Editing Raëlism (section)

=== Morality, ethics, and gender roles ===
[[File:Lady on bed adorned with Raëlian symbol.jpg|thumb|right|A woman on a bed adorned with the Raëlian symbol]]

Raëlism insists on a strict ethical code for its followers.{{sfn|Palmer|2004|p=62}} Members are expected to take responsibility for their own actions, respect cultural and racial difference, promote non-violence, strive for world peace, and share wealth and resources.{{sfn|Palmer|2004|p=62}} They are also encouraged to uphold democracy, in the belief that humanity will ultimately make a democratic choice to introduce [[geniocracy]].{{sfn|Palmer|2004|p=62}} The Raëlian opinion is that everything should be permitted so long as it harms no one and does not impede scientific and technological advance.{{sfn|Chryssides|2003|p=54}} Members are nevertheless advised against using recreational drugs or stimulants so as not to harm their health,{{sfnm|1a1=Palmer|1y=1995|1p=107|2a1=Palmer|2y=2004|2p=62}} although some practitioners have acknowledged that they use alcohol and cigarettes.{{sfn|Palmer|1995|p=132}}

John M. Bozeman characterized the religion's morality as "progressive",{{sfn|Bozeman|1999|p=156}} while Palmer referred to the group's "liberal social values",{{sfn|Palmer|2004|p=12}} and Chryssides called Raëlist values "worldly and hedonistic".{{sfn|Chryssides|2003|p=47}} The scholar of religion Paul Oliver said that the philosophy's ethics are "relativistic" in that practitioners are encouraged to act in a manner that they feel appropriate to the context.{{sfn|Oliver|2012|p=23}} Several scholars have also argued that it is a "world-affirming" religion, using the typology established by [[Roy Wallis]].{{sfnm|1a1=Palmer|1y=1995|1p=107|2a1=Chryssides|2y=2003|2p=48}}

Raël considered [[gender]] as an artificial construct and emphasized its fluidity.{{sfn|Palmer|1995|p=114}} Raël avoided a [[macho]] persona and is instead often described by his followers as being "gentle" and "feminine".{{sfn|Palmer|1995|p=126}} Palmer suggested that Raël regarded women as being superior to men because they were described as being more like the Elohim.{{sfn|Palmer|2014|p=197}} In Raël's account, the inhabitants of the Elohim planet "have 10 percent of masculinity and 90 percent of femininity".{{sfn|Palmer|2014|p=197}} Raël also proposed that if women were in positions of political power across the world, there would be no war.{{sfn|Palmer|2014|p=197}} The Raëlians have participated with public protests for women's rights.{{sfn|Palmer|2014|p=199}} At its June 2003 "Joy of Being Woman" demonstration, Raëlian women danced naked through the streets of Paris.{{sfn|Palmer|2014|p=199}} Palmer described the Raëlians as feminists,{{sfn|Palmer|2004|p=13}} although Raël criticized mainstream feminism, arguing that it "copied the shortcomings of men".{{sfn|Palmer|2014|p=195}} Generally adopting the belief that the human body is malleable,{{sfn|Palmer|1995|pp=122–123}} Raëlism has a positive opinion of plastic surgery to improve physical appearance.{{sfn|Palmer|2014|p=193}}

[[File:Korea Queer Culture Festival 2014 57.JPG|thumb|left|A Raëlist contingent on the street at the "Korea Queer Culture Festival" held in Seoul in 2014]]

Raëlism teaches that the Elohim created humanity to feel sexual desire as a panacea for their violent impulses.{{sfn|Palmer|2014|p=184}} It states that through the pursuit of sexual pleasure, new pathways between the neurons in the brain are forged, thus enhancing an individual's intelligence.{{sfnm|1a1=Palmer|1a2=Sentes|1y=2012|1p=174|2a1=Palmer|2y=2014|2p=184}} Raëlism encourages its members to explore their sexuality;{{sfn|Palmer|1995|p=110}} while Raël is often photographed with beautiful women and appears to be heterosexual, he encourages homosexual experimentation.{{sfn|Palmer|1995|pp=126–127}} Adopting an accepting attitude towards different forms of [[sexual orientation]] and expression,{{sfn|Barrett|2001|p=394}} Raëlism teaches that differences in sexual orientation are rooted in the Elohim's primordial genetic programming and are something to be celebrated.{{sfn|Palmer|2014|p=185}} Researching about the Raëlians of Quebec, Palmer found that many of them avoided categorizing themselves by using terms like "[[heterosexual]]", "[[homosexual]]", or "[[bisexual]]", finding those labels to be too limiting.{{sfn|Palmer|1995|p=118}}

The Raëlians have stressed the need for respect and mutual consent in sexual behaviour.{{sfn|Palmer|2004|p=63}} The group places a strong taboo on [[incest]], [[rape]], and sexual activities involving children.{{sfn|Palmer|2004|p=63}} Anyone involved in the Movement who is found to have been involved in these latter activities is excommunicated,{{sfn|Palmer|Sentes|2012|p=177}} while Raël has recommended that [[paedophile]]s be [[castration|castrated]] or placed in mental institutions.{{sfn|Palmer|Sentes|2012|p=177}} Those believed to have forced unwelcome sexual attention upon another person are excommunicated from the Movement for seven years– the amount of time Raëlians believe it takes for all of a person's biological cells to be regenerated.{{sfn|Palmer|2004|p=63}}

The Raëlists reject both enforced monogamy and marriage, regarding these as institutions that have been enforced to enslave women and suppress sexual expression.{{sfnm|1a1=Barker|1y=1989|1p=70|2a1=Palmer|2y=2004|2p=42|3a1=Palmer|3y=2014|3p=184}} The religion discourages its members from marrying.{{sfn|Palmer|1995|p=110}} Members are also discouraged from contributing to global [[overpopulation]];{{sfn|Palmer|1995|p=110}} members are urged not to have more than two children, and ideally none at all.{{sfn|Palmer|2004|p=14}} Raël states that should two individuals wish to procreate, their psychic control during the act of conception can affect any child resulting.{{sfn|Palmer|1995|p=112}} The Raëlists also believe that once human cloning has been developed, biological reproduction will be obsolete.{{sfn|Palmer|2014|p=184}} As well as endorsing the use of [[birth control]] and [[contraceptives]],{{sfnm|1a1=Palmer|1y=1995|1p=112|2a1=Palmer|2a2=Sentes|2y=2012|2p=172}} Raëlists endorse the use of [[abortion]] to terminate unwanted pregnancies.{{sfnm|1a1=Palmer|1y=1995|1p=112|2a1=Chryssides|2y=2003|2p=59|3a1=Palmer|3a2=Sentes|3y=2012|3p=172}} Raël has also argued that if a woman does not want a child who has been born then she should give it up to be raised by society.{{sfn|Palmer|Sentes|2012|p=177}}

Some Swiss government authorities responded to Raëlians' opinions about Sensual Meditation with a fear that Raëlians are a threat to public morals for supporting liberalized [[sex education]] for children. They argue that such liberalized sex education that teaches children how to obtain sexual gratification would encourage sexual abuse of underage children.<ref name="Cult leader Rael denied residence in Switzerland">[http://www.wwrn.org/article.php?idd=24268&sec=42&cont=all Cult leader Rael denied residence in Switzerland] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080223205421/http://www.wwrn.org/article.php?idd=24268&sec=42&cont=all |date=23 February 2008 }}, ''Agence France-Presse''. 19 February 2005. Retrieved 13 March 2007.</ref>