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Flying Spaghetti Monster

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File:Touched by His Noodly Appendage.jpg
The Flying Spaghetti Monster is typically depicted as a clump of tangled spaghetti with two eyestalks, two meatballs, and "noodly appendages."

Flying Spaghetti Monsterism is a parody religion created to protest the decision by the Kansas State Board of Education to allow intelligent design to be taught in science classes alongside evolution.

The "religion" has since become an Internet phenomenon that has garnered many followers of the Flying Spaghetti Monster (sometimes referring to themselves as "Pastafarians", a pun on Rastafarians) who claim to have been touched by "His Noodly Appendage" and preach the word of their "noodly master" as the one true religion. Flying Spaghetti Monsterism is primarily the invention of Bobby Henderson, a graduate of Oregon State University with a degree in physics.

Developments

In June 2005, Bobby Henderson submitted an open letter to the Kansas Board of Education in response to their decision on giving intelligent design equal time with evolution by natural selection in biology classes. He formally requested that Flying Spaghetti Monsterism be given time in classrooms equal to that given to intelligent design and to "logical conjecture based on overwhelming observable evidence" (evolution), and stated that if this was not done, then "we will be forced to proceed with legal action." Shortly afterwards, he received responses from two sympathetic members of the board. A third response was also received in mid-August.

Over the next two months, traffic on Henderson's FSM website grew steadily. The popularity of the site exploded in August, when the Flying Spaghetti Monster was featured on several blogs and Internet news sites such as Something Awful and Fark.com. Articles in the mainstream media soon followed.

In the "Latest News" section of Henderson's website he notes that U.S. President George W. Bush [1] and U.S. Senator Bill Frist [2] have publicly supported the teaching of non-evolutionary theories, and Henderson infers, therefore, that they support the teaching of Flying Spaghetti Monsterism. However, so far neither has publicly stated any position on FSM.

Beliefs

File:FSM himself.jpg
Images depicting the creation of the universe typically show the Monster, a tree-covered mountain, and a midgit [sic].

Many of the "beliefs" proposed by Henderson were intentionally chosen to parody arguments commonly set forth by proponents of Intelligent Design.

  • The Universe was created by an invisible and undetectable Flying Spaghetti Monster. All evidence pointing towards evolution was intentionally planted by this being.
  • Global warming, earthquakes, hurricanes, and other natural disasters are a direct consequence of the decline in numbers of pirates since the 1800s. A graph showing the inverse correlation between the pirates and global temperatures was also provided. This was presumably intended to highlight the logical fallacy of correlation implying causation.
  • Bobby Henderson is the "prophet" of this religion.

Codes of conduct

Benefits of conversion

Henderson initially gave the following reasons for converting to Flying Spaghetti Monsterism:

  • Like the noodles they worship, Flying Spaghetti Monsterists have flimsy moral standards.
  • Every Friday is a religious holiday.
  • Promise of a stripper factory and a beer volcano in Heaven.

Spreading the Word

Now that prophet Bobby Henderson has unleashed this religion to the world, he asks that followers do whatever they can to spread the word of Flying Spaghetti Monsterism. This can be through the simple joining of blogs or contacting media and officials to accept "the one true relgion"

See also

File:FSMshirt.jpg
Some websites sell shirts, mugs, and other paraphernalia in support of Flying Spaghetti Monsterism.

References

  1. ^ Bush: "Intelligent design" should be taught
  2. ^ Frist Backs 'Intelligent Design' Teaching
  3. ^ McCain Backs 'Intelligent Design', 5th down
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