Raelians to Offer Raelian Literature for Florida Schools

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Sep 17, 2014, 01:30 ET

MIAMI, Sept. 17, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Rael, spiritual leader of the International Raelian Movement (IRM), today expressed his support for the decision of the Satanic Temple to offer Satanic literature in the Orange County, Florida, School District, according to a statement released today by the IRM.

The position of the IRM is that if Bibles are offered in schools, other spiritual literature must have the very same opportunity.

"Religious freedom is either for everybody or it doesn't exist," Rael declared in his statement.

He urged Raelians to take Raelian books to the Orange County schools.

"We want to offer students diversity and a more peaceful literature than that of the Bible," said Raelian Guide Ricky Roehr, who heads the IRM's North American branch.

He added that Raelian philosophy encourages parents and educators to expose children and students to a wide variety of religious beliefs, including atheism.

"No one should be baptized at a young age or force fed any specific religious dogma," Roehr explained. "Children should instead be exposed to a variety of spiritual beliefs and philosophies, and to experience them as well if they wish. That way, they can make their own choice when they reach adulthood, without the pressure of their parents or their social environment. That is how the children of Raelian parents are educated."

The Raelian Movement's Florida Chapter also issued a statement: "We commend the Orange County School Board's decision. And we also applaud the active fight of Central Florida's Free Thought Community to allow all philosophical movements the right to expose their literature in a passive way."

SOURCE Raelian Movement