Clonaid Cult Derived from Flying-Saucer Cults Originating in the 1970s and '80s, Says UB Expert

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Raelians -- the cult behind Clonaid, the company claiming to have cloned a human being -- are a remnant of the "flying-saucer cults" that originated in the 1970s and '80s, according to cult expert Phillips Stevens, Jr., an associate professor of anthropology at the University at Buffalo.

Other cults with extraterrestrial themes included Heaven's Gate, whose members in 1995 committed suicide as a means to transport themselves to a flying saucer piloted by beings whom they believed created life, and Solar Temple, another suicide cult that originated simultaneously in Switzerland and Quebec, according to Stevens.

"Each of these flying-saucer cults believed extraterrestrials are at a level of existence that people on Earth should try to achieve, though the Raelians are not trying to escape the human level as the others were," Stevens says. "For the Raelians, the goal is achieved through the means of scientific reproduction."

From a historical perspective, what's most remarkable about the Raelian cult, Stevens says, is that its beliefs and actions "startlingly coincide" with one of the most hotly debated social and scientific issues of the day -- human cloning.

"They have a gimmick that has hit a nerve in Western thinking, one that has tremendous implications for society," Stevens says. "They're an oddball group that came along at the right time. They clearly have benefactors who support their pursuits."

According to Stevens, Raelian founder and leader Claude Vorilhon, a former French auto racer and journalist, fits the mold of the typical cult leader. Known as Rael -- which Stevens suspects is a name created by combining the name of Egyptian sun god "Ra" with a "El," a Hebrew word for God -- Vorilhon resides in a lavish compound in Quebec.

"He's charismatic, confident and convincing, and he's adopted special attire and distinctive accoutrements specific to the cult," Stevens says. "There are allegations that Rael controls the sexuality of his members. It's not uncommon for a leader to claim sexual rights to members of the group."

Reports that the Raelians have 55,000 members worldwide are probably exaggerated, Stevens says, but he expects the worldwide media attention will attract new members to the group.

"One of the great myths about cults is that they are brutally coercive; the truth is most people join them quite voluntarily," Stevens says. "The Raelians certainly will attract people curious about their ideology, but most of the people who choose to stay will do so because they receive some kind of social gratification."

Research by Stevens and others has shown that many cult members cite fairly mundane, personal reasons for joining a cult, such as joining because their friends did or joining because they liked being part of a fun group.

"The social appeal of cult membership is often much stronger than the ideological appeal," Stevens explains. "This is the most overlooked dimension of cult membership. It gets lost in the sensationalistic accounts of infamous cult activities."

To understand why people -- even highly educated people -- would join a cult like the Raelians, Stevens says it's necessary to look at the psychological history of each individual.

"You'll find most of the members were attracted by something the group offers that they feel is lacking in their own lives," Stevens says. "People join cults for many of the same reasons people join any group."

The Raelians, Stevens points out, are known for being friendly and happy, with a love for partying and celebration -- an attractive lifestyle for many people.