Throughout our multi-millennia history, humans have developed belief systems to help make sense of the larger world. These have resulted in several major religions from around the globe plus spiritual practices endemic to many smaller cultures. While reverential attitudes in worship and observance are common, sometimes we don’t take spirituality or ourselves quite so seriously. One 21st century religion, Pastafarianism (otherwise known as The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster), proves this abundantly.
The Church of the Flying What?
Yes, you read that correctly. Pastafarianism is a loosely organized worldwide movement with known members in the United States, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. Getting exact membership numbers is difficult, but most estimates place it in the thousands.
Arguably, the Flying Spaghetti Monster was born to combat the advance of creationism in public education. The Encyclopedia Britannica explains that founder Bobby Henderson, then a recent physics graduate from Oregon State University, wrote the Kansas Board of Education in 2005 to argue against creationism in the state’s public school curricula. Henderson’s letter, which is available on the church’s website, argued that all Intelligent Design theories must be taught, including his “strong belief that the universe was created by a Flying Spaghetti Monster.”
Henderson’s initial missive received no response, but that didn’t stop him. He shared it online, where it went viral and attracted a great deal of attention. Henderson then went a step further and wrote the religion’s first text, The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, in 2006. Referring to believers as Pastafarians, the book discusses several key tenets:
- The Flying Spaghetti Monster, also called the FSM, is the supreme creator.
- The FSM created our world to appear older than it actually is.
- Scientific data, such as carbon dating, is manipulated by the FSM with its Noodly Appendage.
- Gravity results from the FSM pressing down on earthly inhabitants.
- Pirates were the first Pastafarians, and the world suffers from climate change due to the obscene lack of pirates in modern times.
- Pirate regalia is encouraged, and Friday is the sacred Sabbath of the FSM.
The FSM also set down commands in the form of eight “I’d Really Rather You Didn’ts.” The Australian chapter of the church posted these online, and they include directives against bigotry, oppression, judging others, and building shrines instead of using the money for nobler purposes.
Activism and the Church’s Legal Status
Pastafarians have gained some notoriety in challenging laws that restrict religious freedom or public policies that are preferential to certain faiths. They’ve fought for free speech protections, including displaying their noodle and meatball deity and wearing pirate garb and colanders on their heads in public spaces and in government-issued ID photos. One incident reported by the Huffington Post in November 2015 mentions Lindsay Miller, a Massachusetts Pastafarian who was initially denied a license when she wore a colander to her local motor vehicles bureau. Miller filed for an administrative appeal, but the agency reversed the denial based on its own rule that religious head coverings are permitted.
The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster has also campaigned for legal recognition in many parts of the world. Its members’ efforts were successful in New Zealand, as disclosed by the Washington Post’s Julie Zauzmer. New Zealand’s government now permits FSM ministers to solemnize weddings. Meanwhile, a United States court ruled that Pastafarianism is a parody religion and thus not entitled to the accommodation afforded to other faiths. Some states have allowed FSM officiants to perform weddings, but this has occurred on a case-by-case basis.
A Thought Experiment Becomes Real
While Pastafarianism began as an argument against religious fundamentalism, it has blossomed into a real organization. Pastafarianism’s lighthearted ideas and collective of believers have given it a life of its own, promoting religious freedom, skepticism, and free thought.