As far as self-publicity goes, the U.S.-based Raelian cult has done better than most. Based on the alleged experiences of a one-time motor-racing journalist, Claude Vorilhon, who claimed to have been inspired by an extraterrestrial power lunch with Mohammed, Christ and Buddha, the cult drew attention by the outlandish nature of its claims.

According to the Raelians, humans were created by aliens who cloned us and placed us on Earth. Oh, and then came back later to take Vorilhon for lunch with the dead but cloned founders of the world's major religions.

In any case, after 9-11, the Raelians announced their plan to prevent future terrorist action: to clone each victim of any attack, so making the attacks redundant in the first place. Only one group had a plan less likely to prevent terrorism, and that was the Bush administration.