322:
after uncovering his fraudulent actions. He noted that it was "difficult to determine" if Palmer had genuinely became more critical in the process of writing the book, or she had just been attempting to appear uncritical so she could have access to the group (an alternative possibility being that the initial "open-mindedness" was merely an expression of "the existential boredom of a sociologist" dabbling in "exotic secondary realities"). Von
Heyking described the book's final chapter as "effectively uncover the fraud that hides under their technological utopia."
235:, however when their supposed cloning facilities were searched by investigators it was found to be a fake, and the supposed cloned infant was never found. Only a few years before this Raƫl had founded The order of Raƫl's Angels, an organization that gave him sexual privileges with women, who were not allowed to have sex with anyone else. Their usage of a Swastika in their logo attracted controversy, especially from Jewish people (who they wished to preach to), as did their attitude towards sexual freedom.
340:. One reviewer argued that though some aspects of the book showed Palmer could reflect on the circumstances of her scholarship, she did not completely consider how her status as a "cult expert" influenced her ideas of objectivity, or the many cultural debates that her career involved her in, but overall considered the book a "laudable example for subsequent scholarship".
262:
She discusses the stories and grievances of former members, as well as schisms, including testimony from a former Raƫlian, who accused Raƫl of using money meant to build the group's alien embassy on his race car hobby. She argues that overall former Raƫlians are not regretful of joining the movement
321:
seriously, and did not analyze some of their stranger claims, but described the book as having "all the makings of a TV movie". Von
Heyking described Palmer's perspective as shifting throughout the book, at first viewing Raƫl positively as a prophet and artist, then critical and skeptical later on
299:
described it as "fascinating" and praised its contribution to the literature of NRMs. Jon von
Heyking said that the book "demonstrates that is a cult of technology that, despite its weirdness, clearly expresses the aspirations of our technological society".
309:
called it "generally objective" though noted Palmer "had her suspicions" about many of the Raƫlian's claims. They further said that Palmer "treats seriously a religious movement that many do not", due to the perceived strangeness of Raƫlian ideology;
168:
that gained notoriety in the year 2000 for its claims that it had cloned a human being. Palmer, a sociologist of religion, had studied the Raƫlians for over a decade, and had personally interviewed both members of the group and its founder,
1103:
247:. It was partially based on interviews with several members of the group. Following an introduction giving historical context for UFO religions and contact, it gives a biography of Raƫl's life. Palmer compares Rael to past men of the
29:
258:
of society. It attempts to analyze the actual number of people in the movement, concluding that the suggested count by the movement is likely an inflated totall, though argues their account of the overall structure is reliable.
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highly recommended the book, describing it as a "superb study of UFO religion" and praised Palmer's writing, analysis, and the extensiveness of her research, while a reviewer for the
287:
gave the book a starred review, praising it as being a serious academic work but simultaneously "downright fun", noting it as a "rare-full length" assessment of the Raƫlians.
194:. Palmer had studied the Raƫlians since 1987, and had met Raƫl several times. The Raƫlians consented to being interviewed by Palmer and her students, wanting to convert them.
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received critical acclaim, with reviewers praising its analysis and its balanced treatment of the group, as well as its readability for both experts and non-experts.
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described it as easy to read but said that it was written in a "casual, even partially tongue-in-cheek" manner that might be off-putting to some readers.
220:. The group, then based in Montreal, claimed to have 65,000 members in sixty countries, though this could not be verified. They believed in free thought,
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The book's writing style was generally praised; several reviewers praised its readability for both scholarly and non-scholarly readers. The
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The penultimate chapter covers the group's claims that Raƫlians had successfully cloned a human, to which Palmer expresses her doubts.
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or angry at its leader, though in one interview a former member criticized the toll it took on the members's marriages.
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The book was largely praised as an objective assessment of Raƫlism, not straying too far to criticism or apologism.
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said they told him that all life on earth had been created by extraterrestrial scientists and warned him of a
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is a sociologist of religion, and at the time of the book's publication was a teacher of religious studies at
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Ellwood pointed out some mistakes in the book relating to background information, such as incorrectly dating
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Cook, Ryan J. (2007). "Review of Aliens Adored: Raƫl's UFO Religion, Susan J. Palmer".
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said the work of both Palmer and her students was "lively and engaging", though
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Stebbins, Robert A. (2006). "Review of Aliens Adored: Raƫl's UFO Religion".
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In the year 2000, Raƫlism made the headlines due to its claims that it had
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said it was "the book about the
Raelians for which we have been waiting".
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208:. The group was founded after, Claude Vorilhon (who changed his name to
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received critical acclaim, with many reviewers highly recommending it;
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Eberhart, George (2004). "Aliens Adored: Rael's UFO Religion (Book)".
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A review in the
Montreal Gazette argued that Palmer treated them
254:
Palmer argues that Raƫlian belief is a response to the increased
459:
Pitts, W. L. (June 2005). "Aliens adored: Raƫl's UFO religion".
810:
105:
131:
243:
The book has nine chapters, arranged by theme, and is an
655:(2006). "Review of Aliens Adored: Raƫl's UFO Religion".
365:(2005). "Review of Aliens Adored: Raƫl's UFO Religion".
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Season of the Witch: How the Occult Saved Rock and Roll
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von
Heyking, John (2005). "Groovy Cloned-Baby: Yah!".
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465:. Vol. 42, no. 10. pp. 1836ā1837.
212:) claimed in 1973 he had been visited by aliens.
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546:. Vol. 101, no. 3. pp. 305ā305.
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462:CHOICE: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries
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1267:The Challenge of the Cults and New Religions
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702:. Vol. 251, no. 46. p. 17.
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773:(2006). "The Study of UFO Religions".
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1153:From the Ashes: Making Sense of Waco
1002:Witchcraft and Paganism in Australia
1181:The Ashes of Waco: An Investigation
837:Books about new religious movements
1295:How the Millennium Comes Violently
1288:Cults: Faith, Healing and Coercion
1246:The Politics of Religious Apostasy
145:Aliens Adored: Raƫl's UFO Religion
14:
1111:Getting It: The Psychology of est
1051:Modern Paganism in World Cultures
429:from the original on June 6, 2024
413:Alaton, Salem (January 1, 2004).
1037:Persuasions of the Witch's Craft
907:The Mystical Geography of Quebec
500:"Think Star Trek meets Baywatch"
314:called it a "balanced portrait".
1125:Contemporary Religious Satanism
1351:Rutgers University Press books
1:
1212:Books critical of Scientology
1132:The Order of the Solar Temple
1058:Never Again the Burning Times
900:A Republic of Mind and Spirit
615:Canadian Journal of Sociology
296:Canadian Journal of Sociology
1139:Les Mythes du Temple Solaire
16:2004 book by Susan J. Palmer
1232:Controversial New Religions
1205:Criticism and controversies
1167:Sex, Slander, and Salvation
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1274:Zealot: A Book About Cults
879:The Myth of Disenchantment
843:General and historiography
1090:A Field Guide to Otherkin
973:Modern paganism and magic
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789:10.1525/nr.2006.10.2.103
154:Rutgers University Press
68:Rutgers University Press
1336:Religious studies books
872:The Triumph of the Moon
381:10.1525/nr.2005.9.1.117
204:(NRM), classified as a
152:, published in 2004 by
1356:English-language books
1331:2004 non-fiction books
1160:The Making of a Moonie
981:A Community of Witches
928:Misunderstanding Cults
736:The Review of Politics
658:Contemporary Sociology
202:new religious movement
988:Drawing Down the Moon
886:The Occult: A History
865:Nature Religion Today
692:(November 15, 2004).
416:"It's the Rael thing"
1023:Mastering Witchcraft
963:Mystics and Messiahs
914:A Course in Miracles
653:Richardson, James T.
573:History of Religions
498:(January 15, 2005).
233:cloned a human being
1218:Apocalypse Observed
1044:Her Hidden Children
331:James T. Richardson
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1281:Cult Controversies
1239:Cults in Our Midst
956:The New Vigilantes
422:The Globe and Mail
218:nuclear apocalypse
137:BP605.R338P35 2004
1341:Books about cults
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1260:All Gods Children
1225:Gods of the Blood
1195:Ghosts of Kanungu
1030:The Satanic Witch
1016:Dreaming the Dark
995:Living Witchcraft
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858:The Darkened Room
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158:ethnography
1325:Categories
713:August 14,
344:References
183:Background
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749:0034-6705
708:0000-0019
671:0094-3061
636:0318-6431
594:0018-2710
552:0006-7385
471:0009-4978
389:1092-6690
270:Reception
64:Publisher
757:25046453
543:Booklist
516:June 26,
427:Archived
306:Booklist
239:Contents
112:54073388
46:Language
1346:Raƫlism
433:June 6,
198:Raƫlism
162:Raƫlism
58:Raƫlism
54:Subject
49:English
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632:ISSN
590:ISSN
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467:ISSN
435:2024
385:ISSN
214:Raƫl
210:Raƫl
171:Raƫl
164:, a
106:OCLC
93:ISBN
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785:doi
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