2014/08/15 by Stephen E. Gregg · 2 citations
Arts and Humanities · Psychology · #Violence, Religion, and Philosophy #Religious Studies and Spiritual Practices #Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology
paper · doi:10.1177/1363460714526129
openalex publication_date 2014/08/15 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/02
This article highlights the central role of sexuality and the body within the International Raëlian Movement. The world's largest UFO-inspired New Religious Movement, the Raëlian Movement rejects theism and understands higher spiritual awareness to be dependent upon individual and communal sexual identity. Through a process called Sensual Meditation, Raëlians believe that harmony and peace may be facilitated, a view which also underpins their increasing profile of social campaigns and public protests centred upon rights for diverse adult sexualities. It will be argued, however, that Raëlian views of sexuality, although internally viewed as radical and subversive, are in fact predominantly heteronormative.