Rights for Padtafarians

[Gromit]

// An Austrian atheist has won the right to be shown on his driving-licence photo wearing a pasta strainer as "religious headgear".

Niko Alm first applied for the licence three years ago after reading that headgear was allowed in official pictures only for confessional reasons.

Mr Alm said the sieve was a requirement of his religion, pastafarianism.

The Austrian authorities required him to obtain a doctor's certificate that he was "psychologically fit" to drive.

The idea came into Mr Alm's noodle three years ago as a way of making a serious, if ironic, point.

A self-confessed atheist, Mr Alm says he belongs to the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, a light-hearted faith whose members call themselves pastafarians.


A medical interview established the self-styled 'pastafarian' was mentally fit to drive
The group's website states that "the only dogma allowed in the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster is the rejection of dogma".

In response to pressure for American schools to teach the Christian theory known as intelligent design, as an alternative to natural selection, the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster wrote to the Kansas School Board asking for the pastafarian version of intelligent design to be taught to schoolchildren, as an alternative to the Christian theory.

Straining credulity
In the same spirit, Mr Alm's pastafarian-style application for a driving licence was a response to the Austrian recognition of confessional headgear in official photographs.

The licence took three years to come through and, according to Mr Alm, he was asked to submit to a medical interview to check on his mental fitness to drive but - straining credulity - his efforts have finally paid off.

It is the police who issue driving licences in Austria, and they have duly issued a laminated card showing Mr Alm in his unorthodox item of religious headgear.

The next step, Mr Alm told the Austrian news agency APA, is to apply to the Austrian authorities for pastafarianism to become an officially recognised faith. //

http://www.bbc.co.uk/...world-europe-14135523

Just thought you should see this.

[DrFilth]

blinkin eck gromit nearly choked on my hoops


have you signed up

[smart1]

What can I say that hasn't been said before - time all this 'PC' and 'Human Rights' carp was sorted out.

[emmie]

that's brilliant, laugh or what

[emmie]

what language or should that be linguine, does he speak....

[ichkeria]

If he's an atheist why does he want to start a new faith (!)

[hc4361]

May the pasta be with him.

[Kromovaracun]

It's meant to be a parody of faith.

[whiskeryron]

what a load of sweetbreads.Ron.

[sandyRoe]

Does anyone know if the pasta strainer is plastic or metal? A metal model might help deflect mind control rays directed at people.

[flip_flop]

I have been a fan of The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster for some time now - anything that pricks the pomposity and utter absurdity of any religion gets a big thumbs up from me.

http://www.venganza.org/about/open-letter/

[Booldawg]

who's he trying to prove a point to? If you're atheist then crack on with it. In an ironic way he's 'preaching to the converted'.

[Old_Geezer]

The point being made is that if you claim religious grounds you can get away with stuff that apparently is compulsory for the rest of us. If it isn't compulsory for one then it ought not be for any. That said, I'm unsure it really is a requirement of his religion. And if it is not a recognised faith yet then presumably no one has the authority to enforce such rules on the faithful.

[RATTER15]

OG, I think you will find that it is a recognised faith in some parts :-)

Well why the hell not, it makes just as much sense as any other faith, if not more!

[AB Editor]

The man makes a good point. And a bloody good Spaghetti Carbonara I bet.

[venator]

Pure magic!
Other good ones

The universal Life Church - become an ordained Minister for free ... perform weddings etc. In the US, there are tax advantages ...
http://www.themonastery.org/

The Church of God the Utterly Indifferent - from The sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut.

the Church of Scientology - founded by another Science Fiction writer...

[Booldawg]

sorry, I file this with the utter cox that put 'Jedi' down on census forms. I understand what you are saying OG. I may park in a disabled bay at Sainsburys tonight as my legs are a bit stiff from cycling last night. I'll claim 'temporary disability' - whats good for the goose and and that.

[RATTER15]

I am a member by the way, but you probably already guessed that :-)

[Old_Geezer]

I'm sure you are aware that, that's a different matter Booldawg. A religious belief allowing you to be excluded from something clearly shows the something isn't necessary, but just being imposed. But unless you wish to argue otherwise, disability comes with needs that a caring society could opt to help with. Feel stiff from a self inflicted 'injury' and you have the option to stay at home for the day.

[ichkeria]

I realise that this is a side-splitting wheeze and all that, but I am puzzled that Austrian authorities would indulge to this ridiculous extent a man who also claims to be an atheist.

[Old_Geezer]

Then where is your headgear RATTER? You seem to be missing it in the photo.