Fact check: What are some religions that include aliens?

1. Summary of the results

Several established religions and belief systems incorporate extraterrestrial beings into their theology. The most prominent examples include:

• Scientology
• Heaven's Gate
• The Aetherius Society
• The Raëlian Movement
• Unarius Academy of Science
• Chen Tao ^{[1] [2]}

These religions share common characteristics, including beliefs in alien communication and extraterrestrial intervention in human spiritual evolution ^[2].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important contextual elements were not addressed in the original question:

• These religions emerged specifically in the mid-1940s following widespread UFO sightings ^[2]
• Many of these belief systems incorporate elements from traditional religions such as Buddhism, Daoism, and New Age philosophy ^[2]
• These religions typically feature founders who claim direct personal contact with extraterrestrial beings ^[2]
• A common theme among these religions is the belief that aliens can help humanity overcome social and ecological problems ^[3]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question's simplicity could lead to several misconceptions:

• It's important to note that these are specifically categorized as "UFO religions" rather than traditional religious systems that happen to include aliens ^[3]
• These belief systems are more complex than simply "including aliens" - they typically involve:
• Detailed cosmologies
• Prophetic messages
• Expectations of imminent alien arrival
• Spiritual evolution theories ^[2]

The founders and leaders of these religious movements often benefit from their claims of exclusive alien contact, gaining both followers and financial support. However, it's worth noting that these movements have also contributed to broader discussions about humanity's place in the universe and ecological consciousness.