Dirty John
Death, Sex & Money
No Such Thing As A Fish
Jalen & Jacoby
Sound Opinions