posted on Aug, 26 2010 @ 02:30 PM
Actually this was all over the news back when it was going on, real prime-time stuff too.
I did a lot of stories about religious issues back when I was in journalism school, and the Raelians have a lot of friends in the University Of
Wisconsin-system. There was a professor at UW-Milwaukee that was actually in great with them and through him I actually got to meet several of the
major personalities in the religion, sadly though I didn't meet Rael.
They were actually some of the nicest people I've ever met, and were incredibly candid in discussing their religion. Most of their ideas were quite
rational and when put into the context of other religions, really the only major difference I saw in their belief over others is their contention that
technology will be the savior of mankind.
I would say the Raelians are progressive technocrats first and alien worshipers second. At their core they are atheists, not believing in a god
per-say and believing that death is the end. As such they seek life-extension and physical immortality through technological means.
The belief aspect is that humans are a genetic "child" so to speak of an alien species that seeded Earth with life billions of years ago. Our
progress, they believe is being monitored by this species and when we reach a predetermined level of advancement we will be contacted and given a host
of new technologies which will advance us ages beyond what we currently have.
Personally I have no problem with them whatsoever, they are a peaceful religion and I wish them the best, as I do all other religions. I am quite
doubtful to their claims of cloning a human, as there are massive issues that would have to be overcome scientifically before such would be possible,
but hey, what religion doesn't do a PR stunt every now and then?