I believe

I was trying to resist this, really I was. But it’s so on topic that I can resist no longer. You see, I too have converted to the Cult of FSM – Flying Spaghetti Monsterism. No idea what I’m talking about? Then you haven’t been paying attention.

You might remember I have issues with Intelligent Design. I have found an ally and bloggy mentor on this topic in Phil Plait, the Bad Astronomer. It was under his tutelage that I was first exposed to the growing FSM movement back in the first week of August.

I’ve been looking for a devotional outlet for a while now. Catholicism was good when I was young and naïve – and not divorced, and not mother to a child created through assisted reproductive technologies, among other things. I needed something more inclusive. Here’s what FSM founder Bobby Henderson said in his open letter to the Kansas State board of education:

I am writing you with much concern after having read of your hearing to decide whether the alternative theory of Intelligent Design should be taught along with the theory of Evolution. I think we can all agree that it is important for students to hear multiple viewpoints so they can choose for themselves the theory that makes the most sense to them. I am concerned, however, that students will only hear one theory of Intelligent Design.

Let us remember that there are multiple theories of Intelligent Design. I and many others around the world are of the strong belief that the universe was created by a Flying Spaghetti Monster. It was He who created all that we see and all that we feel. We feel strongly that the overwhelming scientific evidence pointing towards evolutionary processes is nothing but a coincidence, put in place by Him.

From the moment I first read about His Noodliness, I knew. And yet despite the obvious draw, I waited. I’ve been burned before, you know. Could I trust FSM, or would it leave questioning myself in the quiet dark of sleepless nights? But now that FSM has it’s own Wiki entry, I know it’s for real, and it’s here to stay. Far be it from me to reinvent the pasta wheel, when I can quote Wiki to tell you what FSM is all about:

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

The “religion” has since become an Internet phenomenon garnering many followers of the Flying Spaghetti Monster (sometimes referring to themselves as “Pastafarians”, a pun on Rastafarians) preaching the word of their “noodly master” as the one true religion. FSM is primarily the invention of Bobby Henderson, a graduate of the Oregon State University with a degree in physics.

At last, I have a community to call my own: the Pastafarians. And I’m in good company. When the Lincoln Sign Company offered FSM stickers with the logo you see above and offered them to the first 100 people who sent an e-mail, they were inundated with over 3,500 requests in seven hours, and the 100 decals were gone in the first eight minutes.

Boing Boing has offered a $1M reward to anyone who can prove that Jesus Christ isn’t the son of the FSM.

How could you not love it?

Author: DaniGirl

Canadian. storyteller, photographer, mom to 3. Professional dilettante.

7 thoughts on “I believe”

  1. ÜberGeek – deal!
    I saw the Darwin fish for the first time last week, or else I’d have had one by now.
    Now I need to figure out how to get my own fuzzy FSM idol to worship, as seen in the link from Marla. (How is that thing floating, anyway?)
    xo Danigirl

  2. oh my god (or my noodliness), the pastafarians bit had me laughing out loud.
    thanks, now i have to explain to my coworkers why i’m reading about spaghetti religion and not doing my work 😉

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