Dee Wright Observatory and Flying Spaghetti Monster: Difference between pages

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[[Image:Touched by His Noodly Appendage.jpg|250px|thumb|Niklas Jansson's adaptation of [[Michelangelo]]'s ''[[The Creation of Adam]]'' depicts the Flying Spaghetti Monster in its typical guise as a clump of tangled [[spaghetti]] with two eyestalks, two [[meatball]]s, and many "noodly [[appendage]]s".]]
{{Infobox park
| park = Dee Wright Observatory
| image =Dee Wright Observatory 03.JPG
| image size = 250px
| caption = Observatory at the summit of McKenzie Pass
| type =
| location = [[McKenzie Pass]], [[Lane County, Oregon|Lane County]], [[Oregon]], [[United States]]
| coordinates = {{coord|44.260556|-121.801222|display=title,inline}}
| size =
| opened = 1935
| operator = [[U.S. Forest Service]]
| annual visitors =
| status =
}}


[[Image:FSM Logo.JPG|250px|right|thumb|Logo of the Flying Spaghetti Monster on a car bumper.]]
'''Dee Wright Observatory''' is an observation structure at the summit of [[McKenzie Pass]] in the [[Cascade Mountains]] of [[Oregon]]. The structure is an open shelter constructed with [[lava]] stone. It is located in the midst of a large lava flow, and offers an exceptional view of numerous Cascade peaks.


The '''Flying Spaghetti Monster''' (also known as the ''FSM'') is the [[deity]] of a <!-- we have a large number of reliable sources for this. Please discuss on the talk page before removing the word Thanks --> [[parody religion]]<ref name="cepa">{{cite web |url=http://assembly.coe.int/Main.asp?link=/Documents/WorkingDocs/Doc07/EDOC11375.htm |title=The dangers of creationism in education |accessdate=2007-10-22 |work=[http://assembly.coe.int/ Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly]}}</ref> called '''The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster''' and its system of beliefs, '''"Pastafarianism"'''.<ref name="nytimes">{{cite web |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/29/arts/design/29mons.html?ex=1178251200 |title=But Is There Intelligent Spaghetti Out There? |accessdate=2007-02-05 |format= |work=[[New York Times]] Arts article}}</ref> The religion was founded in 2005 by [[Bobby Henderson]] to protest the [[Kansas evolution hearings|decision by the Kansas State Board of Education]] to require the teaching of [[intelligent design]] as an alternative to biological [[evolution]]. [[Intelligent design]] implies the existence of an intelligent but not necessarily omnipotent or omniscient designer, thus some, like Henderson, argue that this designer could be anything imaginable.{{Fact|date=September 2008}}
== Location ==


In an [[open letter]] sent to the education board, Henderson parodies the concept of an intelligent designer by professing belief in a [[supernatural]] [[Creator God|creator]] called the Flying Spaghetti Monster which resembles [[spaghetti and meatballs]].<ref name="openletter">{{cite web | author=Henderson, Bobby| year=2005| title=Open Letter To Kansas School Board | format=HTML| url=http://www.venganza.org/about/open-letter/ | accessdate=2007-01-09}}</ref> He furthermore calls for the "Pastafarian" theory of creation to be taught in science classrooms.<ref name="wpost">{{cite news | title=Verbatim: Noodle This, Kansas | date=August 28, 2005 | publisher=[[Washington Post]] | url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/27/AR2005082700019.html?nav=most_emailed }}</ref>
Dee Wright Observatory is located in the [[Willamette National Forest]] 15 miles (24 km) west of [[Sisters, Oregon]] on [[Oregon Route 242|Route 242]].<ref name="USFS"> [http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/willamette/recreation/tripplanning/pointsofinterest/dee_wright.html "Dee Wright Observatory"], Willamette National Forest, United States Forest Service, Eugene, Oregon 26 June 2002.</ref> The highway is part of the [[McKenzie-Santiam Pass Scenic Byway]]. McKenzie Pass is {{convert|5325|ft|m}} above sea level, and winter snow and the narrow road surface, requires McKenzie Pass to be closed from November to July each year.<ref name="FS"> [http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/willamette/recreation/accessible/index.html "McKenzie Travel Corridor, Dee Wright Observatory"], Willamette National Forest, United States Forest Service, Eugene, Oregon, 7 May 2007.</ref><ref name="ODT">[http://www.tripcheck.com/Pages/SBmckenzie.asp "McKenzie Pass"], Oregon Department of Transportation, Salem, Oregon, 2008.</ref>


Due to its recent popularity and media exposure, the Flying Spaghetti Monster is often used by [[atheism|atheists]], [[agnosticism|agnostics]] (known by Pastafarians as "spagnostics"), and others as a modern version of [[Russell's teapot]]<ref>{{cite news | title=The Church of the Non-Believers | first=Gary | last=Wolf | date=November 14, 2006 | publisher=[[Wired News]] | url=http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.11/atheism.html}}</ref> and the [[Invisible Pink Unicorn]].
== Structure ==


==History and developments==
The observatory is an open shelter built with lava stone found at the construction site. The viewing windows are cut to specifically highlight the neighboring mountains. These "lava tube" viewing holes allow visitors to easily identify the different Cascade peaks. There is also a 36 inch (90 cm) diameter, bronze [[azimuth]]-like "peak finder" on the observatory’s roof to help visitors locate nearby geologic features as well as the surrounding mountain peaks. From the top of the observatory, visitors have a panoramic view of the Cascade Mountain Range including [[Mount Hood]] in the far north.<ref name="USFS"/><ref name="FS"/>


The first public exposure of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster (CoFSM) can be dated to January 2005, when Bobby Henderson, describing himself as a concerned citizen, sent an open letter regarding the FSM to the [[Kansas State Board of Education]]. The letter was sent prior to the [[Kansas evolution hearings]] as an argument against the teaching of intelligent design in biology classes. Intelligent design was thought of as a way to teach creationism in the public school system without mentioning the word "God". Henderson stated that both his theory and intelligent design had equal validity; saying
[[Image:Dee Wright Obersatory 02.JPEG|right|thumb|Cascade peaks seen through lava tube viewing hole at Dee Wright Observatory]]
:''"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."''<ref name="openletter"/>
Many peaks can easily be seen from Dee Wright Observatory: [[Mount Jefferson (Oregon)|Mount Jefferson]], Cache Mountain, Dugout Butte, [[Black Butte (Oregon)|Black Butte]], Bluegrass Butte, [[Black Crater]], [[North Sister]], [[Middle Sister]], Little Brother (and ridge west), Condon Butte, Scott Mountain, South Belknap Cone, [[Belknap Crater]], Little Belknap, and [[Mount Washington (Oregon)|Mount Washington]]. Mount Hood, Bald Peter, Green Ridge, and Horsepasture Mountain can also be seen from the observatory during good weather.<ref name="USGS">[http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Volcanoes/Oregon/HighCascades/dee_wright_observatory.html "Dee Wright Observatory"], United States Geological Survey, Cascades Volcano Observatory, Vancouver, Washington, December 2005.</ref>


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."<ref name="randi">{{cite web |url=http://www.randi.org/jr/200509/091605church.html#1 |title=Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster |accessdate=2007-02-05 |format= |work=[[James Randi Educational Foundation]] article September 16, 2005}}</ref>
The half-mile long Lava River Interpretive Trail begins at the observatory, and takes visitors on a 30-minute walk through lava beds. The trail is paved and easy to follow. Interpretive panels, located along the trail highlight the [[geology]] of the area. The trail also offers open vistas of the surrounding landscape.<ref name="USFS"/><ref name="USGS"/>
== History ==


The Board only responded after Henderson posted the letter on his website, gaining significant public interest.<ref name="openletterabout">{{cite web | title=Discussion of the Open Letter | publisher=Henderson, Bobby | url=http://www.venganza.org/about/open-letter/discussion/ | accessdate=2007-04-07 }}</ref> Henderson subsequently published the responses<ref name="openletterrespond">{{cite web | title=Kansas School Board Responses to the Open Letter | publisher=Henderson, Bobby | url=http://www.venganza.org/about/open-letter/responses/ | year = 2005 | month = June 25 | accessdate=2006-01-09}}</ref> he received from Board members.
McKenzie Pass follows the path of an 1860 wagon route. The route emerges from the forest and crosses a {{convert|65|mi2|km2|sing=on}} lava flow. At the summit, the wagon road had to be cut through the lava beds. As a result, alternate routes over the Cascades were used by most early travelers. Today’s highway follows the wagon route over the lava beds past the observatory site.<ref name="ODT"/>


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.<ref name="spiegel">{{cite web|url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,371205,00.html |publisher=[[Der Spiegel]] |date=[[2005-08-24]] |accessdate=2007-09-08 |quote=[FSM] has certainly caught the imagination of the online community [...] Henderson receives over 150 emails from supporters every day. |title=A Tangled Tale of a Pasta-based Prophet }}</ref> The site was featured on websites such as [[Boing Boing]], [[Something Awful]], [[Uncyclopedia]], and [[Fark.com]]. The mainstream media quickly picked up on the phenomenon as the Flying Spaghetti Monster became a symbol for the case against intelligent design theory in public education.<ref>{{cite news | title=The Flying Spaghetti Monster | date=August 6, 2005 | publisher=[[New Scientist]] | url=http://www.newscientist.com/backpage.ns?id=mg18725112.800 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | first=Scott | last=Rothschild | title=Evolution debate creates monster | date=August 24, 2005 | publisher=[[Lawrence Journal-World]] | url=http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2005/aug/24/evolution_debate_creates_monster/?education }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | first=Sarah | last=Boxer | title=But Is There Intelligent Spaghetti Out There? | date=August 29, 2005 | publisher=[[New York Times]] | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/29/arts/design/29mons.html?ex=1282968000&en=ee37c2cf9d5884e7&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss }}</ref> Henderson himself was surprised by its success, stating that he "wrote the letter for [his] own amusement as much as anything."<ref name="usatoday">{{cite web |url=http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/2006-03-26-spaghetti-monster_x.htm |title='Spaghetti Monster' is noodling around with faith |accessdate=2007-02-05 |format= |work=[[USA Today]] Science & Space article}}</ref>
The observatory was built during the [[Great Depression]] by a [[Civilian Conservation Corps]] crew at Camp Belknap near [[Clear Lake (Linn County, Oregon)|Clear Lake]]. It was completed in 1935, and named for the construction crew’s foreman who had died the previous year after serving 24 years as a [[packhorse|Forest Service packer]]<!-- is that the right kind of packhorse? --> and crew foreman at Camp Belknap.<ref name="USFS"/><ref name="FS"/>


In August 2005, in response to a challenge from a reader, [[BoingBoing]].net announced a $250,000 challenge, later raised to $1,000,000, for "Intelligently Designed currency" by other bloggers, payable to any individual who could produce [[empiricism|empirical]] evidence proving that [[Jesus]] is not the son of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.<ref>{{cite web | title=Boing Boing's $250,000 Intelligent Design challenge | publisher = BoingBoing.net | url=http://www.boingboing.net/2005/08/19/boing_boings_250000_.html | year = 2005 | month = August 19 | accessdate=2006-06-11}}</ref> The challenge is modeled after a similar challenge issued by [[Young Earth creationism|young-Earth creationist]] [[Kent Hovind]] (an award of $250,000 to anyone who can prove evolution "is the only possible way" that the Universe and life arose).
In addition to Dee Wright Observatory, the rough-hewn timber shelter built by the Civilian Conservation Corps at Camp Belknap still stands near Clear Lake. Both sites are maintained by the [[United States Forest Service]].<ref name="USGS"/> Today, Dee Wright Observatory is visited by thousands of travelers crossing McKenzie Pass each summer.<ref name="USFS"/>


In November 2005, the Kansas State Board of Education voted to allow criticisms of evolution, including language about creative design, as part of testing standards.<ref name="washpost">{{cite news | title=Kansas Education Board First to Back "Intelligent Design" | date=November 9, 2005 | publisher=[[Washington Post]] | http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/08/AR2005110801211.html}}</ref> 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.<ref name="msnbc2">{{cite news | title=Kansas board boosts evolution education | date=February 14, 2007 | publisher=[[MSNBC]] | url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17132925/}}</ref>
== References ==

Bobby Henderson, a 25-year-old [[Oregon State University]] physics graduate, had stated on his website that he was desperately trying to avoid taking a job programming slot machines in [[Las Vegas Strip|Las Vegas]].<ref name="nytimes"/> On November 15 the [[Dallas Morning News]] described him as an unemployed slot-machine engineer,<ref name="Dallas Morning News">{{cite news | first=Clarence | last=Page | title=Keeping ID out of science classes| publisher=[[Dallas Morning News]] | date=November 15, 2005 | url=http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/opinion/balance/stories/111505dnedicyberpage.b4d5bd9.html}}</ref> and on the following day the [[New York Magazine]] described an advance from [[Villard (imprint)|Villard]] to write ''[[The Gospel of The Flying Spaghetti Monster]]'' with the subheading "Jackpot for unemployed slot-machine engineer and heretic".<ref name="newyorkmag">{{cite news | first=Eric | last=Wolff | title=The Case For Intelligent Design: Spaghetti as the Creator | publisher=[[New York Magazine]] | date=November 16, 2005 | url=http://nymag.com/nymetro/news/people/columns/intelligencer/15011/}}</ref> As of February 2008, Henderson describes himself as spending "a lot of time trying to avoid a Real Job", saying that "it’s not just about the money. Speculative work is more interesting. Specifically, I’m interested in random stupid projects." He cites as a successful example his "taco-art project" which took him one day, and orders for prints had made him over $2,000, though many other "stupid (but interesting) projects" didn’t work out.<ref name="Bobby Hendersons blog">{{cite web |url=http://blog.venganza.org/post/25299855 |title=Bobby Henderson's blog: Work Expectation Value |accessdate=2008-02-07 |format= |work=}}</ref>

In November 2007, three talks involving the Flying Spaghetti Monster were scheduled to be delivered at the [[American Academy of Religion]]'s annual meeting in [[San Diego]]. The talks included titles such as, "Holy Pasta and Authentic Sauce: The Flying Spaghetti Monster's Messy Implications for Theorizing Religion".<ref>{{cite web|url =http://www.cnn.com/2007/LIVING/personal/11/16/flying.spaghettimonster.ap/index.html | title =Religious scholars mull Flying Spaghetti Monster | date= [[2007-11-16]] | publisher= AP| accessdate =2007-11-16}}</ref> Academics say while its inclusion in the program may get laughs, it is a serious debate on the essence of religion exploring questions such as "does religion require a genuine theological belief or simply a set of rituals and a community joining together as a way of signaling their cultural alliances to others?" or in short, "is an anti-religion like Flying Spaghetti Monsterism actually a religion?"<ref>[http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5izIdAiH7TCkYQq8AvK6KbH480paAD8SUOUQG1 Pasta Monster Gets Academic Attention] [[Associated Press|AP]] November 17, 2007</ref>

In December 2007, ''[[The Ledger]]'' reported that members of venganza website, ''Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster'', sent emails to School Board members in [[Polk County, Florida]], on the issue of intelligent design.<ref>{{cite news |author=John Chambliss |title= Satirical Monsters More Competition for Darwin|url=http://www.theledger.com/article/20071211/NEWS/712110392/0/FRONTPAGE |publisher=The Ledger |date=2007-12-11 |accessdate=2007-12-13 }} </ref>

==Beliefs==
Henderson proposed many of the beliefs in reaction to common arguments by proponents of intelligent design.<ref name=gelf>{{cite news | first=Jessica | last=Thierman | title=Touched by his Noodly Appendage | date=September 18, 2005 | publisher=[[Gelf Magazine]] | url=http://www.gelfmagazine.com/mt/archives/touched_by_his_noodly_appendage.html }}</ref>

The [[canonical]] beliefs of Flying Spaghetti Monsterism are set forth by Henderson in the Open Letter,<ref name="openletter"/> ''the Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster'', and on Henderson's web site,<ref name="venganza">{{cite web | author=Henderson, Bobby| year=2005| title=Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster | format=HTML| url=http://www.venganza.org/ | accessdate=2006-06-11}}</ref> where he is described as a [[prophet]].

The central belief is that there is an invisible and undetectable Flying Spaghetti Monster, who created the entire [[universe]] "after drinking heavily."<ref name="usatoday"/> 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 — a form of the [[Omphalos (theology)|Omphalos hypothesis]]. When scientific measurements, such as [[radiocarbon dating]], are made, the Flying Spaghetti Monster "is there changing the results with His Noodly Appendage."<ref name="openletter"/>

The Pastafarian belief of [[heaven]] stresses that it contains [[beer]] volcanoes and a [[stripper]] factory.<ref name="flashguide">{{cite web | author=DuBay, Tim | year=2005| title=Guide to Pastafarianism | format=Shockwave Flash| url=http://www.venganza.org/flash/guidetopastafarianismpreloaded.swf | accessdate=2006-08-26}}</ref> [[Hell]] is similar, except that the beer is stale, and the strippers have [[Venereal disease|VD]].<ref name="hell">The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, p.83</ref>

Henderson uses parallel concepts from religious texts when describing the FSM, poking fun at those who literally interpret the Bible. The religious text of the Pastafarian religion is called the Loose Canon instead of the formal Canon. In place of the [[Ten Commandments]], it contains [[The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster#The Eight "I'd Really Rather You Didn'ts"|the Eight I'd Really Rather You Didn'ts]].

The official conclusion to prayers is "RAmen", contained in certain sections of ''[[The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster]]'', and so on. It is a [[portmanteau]] of the [[Semitic]] term "[[Amen]]" (used in [[Judaism]], [[Christianity]], and [[Islam]]) and [[Ramen]], a type of [[noodle]]. While it is typically spelled with both a capital "R" and "A", it is also acceptable to spell it with only a capital R.

===Pirates and global warming===

[[Image:FSM Pirates.png|250px|thumb|right|Chart comparing Number of Pirates versus Global Warming. This chart, a version of which was included with Bobby Henderson's original letter to the Kansas School Board, illustrates the absurdity of assuming that correlation implies causation.]]

According to the Pastafarian belief system, [[pirates]] are "absolute divine beings" and the original Pastafarians.<ref name="openletter" /> Their image as "thieves and outcasts" is misinformation spread by Christian theologians in the [[Middle Ages]] and by [[International Society for Krishna Consciousness|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.

The inclusion of [[Piracy|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]], [[earthquake]]s, [[hurricane]]s, and other natural disasters are a direct effect of the shrinking numbers of pirates since the 1800s."<ref name="openletter" /> A chart accompanying the letter shows that as the number of pirates decreased, global temperatures increased.

===''The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster''===
[[Image:Fsm book.jpg|left|125px|thumb|''The Gospel of The Flying Spaghetti Monster'']]
{{main|The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster}}

In December 2005, Bobby Henderson received a reported [[United States dollar|USD]] $80,000 advance from Villard to pen ''The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster''. Henderson said he plans to use the proceeds from the sale of the book to build a pirate ship, with which he may travel the world in order to convert heathens to the Pastafarian religion.<ref>{{cite news | first=Katleen | last=Craig | title=Passion of the Spaghetti Monster | date=December 22, 2005 | publisher=Wired News | url=http://wired.com/news/politics/0,69905-0.html?tw=wn_tophead_5 }}</ref><ref name="newyorkmag"/> The book was released on March 28, 2006 (ISBN 0-8129-7656-8).

''The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster'' is the Pastafarian equivalent of the [[Bible]]. It parodies biblical figures with characters such as Captain Mosey, a pirate and the FSM equivalent of [[Moses]]. The Gospel contains the aforementioned Eight "I'd Really Rather You Didn'ts." It also provides information on how to convert non-"Pastafarians" and explains many of the religion's beliefs (for example, that lack of pirates causes global warming).

==Polk County, Florida==
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". 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." Lofton then stated that she had no interest in engaging with the Pastafarians or anyone else seeking to discredit intelligent design. 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.<ref name=Polk>{{cite web |url=http://www2.tbo.com/content/2007/dec/22/na-polk-needled-noodled-in-evolution-flap/ |title=Polk Needled, Noodled In Evolution Flap |accessdate=2007-12-23 |author=Billy Townsend |date=2007-12-22 |format= |work= |publisher=The Tampa Tribune }}</ref>

==The Flying Spaghetti Monster in media==
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:FSM logo2.svg|thumb|left|The FSM logo is a parody of the [[Ichthys]] or "Jesus Fish". It contains the basic body shape of the Ichthys, two eye stalks, six "noodly appendages", and the initials "FSM" for Flying Spaghetti Monster. {{ifdc|Image:FSM logo2.svg|log=2008 August 2}}]] -->

===In the news===

* 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"<ref>[http://www.itchstudios.com/psg/index.htm http://www.itchstudios.com/psg/]</ref>, 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|brand image]].
* The band [[New York Dolls]] added the FSM to their music video [[One Day It Will Please Us to Remember Even This|"Dance like a Monkey"]].<ref>{{cite web | title=New York Dolls — Dance Like a Monkey | url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_XEiV-l97o }}</ref>
* A section of the open letter to the Kansas School Board appeared in the January 2006 edition of ''[[Playboy]]''.
* 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]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Citizen Times article on Bryan Killian's suspension | url=http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200770328123 }}</ref>
* The Flying Spaghetti Monster was featured in the Dec/Jan issue of the science magazine ''[[Seed (magazine)|Seed]]'' in a section dedicated to the year in review 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://seedmagazine.com/news/2005/12/year_in_science_issues.php?page=2 |title=Year in Science |date=[[2005-12-27]] |publisher=[[Seed (magazine)|Seed]] |accessdate=2007-08-10 }}</ref>
* The [[Hunger Artists Theatre Company]] produced a comedy called ''[[The Flying Spaghetti Monster Holiday Pageant]]'' in December 2006, detailing the history of Pastafarianism.<ref>{{cite web | title=The Flying Spaghetti Monster Holiday Pageant | publisher = Hunger Artists Theatre Company | url=http://www.hungerartists.com/fsm.htm | year = 2006 | month = December | accessdate=2006-11-29}}</ref> The production has spawned a sequel, to be performed in December 2008.<ref>{{cite web | title=Hunger Artists Theatre Company's 2008 Season | publisher = Hunger Artists Theatre Company | url=http://www.hungerartists.com/season08.htm | year = 2007 | month = November | accessdate=2007-11-16}}</ref>
* Pastafarianism was featured in a November 2007 issue of the science magazine ''[[New Scientist]]''.<ref>[http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg19626292.900-feedback.html Recognition for Our Noodly Friend]</ref>
* On August 3, 2007 in the [[Netherlands]], a demonstration was set up by Pastafarians to protest against the [[Evangelische Omroep]] (EO), a public broadcaster with a strong evangelical background, after the EO edited a BBC documentary to remove parts about evolution.<ref>{{cite web
| date = [[2007-08-03]]
| title =Bekeren kan je leren
| publisher =Nederlandse Omroep Stichting
| url =http://www.nosheadlines.nl/forum.php/list_messages/7544
| accessdate =2007-08-06
| language=Dutch
}}</ref>
* 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.<ref>{{cite web | title=Flying Spaghetti Monster statue at Tennessee courthouse | publisher = CNET Networks, | url=http://www.news.com/8301-13772_3-9906870-52.html?tag=nefd.only| year = 2008 | month = April| accessdate=2008-04-02}}</ref> 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.<ref>Gary Nelson, "[http://crossville-chronicle.com/cnhi/crossvillechronicle/homepage/local_story_106193650.html?keyword=leadpicturestory Courthouse No Longer Hosting Free Speech Displays]." ''The Crossville Chronicle'', April 15, 2008. Retrieved: July 10, 2008.</ref>

===In literature and fiction===
{{Trivia|date=September 2008}}
* The popular [[sprite comic]] ''[[Bob and George]]'' featured the Flying Spaghetti Monster during a brief series of gags explaining why there were no new comics in the current storyline. The comic also refers to the [[Invisible Pink Unicorn]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Bob and George Comic from April 3, 2006 | url=http://bobandgeorge.com/archives/index.php?date=060403}}</ref>
* ''[[Ctrl+Alt+Del]]'' is another [[webcomic]] where the Flying Spaghetti Monster is referred to as a reason for one of the protagonist's problems.<ref>{{cite web | title=CTRL ALT DEL Well technically... from August 27, 2005 | url=http://www.ctrlaltdel-online.com/comic.php?d=20050827}}</ref>
* In episode #108 of the webcomic ''Best of Friends'', the Flying Spaghetti Monster is satirically talked about as though he were real by Jesus and the Buddha while Scientology's [[Xenu]] is questioned as being made up.<ref>{{cite web | title=Best of Friends January 28, 2008 | url=http://www.bofcomic.com/BoF_108W.jpg}}</ref>
* The Flying Spaghetti Monster has been used by [[Richard Dawkins]] in his book ''[[The God Delusion]]'', to demonstrate ideas from that book. It has also been featured in several other media outlets, including ''[[The Colbert Report]]'' and ''[[Science Friday]]''.<ref>{{cite news | title = Richard Dawkins / Salmon Farming | work = [[Science Friday]] | language = English | publisher = [[NPR]] | date = October 6, 2006 | url = http://www.sciencefriday.com/pages/2006/Oct/hour2_100606.html | accessdate =}}</ref>
* In the indie wargame ''Warcrabs!,'' Pastafarian office workers wage a "holy war" against their [[Church of the SubGenius|Subgenius]]-oriented co-workers.<ref>{{cite web | title=Warcrabs, accessed April 11, 2008 | url=http://www.freewargamesrules.co.uk/Rules/Miscellaneous/warcrabs.pdf}}</ref>
* Dawkins' animated counterpart in the ''[[South Park]]'' episode "[[Go God Go]]" referred to the Monster in an argument against religion.
* [[Neil Gaiman]] and Michael Reaves' novel ''[[InterWorld]]'' mentions the Flying Spaghetti Monster in a list of legitimate deities one might believe in.
*In the webcomic, [[Joe and Monkey]], the coffee shop employee who resembles the Devil says that he believes in the Flying Spaghetti Monster when questioned about which faith he belongs to in strip #947.<ref>{{cite web | title=Joe and Monkey from Nov 17, 2007 | url=http://www.joeandmonkey.com/947}}</ref>
*In the British sitcom [[The IT Crowd]] a poster depicting the FSM is shown on the wall behind Moss's desk.
*The webcomic, [[Zortic]], features FSM, dubbed as Flying Pasta Monster.<ref>{{cite web | title=Zortic, accessed July 30, 2008 | url=http://zortic.com/d/20071210.html}}</ref>
* The Flying Spaghetti Monster has been used 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.<ref>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.</ref>
* The manga AOI House by Adam Arnold featured one of the characters running from a many-legged monster and saying "It's just the Flying Spaghetti Monster. It's ''just'' the Flying Spaghetti Monster!"
* The FSM was mentioned in the webcomic Applegeeks in issue 236 by main character Hawk.

==In North American Universities==
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.<ref>[https://www.ws.missouristate.edu/studentorganizations/guide/DisplayOrg.aspx?id=218 Office of Student Activities]: Organization Details</ref><ref>[http://www.pasta.students.mtu.edu/wordpress/ MTU Pastafarians<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://web.sa.sc.edu/search.asp Usc: Student Government And Student Organizations<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://www.rutgersfsm.tk/]: Rutgers Pastafarians</ref>.

==See also==
<div style="-moz-column-count:2; -webkit-column-count:2; column-count:2;">
* [[Atheism]]
* [[Creation-evolution controversy]]
* [[Criticism of Religion]]
* [[Church of the SubGenius]]
* [[Religious satire]]
* [[Discordianism]]
* [[Invisible Pink Unicorn]]
* [[Omphalos (theology)]]
* [[Open source religion]]
* [[Religion and the Internet]]
* [[Russell's teapot]]
* [[Douglas Adams#Sentient puddle|Sentient puddle]]
* [[International Talk Like a Pirate Day]]
</div>

==References==
{{reflist|2}}
{{reflist|2}}


== External links ==
==External links==
{{sisterlinks|Flying Spaghetti Monster}}
* [http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/willamette/index.html Willamette National Forest]
* [http://www.venganza.org Originating Website, including Henderson's open letter sent to the Kansas Board of Education]
* [http://www.tripcheck.com/Pages/SBmckenzie.asp McKenzie Pass—Santiam Pass Scenic Byway]
* [http://www.oregonnews.com/article/20050913/NEWS/109130022 Henderson news article]
* [http://www.scq.ubc.ca/?cat=20 Sampling of Evidence in Support of the FSM] — from the Science Creative Quarterly
* [http://assembly.coe.int/Main.asp?link=/Documents/WorkingDocs/Doc07/EDOC11375.htm The dangers of creationism in education] (see Clause #52)
* [http://www.hobotrashcan.com/gettingtoknow/talklikeapirateday.php The Creators of International Talk Like A Pirate Day give their support to the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster], HoboTrashcan.com interview
* [http://uncyclopedia.org/wiki/Pastafarian_Schisms Inevitable Pastafarian Schisms]

;News articles
* {{cite book | first=Bobby | last=Henderson | title=The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster | publisher= Villard Books | year=2006 | id=ISBN 0-8129-7656-8}}
* {{cite news | first=Jack | last=Schofield | title="Intelligent Design" and Pastafarianism | date=August 20, 2005 | publisher=[[Guardian Unlimited]] | url=http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/technology/archives/2005/08/20/intelligent_design_and_pastafarianism.html }}
* {{cite news | title=Evolution Debate Spawns a Saucy Monster | date=August 28, 2005 | publisher=[[Wichita Eagle]] | url=http://web.archive.org/web/20051101013712/http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/news/local/12497453.htm }}
* {{cite news | title = In the beginning there was the Flying Spaghetti Monster | date=September 11, 2005 | publisher=[[Daily Telegraph]] | url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/09/11/wfsm11.xml }}
* {{cite news | title = Flying Spaghetti Monster gains following | date=September 24, 2005 | publisher=[[Associated Press]] | url=http://www.gazettetimes.com/articles/2005/09/25/news/the_west/west03.txt }}
* {{cite news | first=Eric | last=Wolff | title=The $80,000 Pasta Bible Jackpot for unemployed slot-machine engineer and heretic | publisher=[[New York Magazine]] | date=November 16, 2005 | url=http://nymag.com/nymetro/news/people/columns/intelligencer/15011/}}
* {{cite news | first = Emily | last = Stroud | title = Flying Spaghetti Monster Statue Displayed On Courthouse Lawn | date=March 25, 2008 | publisher=[[WBIR-TV]] | url=http://www.wbir.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=55995}} [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtIyYEPVgTk Video]
<!-- NOTE to other over-eager editors; the Nov 16, 2007 AP article is already mentioned above, no need to add it again -->
{{irreligion}}
{{Belief systems}}

[[Category:Fictional deities]]
[[Category:Intelligent design parodies]]
[[Category:Internet memes]]
[[Category:Religious parodies and satires]]
[[Category:Parodies]]
[[Category:Arguments against the existence of God]]
[[Category:Criticism of religion]]
[[Category:Creator gods]]


[[als:Fliegendes Spaghettimonster]]
[[Category:Cascade Range]]
[[ar:وحش السباغيتي الطائر]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Oregon]]
[[ast:Pastafarismu]]
[[Category:Landmarks in Oregon]]
[[ca:Pastafarisme]]
[[Category:Lane County, Oregon]]
[[cs:Létající špagetové monstrum]]
[[Category:Civilian Conservation Corps in Oregon]]
[[co:Flying Spaghetti Monsterism]]
[[da:Det flyvende spaghettimonster]]
[[de:Fliegendes Spaghettimonster]]
[[el:Ιπτάμενο μακαρονοτέρας]]
[[es:Pastafarismo]]
[[eo:Fluganta Spagetmonstro]]
[[fa:هیولای اسپاگتی پرنده]]
[[fr:Pastafarisme]]
[[gl:Pastafarismo]]
[[ko:날아다니는 스파게티 괴물]]
[[is:Kirkja hins fljúgandi spagettískrímslis]]
[[it:Pastafarianesimo]]
[[he:מפלצת הספגטי המעופפת]]
[[la:Macaronoteras Volatile]]
[[lb:Spaghettimonster, dat flitt]]
[[lt:Skrajojantis Spageti Monstras]]
[[hu:Repülő Spagettiszörny]]
[[nl:Vliegend Spaghettimonster]]
[[ja:空飛ぶスパゲッティ・モンスター教]]
[[no:Flygende spaghettimonster]]
[[uz:Uchar Lagʻmon Jonivori]]
[[pl:Latający Potwór Spaghetti]]
[[pt:Flying Spaghetti Monsterism]]
[[ru:Летающий Макаронный Монстр]]
[[sk:Flying Spaghetti Monster]]
[[fi:Lentävä spagettihirviö]]
[[sv:Det flygande spaghettimonstret]]
[[th:ปีศาจสปาเกตตีลอยฟ้า]]
[[tr:Pastafaryanizm]]
[[uk:Літаючий локшинний монстр]]
[[zh:飞行面条怪物信仰]]

Revision as of 00:30, 11 October 2008

File:Touched by His Noodly Appendage.jpg
Niklas Jansson's adaptation of Michelangelo's The Creation of Adam depicts the Flying Spaghetti Monster in its typical guise as a clump of tangled spaghetti with two eyestalks, two meatballs, and many "noodly appendages".
File:FSM Logo.JPG
Logo of the Flying Spaghetti Monster on a car bumper.

The Flying Spaghetti Monster (also known as the FSM) is the deity of a parody religion[1] called The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster and its system of beliefs, "Pastafarianism".[2] The religion was founded in 2005 by Bobby Henderson to protest the decision by the Kansas State Board of Education to require the teaching of intelligent design as an alternative to biological evolution. Intelligent design implies the existence of an intelligent but not necessarily omnipotent or omniscient designer, thus some, like Henderson, argue that this designer could be anything imaginable.[citation needed]

In an open letter sent to the education board, Henderson parodies the concept of an intelligent designer by professing belief in a supernatural creator called the Flying Spaghetti Monster which resembles spaghetti and meatballs.[3] He furthermore calls for the "Pastafarian" theory of creation to be taught in science classrooms.[4]

Due to its recent popularity and media exposure, the Flying Spaghetti Monster is often used by atheists, agnostics (known by Pastafarians as "spagnostics"), and others as a modern version of Russell's teapot[5] and the Invisible Pink Unicorn.

History and developments

The first public exposure of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster (CoFSM) can be dated to January 2005, when Bobby Henderson, describing himself as a concerned citizen, sent an open letter regarding the FSM to the Kansas State Board of Education. The letter was sent prior to the Kansas evolution hearings as an argument against the teaching of intelligent design in biology classes. Intelligent design was thought of as a way to teach creationism in the public school system without mentioning the word "God". Henderson 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."[3]

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."[6]

The Board only responded after Henderson posted the letter on his website, gaining significant public interest.[7] Henderson subsequently published the responses[8] he received from Board members.

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.[9] The site was featured on websites such as Boing Boing, Something Awful, Uncyclopedia, and Fark.com. The mainstream media quickly picked up on the phenomenon as the Flying Spaghetti Monster became a symbol for the case against intelligent design theory in public education.[10][11][12] Henderson himself was surprised by its success, stating that he "wrote the letter for [his] own amusement as much as anything."[13]

In August 2005, in response to a challenge from a reader, BoingBoing.net announced a $250,000 challenge, later raised to $1,000,000, for "Intelligently Designed currency" by other bloggers, payable to any individual who could produce empirical evidence proving that Jesus is not the son of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.[14] The challenge is modeled after a similar challenge issued by young-Earth creationist Kent Hovind (an award of $250,000 to anyone who can prove evolution "is the only possible way" that the Universe and life arose).

In November 2005, the Kansas State Board of Education voted to allow criticisms of evolution, including language about creative design, as part of testing standards.[15] 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.[16]

Bobby Henderson, a 25-year-old Oregon State University physics graduate, had stated on his website that he was desperately trying to avoid taking a job programming slot machines in Las Vegas.[2] On November 15 the Dallas Morning News described him as an unemployed slot-machine engineer,[17] and on the following day the New York Magazine described an advance from Villard to write The Gospel of The Flying Spaghetti Monster with the subheading "Jackpot for unemployed slot-machine engineer and heretic".[18] As of February 2008, Henderson describes himself as spending "a lot of time trying to avoid a Real Job", saying that "it’s not just about the money. Speculative work is more interesting. Specifically, I’m interested in random stupid projects." He cites as a successful example his "taco-art project" which took him one day, and orders for prints had made him over $2,000, though many other "stupid (but interesting) projects" didn’t work out.[19]

In November 2007, three talks involving the Flying Spaghetti Monster were scheduled to be delivered at the American Academy of Religion's annual meeting in San Diego. The talks included titles such as, "Holy Pasta and Authentic Sauce: The Flying Spaghetti Monster's Messy Implications for Theorizing Religion".[20] Academics say while its inclusion in the program may get laughs, it is a serious debate on the essence of religion exploring questions such as "does religion require a genuine theological belief or simply a set of rituals and a community joining together as a way of signaling their cultural alliances to others?" or in short, "is an anti-religion like Flying Spaghetti Monsterism actually a religion?"[21]

In December 2007, The Ledger reported that members of venganza website, Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, sent emails to School Board members in Polk County, Florida, on the issue of intelligent design.[22]

Beliefs

Henderson proposed many of the beliefs in reaction to common arguments by proponents of intelligent design.[23]

The canonical beliefs of Flying Spaghetti Monsterism are set forth by Henderson in the Open Letter,[3] the Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, and on Henderson's web site,[24] where he is described as a prophet.

The central belief is that there is an invisible and undetectable Flying Spaghetti Monster, who created the entire universe "after drinking heavily."[13] 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 — a form of the Omphalos hypothesis. When scientific measurements, such as radiocarbon dating, are made, the Flying Spaghetti Monster "is there changing the results with His Noodly Appendage."[3]

The Pastafarian belief of heaven stresses that it contains beer volcanoes and a stripper factory.[25] Hell is similar, except that the beer is stale, and the strippers have VD.[26]

Henderson uses parallel concepts from religious texts when describing the FSM, poking fun at those who literally interpret the Bible. The religious text of the Pastafarian religion is called the Loose Canon instead of the formal Canon. In place of the Ten Commandments, it contains the Eight I'd Really Rather You Didn'ts.

The official conclusion to prayers is "RAmen", contained in certain sections of The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, and so on. It is a portmanteau of the Semitic term "Amen" (used in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) and Ramen, a type of noodle. While it is typically spelled with both a capital "R" and "A", it is also acceptable to spell it with only a capital R.

Pirates and global warming

File:FSM Pirates.png
Chart comparing Number of Pirates versus Global Warming. This chart, a version of which was included with Bobby Henderson's original letter to the Kansas School Board, illustrates the absurdity of assuming that correlation implies causation.

According to the Pastafarian belief system, pirates are "absolute divine beings" and the original Pastafarians.[3] 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.

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."[3] A chart accompanying the letter shows that as the number of pirates decreased, global temperatures increased.

The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster

File:Fsm book.jpg
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 the proceeds from the sale of the book to build a pirate ship, with which he may travel the world in order to convert heathens to the Pastafarian religion.[27][18] The book was released on March 28, 2006 (ISBN 0-8129-7656-8).

The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster is the Pastafarian equivalent of the Bible. It parodies biblical figures with characters such as Captain Mosey, a pirate and the FSM equivalent of Moses. The Gospel contains the aforementioned Eight "I'd Really Rather You Didn'ts." It also provides information on how to convert non-"Pastafarians" and explains many of the religion's beliefs (for example, that lack of pirates causes global warming).

Polk County, Florida

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". 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." Lofton then stated that she had no interest in engaging with the Pastafarians or anyone else seeking to discredit intelligent design. 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.[28]

The Flying Spaghetti Monster in media

In the news

  • 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"[29], 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 band New York Dolls added the FSM to their music video "Dance like a Monkey".[30]
  • A section of the open letter to the Kansas School Board appeared in the January 2006 edition of Playboy.
  • 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.[31]
  • The Flying Spaghetti Monster was featured in the Dec/Jan issue of the science magazine Seed in a section dedicated to the year in review 2005.[32]
  • The Hunger Artists Theatre Company produced a comedy called The Flying Spaghetti Monster Holiday Pageant in December 2006, detailing the history of Pastafarianism.[33] The production has spawned a sequel, to be performed in December 2008.[34]
  • Pastafarianism was featured in a November 2007 issue of the science magazine New Scientist.[35]
  • On August 3, 2007 in the Netherlands, a demonstration was set up by Pastafarians to protest against the Evangelische Omroep (EO), a public broadcaster with a strong evangelical background, after the EO edited a BBC documentary to remove parts about evolution.[36]
  • 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.[37] 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.[38]

In literature and fiction

  • The popular sprite comic Bob and George featured the Flying Spaghetti Monster during a brief series of gags explaining why there were no new comics in the current storyline. The comic also refers to the Invisible Pink Unicorn.[39]
  • Ctrl+Alt+Del is another webcomic where the Flying Spaghetti Monster is referred to as a reason for one of the protagonist's problems.[40]
  • In episode #108 of the webcomic Best of Friends, the Flying Spaghetti Monster is satirically talked about as though he were real by Jesus and the Buddha while Scientology's Xenu is questioned as being made up.[41]
  • The Flying Spaghetti Monster has been used by Richard Dawkins in his book The God Delusion, to demonstrate ideas from that book. It has also been featured in several other media outlets, including The Colbert Report and Science Friday.[42]
  • In the indie wargame Warcrabs!, Pastafarian office workers wage a "holy war" against their Subgenius-oriented co-workers.[43]
  • Dawkins' animated counterpart in the South Park episode "Go God Go" referred to the Monster in an argument against religion.
  • Neil Gaiman and Michael Reaves' novel InterWorld mentions the Flying Spaghetti Monster in a list of legitimate deities one might believe in.
  • In the webcomic, Joe and Monkey, the coffee shop employee who resembles the Devil says that he believes in the Flying Spaghetti Monster when questioned about which faith he belongs to in strip #947.[44]
  • In the British sitcom The IT Crowd a poster depicting the FSM is shown on the wall behind Moss's desk.
  • The webcomic, Zortic, features FSM, dubbed as Flying Pasta Monster.[45]
  • The Flying Spaghetti Monster has been used 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.[46]
  • The manga AOI House by Adam Arnold featured one of the characters running from a many-legged monster and saying "It's just the Flying Spaghetti Monster. It's just the Flying Spaghetti Monster!"
  • The FSM was mentioned in the webcomic Applegeeks in issue 236 by main character Hawk.

In North American Universities

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.[47][48][49][50].

See also

References

  1. ^ "The dangers of creationism in education". Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly. Retrieved 2007-10-22. {{cite web}}: External link in |work= (help)
  2. ^ a b "But Is There Intelligent Spaghetti Out There?". New York Times Arts article. Retrieved 2007-02-05.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Henderson, Bobby (2005). "Open Letter To Kansas School Board" (HTML). Retrieved 2007-01-09.
  4. ^ "Verbatim: Noodle This, Kansas". Washington Post. August 28, 2005.
  5. ^ Wolf, Gary (November 14, 2006). "The Church of the Non-Believers". Wired News.
  6. ^ "Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster". James Randi Educational Foundation article September 16, 2005. Retrieved 2007-02-05.
  7. ^ "Discussion of the Open Letter". Henderson, Bobby. Retrieved 2007-04-07.
  8. ^ "Kansas School Board Responses to the Open Letter". Henderson, Bobby. 2005. Retrieved 2006-01-09. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  9. ^ "A Tangled Tale of a Pasta-based Prophet". Der Spiegel. 2005-08-24. Retrieved 2007-09-08. [FSM] has certainly caught the imagination of the online community [...] Henderson receives over 150 emails from supporters every day. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ^ "The Flying Spaghetti Monster". New Scientist. August 6, 2005.
  11. ^ Rothschild, Scott (August 24, 2005). "Evolution debate creates monster". Lawrence Journal-World.
  12. ^ Boxer, Sarah (August 29, 2005). "But Is There Intelligent Spaghetti Out There?". New York Times.
  13. ^ a b "'Spaghetti Monster' is noodling around with faith". USA Today Science & Space article. Retrieved 2007-02-05.
  14. ^ "Boing Boing's $250,000 Intelligent Design challenge". BoingBoing.net. 2005. Retrieved 2006-06-11. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  15. ^ "Kansas Education Board First to Back "Intelligent Design"". Washington Post. November 9, 2005. {{cite news}}: Text "http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/08/AR2005110801211.html" ignored (help)
  16. ^ "Kansas board boosts evolution education". MSNBC. February 14, 2007.
  17. ^ Page, Clarence (November 15, 2005). "Keeping ID out of science classes". Dallas Morning News.
  18. ^ a b Wolff, Eric (November 16, 2005). "The Case For Intelligent Design: Spaghetti as the Creator". New York Magazine.
  19. ^ "Bobby Henderson's blog: Work Expectation Value". Retrieved 2008-02-07.
  20. ^ "Religious scholars mull Flying Spaghetti Monster". AP. 2007-11-16. Retrieved 2007-11-16. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  21. ^ Pasta Monster Gets Academic Attention AP November 17, 2007
  22. ^ John Chambliss (2007-12-11). "Satirical Monsters More Competition for Darwin". The Ledger. Retrieved 2007-12-13.
  23. ^ Thierman, Jessica (September 18, 2005). "Touched by his Noodly Appendage". Gelf Magazine.
  24. ^ Henderson, Bobby (2005). "Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster" (HTML). Retrieved 2006-06-11.
  25. ^ DuBay, Tim (2005). "Guide to Pastafarianism" (Shockwave Flash). Retrieved 2006-08-26.
  26. ^ The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, p.83
  27. ^ Craig, Katleen (December 22, 2005). "Passion of the Spaghetti Monster". Wired News.
  28. ^ Billy Townsend (2007-12-22). "Polk Needled, Noodled In Evolution Flap". The Tampa Tribune. Retrieved 2007-12-23.
  29. ^ http://www.itchstudios.com/psg/
  30. ^ "New York Dolls — Dance Like a Monkey".
  31. ^ "Citizen Times article on Bryan Killian's suspension".
  32. ^ "Year in Science". Seed. 2005-12-27. Retrieved 2007-08-10. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  33. ^ "The Flying Spaghetti Monster Holiday Pageant". Hunger Artists Theatre Company. 2006. Retrieved 2006-11-29. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  34. ^ "Hunger Artists Theatre Company's 2008 Season". Hunger Artists Theatre Company. 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-16. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  35. ^ Recognition for Our Noodly Friend
  36. ^ "Bekeren kan je leren" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Omroep Stichting. 2007-08-03. Retrieved 2007-08-06. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  37. ^ "Flying Spaghetti Monster statue at Tennessee courthouse". CNET Networks,. 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-02. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  38. ^ Gary Nelson, "Courthouse No Longer Hosting Free Speech Displays." The Crossville Chronicle, April 15, 2008. Retrieved: July 10, 2008.
  39. ^ "Bob and George Comic from April 3, 2006".
  40. ^ "CTRL ALT DEL Well technically... from August 27, 2005".
  41. ^ "Best of Friends January 28, 2008".
  42. ^ "Richard Dawkins / Salmon Farming". Science Friday. NPR. October 6, 2006.
  43. ^ "Warcrabs, accessed April 11, 2008" (PDF).
  44. ^ "Joe and Monkey from Nov 17, 2007".
  45. ^ "Zortic, accessed July 30, 2008".
  46. ^ 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.
  47. ^ Office of Student Activities: Organization Details
  48. ^ MTU Pastafarians
  49. ^ Usc: Student Government And Student Organizations
  50. ^ [1]: Rutgers Pastafarians

External links

News articles