Editing Universe People (section)

==Opponents and cultural impact==
Opponents consider Benda and some more active of his followers to be mentally ill and the Universe People to be a potentially dangerous [[cult]].<ref name=reflex1>{{Cite web
 |last=Blumfeld
 |first=S. M.
 |title=Aštar Šeran
 |publisher=Reflex
 |url=http://www.reflex.cz/Clanek19032.html
 |language=cs
 |access-date=2009-12-08
 |archive-date=2008-06-25
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080625023310/http://www.reflex.cz/Clanek19032.html
 |url-status=dead
 }}</ref> According to Zdeněk Vojtíšek (from the [[anticult]]<ref name=mvcr /> ''Society for Studying of Sects and New Religious Movements''), the movement represents a possible danger because of its religious background and similar features to Christianity.<ref name=novinky>{{cite web | title=Ještírci napadli web Vesmírných lidí | url=http://www.novinky.cz/internet-a-pc/10883-jestirci-napadli-web-vesmirnych-lidi.html | publisher=[[Novinky.cz]] | access-date=2009-12-08|quote=Na sektě pana Bendy, která si říká Vesmírní lidé sil světla, je velmi nebezpečná její náboženská podstata, její určité shodné rysy s křesťanstvím|language=cs}}</ref>

In 2000, Benda announced the organization of the ''1st World Symposium of Love'', held at the [[Prague Castle]] under the auspices of President [[Václav Havel]]. Havel's office denied his claims.<ref name=novinky2>{{cite web | title=Ještírci napadli web Vesmírných lidí | url=http://www.novinky.cz/internet-a-pc/10883-jestirci-napadli-web-vesmirnych-lidi.html | publisher=Novinky.cz | access-date=2009-12-08|quote=Prezidentův mluvčí to však tehdy razantně popřel.|language=cs}}</ref> Benda later stated that three months before the Symposium Havel had said that he would attend, but later changed his mind.<ref>[http://www.andele-svetla.cz/texty_vytahy/htm/cz/cz_rozhovor_s_www.osud.cz.htm Ivo A. Benda's interview for osud.cz]</ref>

The group's enthusiastic propaganda on the Internet (a large website in garish colors) including [[spam (electronic)|spam]]{{Citation needed|date=January 2026}}, the nature of their recorded "messages" as well as attempts to comment on every aspect of life and appropriate any popular notion (life in ''[[The Matrix]]'', for example) has built it an [[Internet cult]] following who make fun of it and even visit Benda's frequent rambling public lectures. 
In 2025, the community of group's enthusiasts launched a crypto sub-community called “Heavenly Angels,” making it the first known cult to issue its own cryptocurrency.{{Citation needed|date=January 2026}}