Date: 9/16/2003 4:18:00 PM
From Authorid: 1225
Well, as I understand from the summary on their website (www.rael.org), Raelianism was founded by a French journalist in 1973 after he purportedly had an encounter with extraterrestrials. According to Rael, these aliens told him that they created humankind. "They" claim to have guided humanity through prophets such as Buddha, Moses, Mohammed, and Jesus Christ. After man stepped on the moon, they decided that we were advanced enough to see them not as "God" they claim to be the basis of God(s) of most or all major religions) but as stellar brothers in higher mental realms. They charged Rael to build an embassy for them to arrive at; out of respect for all nations and faiths they decided that this embassy would be the most neutral and respectful way of contact, which we may refuse if we choose. Raelians also seek to switch from "survival mode" i.e. working for a living, to total higher plane harmony. "...to transform war into peace, labour into leisure, poverty into fulfilment and money into love..." They are an all inclusive movement, "...people from all walks of life, from all sexual orientations, from all races, all ages, everyone different and fiercely non conformist, turning everything they touch into fun and pleasure..."
They identify as spirtual atheists. Hope that answers some of your questions! (Very compelling, I hope they're right!)
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