The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster presents itself as the anti-religion. But is it turning into that which it rejects?
The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster? Ramen to that, brother! Founded in 2005 by a group of American atheists opposing the teaching of intelligent design and creationism in schools, its adherents refer to themselves as Pastafarians, and no, I don’t mean Italians or those guys who smoke dope and grow their hair.
The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster (The CFSM) states on its About page that it holds no strict rules or regulations, and there are no rote rituals and prayers. Rather, the only dogma it allows is “the rejection of dogma itself”. The Pastafarian belief system is not anti-religion or belief as such, but rather, against the “crazy nonsense done in the name of religion”. Jeez, where does one begin to unpack that statement?
Pastafarians have made headlines in recent months, campaigning for their right to wear religious garb in official documentation, with a view to have their religion officially recognised in their country of residence. In the Czech Republic, Lukas Novy won the right to wear a sieve on his head on his official identity card, claiming that The Church demands such religious dress. Nico Alm of Austria won a similar battle. The charming photograph below shows Alm wearing the sacred utensil.
Okay, so these kind of stunts are nothing but a satire of organised religion and the “crazy nonsense done in the name of religion”? I wouldn’t be so sure. It’s easy to take a light-hearted view and enjoy the silliness, but it seems as though the realities of such an approach are a fair bit darker than they may initially appear.
Pastafarianism is arguably the latest trend in evangelical atheism. When has anyone ever stopped believing in something because another person of group, regardless of point or intention, found it comical? Such mockery probably isn’t going to cause all religious communities to admit, “You’re right, this is ridiculous, what was I thinking!” More likely is that it will make you look like a dick.
What should we make of these hard-line Pastafarians? They are perhaps as dogmatic in their rejection of religious practice as hard-line atheists, who are often mocked because they often get so caught up in their rejection of religious practice that they mirror precisely what they so ardently reject.
Sure, these stunts might be intended as an amusing poke at how seriously people take themselves and religious doctrine. But, is it fair and acceptable to campaign to wear a sieve on one’s head under the guise of equal rights, freedom of thought and religion? Is this a step towards the wider acknowledgement of The CFSM as a legitimate organisation, or is it all one big joke? Have these guys gone too far – and is the whole parody turning into one, big, suffocating double standard?
Or, are we just taking things a liiiittle bit too seriously?
Photo via Flickr by Foomandoonian
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