The Church Of The Flying Spaghetti Monster

[naomi24]

Last week Niko Alm, from Austria, won a long-running case to allow him to wear a plastic colander on his head in photographs for his driving licence. He had submitted the images in 2011, but they were deemed unsuitable and he was asked to send new ones. For Alm, though, it became a matter of newfound principle. Discovering that headgear can be worn in photographs if they have a basis in religious belief, he came out as Pastafarian and went to court to defend his right to worship at the altar of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

Mr Alm said “It’s no more absurd to me than Christianity’s Holy Trinity (multiple personality disorder, surely?), Kabbalah’s mystical bracelets and magic water, or the idea that a Scientologist’s soul heads to a private planet after death.”

Is there a difference between his religion and all the others – and if so, what is it?

http://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/london-life/why-i-joined-the-spaghetti-sect-guy-pewsey-tries-out-being-a-pastafarian-9625481.html

[Old_Geezer]

It is in some's opinion no more real than other deities. However it is a religion clearly created to mock other religions, and anyone professing to actually believe in it are not going to be believed from those who are not naïve. If he wants to waste his time and delay getting a licence then that is his choice, but I trust he will pay costs for bringing a frivolous case.

The fact that the religion isn't serious and not recognised by any State as far as I am aware is what makes a difference. And even if he was a genuine believer, a cult or sect needs to do more than just form to gain recognition and become a bona fide religion. Otherwise we'd be drowning in one man band type religions, all of which needs to be legislated for.

[jomifl]

Synchronicity Ludwig? telepathy surely?

[naomi24]

//it is a religion clearly created to mock other religions//

Although done with humour, I’d say it’s been created with a serious purpose - to illustrate what religion is really all about. Self-obsessed fantasy.

[jomifl]

OG, I think it more important that religions be recognised by their god than a state. I don't think it has happened yet though. :o)

[Old_Geezer]

I think the SM must think its followers are being too saucy.

[sandyRoe]

In our Father's house there are many mansions. A chap seeking salvation through a tangle of pasta may not have taken the easiest path but this manifestation of brown sauce is tangible, and toothsome, evidence that he's not straying.
Followers of the RC Church know that statues weep and sometimes move.

[jomifl]

Of course the 'brown sauce' may just be rusty water dripping through a leaky roof. Isn't that why the church neglects it's churches, to give the illusion of christs blood dripping hither and yon, with no suspicion of malpractice, except by me.

[atalanta]

If a religion wants to be taken seriously, it very soon after its creation starts a schism. I am happy to explain how the CotFSM is misguided and should be reformed by becoming a Church of the SubAqua Spaghetti Monster, seeing that I believe this Deity swims rather than flies. The headgear, of course, will be a perforated diving helmet. Anyone out there want to join me ?
And I shall insist I have my passport photo done with a diving helmet on.
So there.

[sandyRoe]

The little window at the front, open or shut?

[RATTER15]

//it is a religion clearly created to mock other religions//

I think it does help to show the absurdity of all religions!

[mikey4444]

No difference whatsoever as far as I can see.

Its often said that the difference between a silly Cult, based on a system of irrational belief in illogical circumstances and a religion based on a system of irrational belief in illogical circumstances is about 2000 years.

I have no doubt that in about 1950 years, Scientology will be taken seriously as well !

[naomi24]

Mikey, A number of countries recognise Scientology as a religion.

[Zacs-Master]

Love it. I'm all for food based religions. I'm a Currystian.

[sandyRoe]

The Lamb of God is tasty, too.

[Zacs-Master]

And don't forget....Blessed are the Cheesmakers!

[mikey4444]

A number of countries can do as they like but it still doesn't make it a religion.

Scientology was made up by Hubbard, in order to make more money and sell his third rate books. Its about as daft as religions get, although patently not as daft as the man with a colander on his head.

[mikey4444]

Zacs......I think you will find it was blessed are the makers of all diary products :::

[DTCwordfan]

Shakespeare according to the First Church of AB Spaghetti

Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your Orecchiette;
I come to cook Pasta, not to praise it.
The cooking disasters that ABers do lives after them;
The good is oft interred with their ossatura;
So let it be with Dio Ramsay. The noble D'Acampo
Hath told you Dio Ramsay was ambitious:
If it were so, it was a grievous fault,
And grievously hath Ramsay answer'd it.
Here, under leave of D'Acampo and the rest--
For D'Acampo is an Ravioli man;
So are they all, all ravioli men--
Come I to speak in Ramsay's cook in.
He is Eccle's Rigatoni, faithful and orzo to her:
But D'Acampo says he was tagliatelle;
And he is a tortellini man.
He hath brought many pasta Harriets home to Eccles
Whose ransoms and challenges did her cooking coffers fill:
Did this in Dio Ramsay seem ambitious?
Yes but where that the BBC spaghetti hath grown, Ramsay cussed:
Fecking ambition and cleanliness should be made of sterner stuff:
Yet D'Acampo says he was ambitious;
And D'ACampo is half a pasta man.
You all did see that with his soggy Gnocchi
I thrice presented Ramsay a Michelin star,
Which he did thrice grabbed: was this not ambition?
Yet D'Acampo says he was 'notta good atta pasta';
But, sure, he is a splendido Penne Rigato of man.
I speak not to disprove what D'Acampo spoke,
But here I am to speak what we ABers do know.
Eccles, we all did love her ricette, not without cause:
They're cookable, withholds us then, not to mourn for D'Acampi?
O judgment! we art fled to cibi e bevande [i] Food & Drink[i]
After many an ABer hath lost their cooking reason.
Our pasta heart is in with Eccles, there with her Caeser salad,
And we must pause till it come back to us.
The Grigio's flowing, give us her pasta and leave us not abstemious.

[mikey4444]

Well done DTC...you have put in a lot of effort there ! You get the next three Sundays off going to Mass for your prize !

[naomi24]

Mikey, //A number of countries can do as they like but it still doesn't make it a religion. //

No? What does make a religion a religion then?