Hi, Bobby–
Read an interesting article about FSM in today’s issue of the LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER in its Faith/Values section. My first reaction was: Aren’t you the clever one. Went out and created yet another “religion”. How cute. Just what the world really needs.
Even though you may have done it with tongue in cheek, it’s obvious from some of the e-mails on your website that some people appear to be taking it more seriously. My concern about this is what motivated the e-mail you’e reading.
Maybe God does have a sense of humor (it’s certainly a possibility) and is getting a good laugh as a result of your efforts. On the other hand, he may be weeping because the atheists, agnostics, and other non-believers of the world are jumping on your new bandwagon and using it as further justification for not seeking the truth and for continuing to believe only in the theory of evolution.
The bottom line, Bobby, is that what you have started may not be helping people from an eternal perspective, and you may just be giving them a good laugh at God’s expense (and, at your profit).
Don’t know where you’re coming from spiritually, but if there is a God (as multiplied millions throughout the centuries–including myself–believe), then he just might be upset at all those you are helping to lead astray (whether intended or not) with FSM–especially the young and impressionable.
There is scripture to back this up, but if you have no belief in the Bible as God’s Word, then it would be meaningless to you and I won’t bore you with it. If I’m wrong in this assumption, and you have any regard for the Bible, let me know and I’ll get back to you.
Unlike some of those who are my misguided “brothers” under the great umbrella of all that is and passes for Christianity, I won’t sign off by saying “I’ll pray for you” in a mean-spirited way. I’m really not a huge practicer of prayer and at my age (67) would probably forget to do so anyway.
Get back to me, if you’re interested and have a couple minutes to spare.
A fellow-seeker of truth,
–Chuck
@Chuck:
You sound like a pleasant enough fellow, so I’m going to let you in on the joke: the reason why FSMism is such a ridiculous and unbelievable series of beliefs is that it’s meant to be that way on purpose. It’s not, as some think, an organized religion: it’s a satire of organized religion. When you read about people praising the FSM and going on about pasta and piracy, it’s in mockery of how people in other organized religions will go on praising and loudly proclaiming their beliefs in things they’ve never seen, can’t comprehend, and don’t exist.
It might seem harsh if what we mock are things you’ve believed for a long time, but the only way to point out the fallacies and outrageous stretches of the imagination that Christianity and its ilk are filled with, is to make fun of them. The ones that are most upset by this are the ones that most need the wake-up call: those that believe without questioning what their parents and religious leaders tell them, those that push these beliefs upon others without permission and without proof.
Many on this site are frankly tired of such practices, so readers’ responses are filled with frustration, powerless to stop a system that flaunts its own power and excesses while entreating its believers to be humble and charitable; that has been in the past and still is to this day responsible for xenophobia, wars, and narrow-mindedness; that encourages people to prefer the words in an ancient book of compiled stories written by unknown authors over reality and fact; that treats its believers like sheep (they seem to like to be called that), and exploits them, manipulates them through fear and guilt, molests their children, degrades their women, offers them heaven and gives them nothing, and in the process, makes them feel good about it all. There aren’t many happy atheists in the world: I hope this explains why.
That feeling of community, of belonging; that sense of morals and ethics; do you really need a church to have that? Do you really need anything at all, other than a willingness to help and a desire to improve the lot of humankind, of men and women and children? Do you really need all the cop-out answers from religious leaders and apologists who say ‘you lack faith’ when what they really mean is ‘you’re thinking too much’, and who use the threat of hell and the promise of heaven to ensure proper behavior? …I sure hope not.
What I do hope is that people will soon discover that they’re responsible for the state that the world is in, and that they stop making it worse because no deity is going to come down and sweep all our problems away.
So…while you’re here, relax, have a drink and a plate of your favorite pasta. Because once it’s gone, it’s gone.
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