The Raelian Movement Denounces The Involvement Of Unesco In The Promotion Of Religions
"Unesco has formally recognized the Vedic tradition as part of the world's heritage of oral history, and has granted
funding for a two-year action plan. Schools will be opened throughout India which will concentrate on Vedic chanting and
the students will be encouraged to take it up", as reported by BBC News, February 20th.
The Raelian Movement denounces the involvement of the United Nations in the promotion of that or any other religion.
Separation of Church and State should also apply to international organizations such as the UNO or UNESCO...
His Holiness Rael, founder of the Raelian Movement, declared today: "The United Nations should never favor a religion
but should promote freedom instead... including the freedom to be atheist. If young Indians prefer science over the
study of Vedic chanting, so be it and Unesco should not interfere in this positive evolution." He also added: "Are we
going to see Unesco finance religious education in Christian countries where, fortunately, it is slowly disappearing?
This is totally unacceptable."
Raelians around the world have been promoting atheism for 30 years now and the year 2004 has been declared “the Year of
Atheism”. A celebration will take place with many other atheist organizations in Rome on December 13th 2004, on the
square where Giordano Bruno was burnt alive by the Catholic Church because he was an atheist.