Flying Spaghetti Monster

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Touched by His Noodly Appendage, a parody of The Creation of Adam by Michelangelo, is a well-known iconic image of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

The Flying Spaghetti Monster (or FSM) is the deity of the parody religion[1][2] the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster or Pastafarianism.[3] It was created in 2005 by Bobby Henderson as a satirical protest to the decision by the Kansas State Board of Education to require the teaching of intelligent design as an alternative to biological evolution in public schools. According to Henderson, since the intelligent design movement uses ambiguous references to an unspecified "Intelligent Designer", this leaves open any conceivable entity to fulfill that role, even a Flying Spaghetti Monster.[4]

In an open letter sent to the education board, Henderson parodies the concept of intelligent design by professing belief in a supernatural creator, which closely resembles spaghetti and meatballs.[5] He further calls for the "Pastafarian" theory of creation to be taught in science classrooms.[6] Due to its popularity and media exposure, the Flying Spaghetti Monster is often used by atheists, agnostics, and others as a modern version of Russell's teapot.[7]

Contents

Origins

The first public exposure of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster (CoFSM) was in May 2005,[8] when Bobby Henderson, then a 25-year-old Oregon State University physics graduate, sent an open letter regarding the FSM to the Kansas State Board of Education.[3][6][9] The letter was sent prior to the Kansas evolution hearings as an argument against the teaching of intelligent design in biology classes.[3] Henderson, describing himself as a "concerned citizen", stated that both his theory and intelligent design had equal validity, saying

"I think we can all look forward to the time when these three theories are given equal time in our science classrooms across the country, and eventually the world; One third time for Intelligent Design, one third time for Flying Spaghetti Monsterism, and one third time for logical conjecture based on overwhelming observable evidence."[5]

Henderson explained, "I don't have a problem with religion. What I have a problem with is religion posing as science. If there is a god and he's intelligent, then I would guess he has a sense of humor."[10][11]

The Board responded only after Henderson posted the letter on his website, gaining significant public interest.[12] Henderson subsequently published the responses he received from Board members.[13]

As word of Henderson's challenge to the Board spread, the website and Henderson's cause gathered more attention and support. The satiric nature of Henderson's argument made the Flying Spaghetti Monster popular with bloggers as well as humor and Internet culture websites.[14] The Flying Spaghetti Monster was featured on websites such as Boing Boing, Something Awful, Uncyclopedia, and Fark.com. Moreover, an International Society for Flying Spaghetti Monster Awareness emerged to "spread the word of The Flying Spaghetti Monster and his prophet, Bobby Henderson (pesto be upon him)."[15] The mainstream media quickly picked up on the phenomenon as the Flying Spaghetti Monster became a symbol for the case against intelligent design in public education.[16][17][3] Henderson himself was surprised by its success, stating that he "wrote the letter for [his] own amusement as much as anything."[4]

Later developments

The FSM "fish" emblem, the symbol of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, is a parody of the Christian Ichthys symbol.

In August 2005, in response to a challenge from a reader, BoingBoing.net announced a $250,000 prize – later raised to $1,000,000 – of "Intelligently Designed currency" payable to any individual who could produce empirical evidence proving that Jesus is not the son of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.[18] The challenge is modeled after a similar challenge issued by young-Earth creationist Kent Hovind, who promised $250,000 to anyone who can prove evolution "is the only possible way" that the Universe and life arose.[18]

In November 2005, the Kansas State Board of Education voted to allow criticisms of evolution, including language about intelligent design, as part of testing standards.[19] On February 13, 2007, the Board voted 6 to 4 to reject the amended science standards enacted in 2005. This was the fifth time in eight years that the Board had rewritten the standards concerning evolution.[20]

Henderson received an advance from Villard to write The Gospel of The Flying Spaghetti Monster with the subheading "Jackpot for unemployed slot-machine engineer and heretic."[21]

In November 2007, three talks involving the Flying Spaghetti Monster were delivered at the American Academy of Religion's annual meeting in San Diego. The talks, with titles like "Holy Pasta and Authentic Sauce: The Flying Spaghetti Monster's Messy Implications for Theorizing Religion", examined the elements necessary for a group to constitute a religion. Speakers inquired whether "an anti-religion like Flying Spaghetti Monsterism [is] actually a religion."[22]

In December 2007, The Ledger reported that members of the website, Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, sent emails to School Board members in Polk County, Florida, on the issue of intelligent design.[23]

On the same website, Henderson has claimed that "over 10 million people have been touched by His Noodly Appendage."[3]

Beliefs

“ With millions, if not thousands, of devout worshippers, the Church of the FSM is widely considered a legitimate religion, even by its opponents – mostly fundamentalist Christians, who have accepted that our God has larger balls than theirs. ”

—Bobby Henderson, "prophet of the Flying Spaghetti Monster"[8]

Henderson proposed many of the tenets of Pastafarianism in reaction to common arguments by proponents of intelligent design.[24] These "canonical beliefs" are presented by Henderson in his letter to the Kansas School Board,[5] the Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, and on Henderson's web site, where he is described as a prophet.[25] They tend to satirize creationism.[4]

The central belief is that an invisible and undetectable Flying Spaghetti Monster created the universe "after drinking heavily." The Monster's intoxication was supposedly the cause for a flawed Earth. All "evidence" for evolution was planted by the Flying Spaghetti Monster in an effort to test Pastafarians' faith.[4] When scientific measurements – such as radiocarbon dating – are taken, the Flying Spaghetti Monster "is there changing the results with His Noodly Appendage."[5] The Pastafarian "belief of heaven" contains a beer volcano and a stripper factory.[25] Hell is similar, except that the beer is stale, and the strippers have STDs.[26] Pastafarians celebrate every Friday as a holy day.[4]

The official conclusion to prayers is "R'amen." It is a portmanteau of the Semitic term "Amen" and a type of noodle.[4]

Pirates and global warming

A chart, included in the open letter, illustrating the relationship between pirates and global temperature.

According to the Pastafarian belief system, pirates are "absolute divine beings" and the original Pastafarians.[5] Their image as "thieves and outcasts" is misinformation spread by Christian theologians in the Middle Ages and by Hare Krishnas. Pastafarianism says that they were in fact "peace-loving explorers and spreaders of good will" who distributed candy to small children, and adds that modern pirates are in no way similar to "the fun-loving buccaneers from history." Pastafarians celebrate International Talk Like a Pirate Day on September 19. Ghost pirates are also believed to be responsible for all the mysterious lost ships and planes of the Bermuda Triangle.

The inclusion of pirates in Pastafarianism was part of Henderson's original letter to the Kansas School Board. It illustrated that correlation does not imply causation. Henderson put forth the argument that "global warming, earthquakes, hurricanes, and other natural disasters are a direct effect of the shrinking numbers of pirates since the 1800s."[5] A chart accompanying the letter (with numbers humorously disordered on the x-axis) shows that as the number of pirates decreased, global temperatures increased. This parodies the suggestion from some religious groups that the high numbers of disasters, famines and wars in the world is due to the lack of respect and worship towards a deity.

In 2008, Henderson interpreted the growing pirate activities at the Gulf of Aden as additional support, pointing out that Somalia has "the highest number of Pirates AND the lowest Carbon emissions of any country."[27]

Holiday

Around the time of Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa, Pastafarians celebrate a vaguely-defined holiday named "Holiday," which does not take place on "a specific date so much as it is the Holiday season, itself." Because Pastafarians "reject dogma and formalism," there are no specific requirements for the holiday.[28]

Pastafarians interpret the increasing usage of "Happy Holidays," rather than more traditional greetings (such as "Merry Christmas"), as support for Pastafarianism.[28] In December 2005, George W. Bush's White House Christmas greeting cards wished people a happy "holiday season,"[29] leading Henderson to write the President a note of thanks, including an FSM "fish" emblem for his limo or plane.[30]

The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster

The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster

Main article: The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster

In December 2005 Bobby Henderson received a reported USD $80,000 advance from Villard to pen The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Henderson said he plans to use proceeds from the book to build a pirate ship, with which he would spread the Pastafarian religion.[21][31] The book was released on March 28, 2006,[32] and elaborates on Pastafarian beliefs established in the open letter.[33]

Scientific American described the gospel as "neither too elaborate nor too spoofy to succeed in nailing the fallacies of ID" and "very funny". In 2006, it was nominated for the Quill Award in Humor but was not selected.[34]

Notable use in other religious disputes

Flying Spaghetti Monster contingent preparing for the 2009 Summer Solstice Parade in Fremont, Seattle, Washington

In December 2007, the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster was credited with being at the forefront of successful efforts in Polk County, Florida to persuade Polk County School Board to withdraw from a potential challenge to new science standards mentioning evolution. The issue was raised after five of the seven board members declared a personal belief in the concept of intelligent design. Opponents describing themselves as Pastafarians sent e-mails to Polk school board members, demanding equal time for Flying Spaghetti Monsterism. Board member Margaret Lofton, who supported intelligent design, dismissed the e-mail as ridiculous and insulting, and said, "They've made us the laughing stock of the world". Lofton then stated that she had no interest in engaging with the Pastafarians or anyone else seeking to discredit intelligent design. As the controversy developed, scientists expressed their opposition to the claims of intelligent design. Hopes for a new applied-science-focused campus of the University of South Florida in northeast Lakeland were reportedly in question, but University Vice President Marshall Goodman expressed surprise and said of intelligent design that, "It's not science. You can't even call it pseudo-science." While unhappy with the outcome, Lofton chose not to resign over the issue. She and the other board members expressed a desire to return to the day-to-day work of running the school district.[35]

There are some North American universities that, in addition to having various long-standing religious organizations, also have organizations dedicated to the Flying Spaghetti Monster.[36][37][38][39]

Bryan Killian, a high school student in Buncombe County in North Carolina, was suspended for wearing "pirate regalia," which he said was part of his faith. Killian protested the suspension, saying it violated his right to religious freedom.[40]

In March 2008, Pastafarians in Crossville, Tennessee successfully won city approval to place a Flying Spaghetti Monster statue next to the Courthouse, and proceeded to do so.[41] The statue was later evicted, as part of a removal of all long-term statues from the premises, caused mainly by controversy over the statue.[42]

The Flying Spaghetti Monster in media

  • In August 2005, the Swedish concept designer Niklas Jansson created, "pretty much free to use for press and such as far as I'm concerned,"[43] an adaptation of Michelangelo's The Creation of Adam (superimposing the Flying Spaghetti Monster over God) which became and remains today the FSM's de facto brand image.
  • The Hunger Artists Theatre Company produced a comedy called The Flying Spaghetti Monster Holiday Pageant in December 2006, detailing the history of Pastafarianism.[44] The production has spawned a sequel called Flying Spaghetti Monster Holy Mug of Grog, performed in December 2008.[45]
  • The Flying Spaghetti Monster was discussed by Richard Dawkins in his book The God Delusion. It has also been featured in several other media outlets, including The Colbert Report and Science Friday.[46] Dawkins' reference is satirized in the popular show, South Park, in the episode "Go God Go."
  • The Flying Spaghetti Monster was mentioned by Dimitris Xygalatas in his introduction to the Greek translation of Daniel Dennett's book Breaking the Spell, to demonstrate what the author views as the absurdity of Intelligent Design, which he claims is equal to that of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.[47] The FSM is also featured on the cover of the book.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ "The dangers of creationism in education". Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly. http://assembly.coe.int/Main.asp?link=/Documents/WorkingDocs/Doc07/EDOC11375.htm. Retrieved 2007-10-22. 
  2. ^ Dan Vergano (March 26, 2006). ""Spaghetti Monster" is noodling around with faith". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/2006-03-26-spaghetti-monster_x.htm. 
  3. ^ a b c d e "But Is There Intelligent Spaghetti Out There?". New York Times Arts article. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/29/arts/design/29mons.html?ex=1178251200. Retrieved 2007-02-05. 
  4. ^ a b c d e f ""Spaghetti Monster" is noodling around with faith". USA Today Science & Space article. http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/2006-03-26-spaghetti-monster_x.htm. Retrieved 2007-02-05. 
  5. ^ a b c d e f Henderson, Bobby (2005). "Open Letter To Kansas School Board". http://www.venganza.org/about/open-letter/. Retrieved 2007-01-09. 
  6. ^ a b "Verbatim: Noodle This, Kansas". Washington Post. August 28, 2005. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/27/AR2005082700019.html?nav=most_emailed. 
  7. ^ Wolf, Gary (November 14, 2006). "The Church of the Non-Believers". Wired News. http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.11/atheism.html. 
  8. ^ a b Henderson, Bobby. "About". The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. http://www.venganza.org/about/. Retrieved 2009-09-20. 
  9. ^ Page, Clarence (November 15, 2005). "Keeping ID out of science classes". Dallas Morning News. http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/opinion/balance/stories/111505dnedicyberpage.b4d5bd9.html. 
  10. ^ "Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster". James Randi Educational Foundation article September 16, 2005. http://www.randi.org/jr/200509/091605church.html#1. Retrieved 2007-02-05. 
  11. ^ In His Name We Pray, Ramen by Russ Pitts, Escapist magazine
  12. ^ "Discussion of the Open Letter". Henderson, Bobby. http://www.venganza.org/about/open-letter/discussion/. Retrieved 2007-04-07. 
  13. ^ "Kansas School Board Responses to the Open Letter". Henderson, Bobby. June 25 2005. http://www.venganza.org/about/open-letter/responses/. Retrieved 2006-01-09. 
  14. ^ "A Tangled Tale of a Pasta-based Prophet". Der Spiegel. 2005-08-24. http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,371205,00.html. Retrieved 2007-09-08. "[FSM] has certainly caught the imagination of the online community [...] Henderson receives over 150 emails from supporters every day." 
  15. ^ "Home". The International Society for Flying Spaghetti Monster Awareness. http://www.fsmawareness.com/. Retrieved 2009-09-20. 
  16. ^ "The Flying Spaghetti Monster". New Scientist. August 6, 2005. http://www.newscientist.com/backpage.ns?id=mg18725112.800. 
  17. ^ Rothschild, Scott (August 24, 2005). "Evolution debate creates monster". Lawrence Journal-World. http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2005/aug/24/evolution_debate_creates_monster/?education. 
  18. ^ a b "Boing Boing's $250,000 Intelligent Design challenge". BoingBoing.net. August 19 2005. http://www.boingboing.net/2005/08/19/boing_boings_250000_.html. Retrieved 2006-06-11. 
  19. ^ "Kansas Education Board First to Back "Intelligent Design"". Washington Post. November 9, 2005. 
  20. ^ "Kansas board boosts evolution education". MSNBC. February 14, 2007. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17132925/. 
  21. ^ a b Wolff, Eric (November 16, 2005). "The Case For Intelligent Design: Spaghetti as the Creator". New York Magazine. http://nymag.com/nymetro/news/people/columns/intelligencer/15011/. 
  22. ^ Pope, Justin (2007-11-16). "Pasta monster gets academic attention". Associated Press (MSNBC). http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21837499//. Retrieved 2009-10-25. 
  23. ^ John Chambliss (2007-12-11). "Satirical Monsters More Competition for Darwin". The Ledger. http://www.theledger.com/article/20071211/NEWS/712110392/0/FRONTPAGE. Retrieved 2007-12-13. 
  24. ^ Thierman, Jessica (September 18, 2005). "Touched by his Noodly Appendage". Gelf Magazine. http://www.gelfmagazine.com/mt/archives/touched_by_his_noodly_appendage.html. 
  25. ^ a b DuBay, Tim (2005). "Guide to Pastafarianism" (Shockwave Flash). http://www.venganza.org/flash/guidetopastafarianismpreloaded.swf. Retrieved 2006-08-26. 
  26. ^ The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, p.83
  27. ^ "Somalia - Lots of pirates, low carbon emissions". www.venganza.org. April 14 2008. http://www.venganza.org/2008/04/14/somalia/. Retrieved 10 December 2008. 
  28. ^ a b Bobby Henderson, "Happy Holiday Season Everyone"
  29. ^ 'Holiday' Cards Ring Hollow for Some on Bushes' List
  30. ^ Bobby Henderson, FSM Card for Bush
  31. ^ Craig, Katleen (December 22, 2005). "Passion of the Spaghetti Monster". Wired News. http://wired.com/news/politics/0,69905-0.html?tw=wn_tophead_5. 
  32. ^ "The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster". Random House. 2009. http://www.randomhouse.ca/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780812976564. Retrieved 2009-10-18. 
  33. ^ Brenner, Wayne (2006-04-14). "The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster". The Austin Chronicle. Austin Chronicle Corp. http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/review?oid=oid%3A356663. Retrieved 2009-10-18. 
  34. ^ Henderson, Bobby (2006). "The FSM Book". Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Venganza.org. http://www.venganza.org/worship/fsm-book/. Retrieved 2009-10-18. 
  35. ^ Billy Townsend (2007-12-22). "Polk Needled, Noodled In Evolution Flap". The Tampa Tribune. http://www2.tbo.com/content/2007/dec/22/na-polk-needled-noodled-in-evolution-flap/. Retrieved 2007-12-23. 
  36. ^ Office of Student Activities: Organization Details
  37. ^ MTU Pastafarians
  38. ^ Usc: Student Government And Student Organizations
  39. ^ Rutgers Pastafarians
  40. ^ "Citizen Times article on Bryan Killian's suspension". http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200770328123. 
  41. ^ "Flying Spaghetti Monster statue at Tennessee courthouse". CNET Networks,. April 2008. http://www.news.com/8301-13772_3-9906870-52.html?tag=nefd.only. Retrieved 2008-04-02. 
  42. ^ Gary Nelson, "Courthouse No Longer Hosting Free Speech Displays." The Crossville Chronicle, April 15, 2008. Retrieved: July 10, 2008.
  43. ^ Prometheus Spawning Grounds
  44. ^ "The Flying Spaghetti Monster Holiday Pageant". Hunger Artists Theatre Company. December 2006. http://www.hungerartists.com/fsm.htm. Retrieved 2006-11-29. 
  45. ^ "Hunger Artists Theatre Company's 2008 Season". Hunger Artists Theatre Company. November 2007. http://www.hungerartists.com/season08.htm. Retrieved 2007-11-16. 
  46. ^ "Richard Dawkins / Salmon Farming". Science Friday (NPR). October 6, 2006. http://www.sciencefriday.com/pages/2006/Oct/hour2_100606.html. 
  47. ^ Xygalatas, Dimitris. 2007. “The Flying Spaghetti Monster and Religious Fundamentalism”, in: Greek translation of: Daniel Dennett, Breaking the Spell (Greek Title: Απομυθοποίηση), Thessaloniki: Vanias, pp. 7-13. ISBN 978-960-288-198-9

References

  • Henderson, Bobby (2006). The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Villard Books. ISBN 0-8129-7656-8. 
News articles

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