Dear Mr. Henderson,
I have noticed that you have started this thing called Pastafarianism. Â I
would like to start off the first of a long list of complaints, by simply
stating that that pun is horrible. It’s not even creative. Â Way to be
original… not. Â Second of all… you guys claim that Pirates are your
followers, and that nobody has ever killed anybody in the name of the FSM.
While… looking back on History I happen to find that the history of
Pirates is filled full of rape, murder, and pillaging. Â This is probably the
point where you say “that’s what they want you to think” but this is also
the point where I point out that no noodly meat sac in the sky ever rewrote
history to say that Blackbeard was a cheery fellow who spread joy to others.
To think that some noodle thing in the sky rewrote history is just pure
ludacris. Â Also, why is it a Spaghetti monster? Â Don’t you find that a
little biased towards Italians. Â I don’t appreciate your bias. Â If you are
going to continue with your charade, please choose a God that represents
more people than just a minority of people in Europe. Â Your idea for
intelligent design isn’t very well thought through. Â I respect your idea to
mock the Kansas school board, but what I don’t respect is that you dragged
other people into this farce by stating you actually believe this nonsense.
Look at it, really look at it, and think to yourself if you really want
people to back these wildly imaginative ideas of yours. Â If you think you
should… then it’s probably time you stop and consult your local therapist.
I’m not a Christian either, in fact I’m Aetheist. Â My way of thinking is
that if there really was a God… why would he be so dumb as to make people
who actually believe a giant flying noodle made the earth? Â In the long run,
I would appreciate it if you proclaimed this whole thing to be a farce so
that your horribly nerdy followers could get over themselves and go back to
having what little lives they had in the first place. Â If you choose however
to keep up this ploy, I would have to ask that you make your God less biased
towards Pirates and Italians.
Thank You,
TheLaughingMan
Bc- “I completely know what you are saying about the concept of doing good in general. There is a long theological discussion we could dive into on that but i would rather do it on an email based conversation that blogg. Its a great question.” OOh, by all means! I’ll always make time for a good debate.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
i think this link will pretty much sum up all of our answers to life. enjoy
http://www.heaven666.org/arguing-362.php
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
You’re kind of fucked up, huh shakazulu.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
@Searching for Answers.
Of course emotion can be explained by biology.
As creatures trying to cope with staying alive you need to learn from others how to react to certain situations to keep safe – fear is an easy one – it stops you jumping off a cliff, so you stay alive, animals who fear heights are less likely to fall and die and more likely to reproduce.
Love for our partners and children – again, easy, children need a great deal of time to grow to the stage where they are independant – in order to get them that far the parents who cooperated with each other and helped each other were more successful and therefore their children survived, they also had to care about (love) the child in order to spend their important resources, food, water, safe haven on them to keep them alive. Children who didn’t have loving parents died and didn’t reproduce, hence the “gene” for loving was passed on.
If you think about all the other emotions they can be explained in the same way, just think about how the emotions affect the animal staying alive and reproducing.
Richard Dawkins “The selfish Gene” is an excellent book to start off with.
Or, of course it is because the FSM created us that way.
RAmen
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
thanks booty. thats the best i’ve gotten so far. even though i’m still very dissatisfied with the information and helping points i’ve gotten, i guess i’ll have to take what i got. You’re talking more of how the emotions evolved. But how did they get there? Where did they come from? i’m starting to feel as if it is only truth to think that it is unexplainable. i know we fear. but why? i know we love. but why? we can relate that to situations but we don’t know where those traits were developed or maybe even “placed.” I think on this topic the debate is not in the favor of evolution. Maybe there really are some things beyond the human understanding…
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I just watched the South Park episode where they mock Richard Dawkins and FSM. I wonder what the beliefs of the writers are…
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
@ searching.
I am confused.
How can you not see that these developed as a necessity for survival?
Maybe start by imagining a species trying to survive without emotions…..
You really need to read a whole book – there is way too much stuff to get in a single comment, but consider how species can survive and prosper without emotions…
I think what you are p’raps missing is that these traits appeared over millions of millions of years, they didn’t just appear fully formed as they are now – the first creatures just needed a tiny advantage on their fellows in order to do better and reproduce better, then their offspring inherited the same traits (for a tiny bit of love for their offspring for example) these offspring had a better chance of surviving and passing on the genes again, and if they loved their offspring a little bit more then they had a better chance too and so on down the generations.
There are some beautiful examples and proper scientific “workings out” in The Selfish Gene – please read it.
The “Prisoner’s Dilemma” bit is very interesting too.
Basically a bet where you cooperate or are selfish to get an advantage over another creature – I bet it would come up if you googled it.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Spider:
i’ll agree with most of what you say there. BUT, I cannot stop myself getting frustrated when supposedly intelligent being make the leap of “God did it†from. being unable to admit “we don’t knowâ€. Although very little can ever be proved 100%, God hasn’t been proved to 1% as far as i can see.
.
Science has never claimed to have all the answers, unlike most religions. I entirely fail to see why religion is supposed to be exempt from citisism or questioning. I see very little of merit in it, and the defence of it on grounds “it doesn’t do any harm†is blatantly absurd. Tolerating it provides a sliding scale of superstition upon which it is all to easy for extremists to exploit. They simply follow their faith they claim, so if one is allowed to why not all?
RAmem RAmen.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
@ Searching – I posted a couple of links but they are awaiting moderation – google prisoner’s dilemma and prisoner’s dilemma richard dawkins and it comes up with a lovely lot of stuff.
Hope this helps.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
@Searching
I believe the evolution of emotions is linked to the evolution of abstract thinking.
We know now that many complex biochemical interactions effect on mood/feelings.
Social animals (those) which formed onto groups for safety, possessing this type of abstract thinking (as it may be called) had higher chances of survival. I think Booty has said the rest. I guess you need to be able to uderstand very gradually changing processes over millions and millions of years to try and understand it.
There are a lot of phsychiatric conditions present in todays society which have been elucidated medically through genetic research. Various drugs also effect on perception.
Gene combinations which produced biochemical interactions, resulting in perception/behavior which was favourable to the survival of a soacial group of animals would have been passd on to the young. Feelings are part of mood and this is dependent on a number of dynamic and complex interactions of neurotransmitters in the brain. Knowledge of some of these has allowed a number of pharmocological preparations to be used sucessfully in treatment of disorders such as schizophrenia, manic depression ect. Some every day legal substances which can affect mood are nicotine, caffiene and of course alcohol. As Booty stated, inheritence of advantageous gene combinations which resulted in nurture of, not just of the young, but of the whole social group greated aids in reproduction and survival of that species as a whole.
Many primates exhibit similar types of some human social behaviors, such leaving food for sick members of the group. It is an extension of the group behavior which arrises when that particular group is under threat from predators.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Thanks Nikky!
I am glad you are there for the details – I am not very good at getting the words out so they make sense (they make sense in my head but get lost on the way through the keyboard!) You are so good at the technical stuff. :)
I have to go out (kids birthday party – wah!) Have a nice day :)
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I forgot to mention hormones. Hormones have a large affect an ones behavior and thinking.
Levels of different hrmone ecombination also fluctuate through out a humnas life. Obviously the combination and level different betwen the male and female.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
“they make sense in my head but get lost on the way through the keyboard!”
It’s OK Booty, I wasn’t going to take it either. It’s long oneand I have the same problem. I thought you covered it pretty well.
Bring me home a party hat and whistle. Oh and watch out for those clowns.
Have fun.
@Booty Jan 6th, 2007 at 3:48 am
@ searching.
I am confused.
.
That post of yours wasn’t up when I posted Booty, otherwise I definately wouldn’t have bothered.
RAmen
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Bugga …….please insert missing letters into Nikky’s posts where necessary. Think I’m going to have to start viewing/writing posts at a bigger screen magnification. I seem to have gone blind and dyslexic over the past week or so.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I heard a rumour that the FSM created Pirates the day after He designed the beer volcanoes and was a little hungover. He apparently didn’t mean to give them the evolutionary ability to develop mental problems. He was trying to imagine a perfect being but His mind was a little hazy.
As I said, just a rumour I heard.
More unintelligent design.
RAmen
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Hmmm, nice to see how a “letter” about the sense or nonsense of FSM creates a thread that evolves into a conversation about emotions, hormones and neurotransmitters. And still I am convinced that those “TheLaughingMan” posts don’t represent a real livin’ creature, but are only posted by a fellow Pastafarian (in disguise, of course, carrying his Pirate’s outfit in a suitcase) to get the Pastafarians’ brains into some good exercise. And it works! Oh, some small thinkwork: any reliable written sources about how the Chinese got THEIR noodles (later to become, through Marco Polo, the famous Italian food)? The ancient Greek claimed to have received their still famous “retsina” wine from Dionysos (the Roman Bacchus), so why couldn’t FSM have transmitted food “to it’s own resemblance” (not sure about this being gramatically correct: English is not my first language)? After all, don’t Christians “eat and drink” their god at a certain point of their religious celebrations? Anybody thought about the living and working conditions on ships (in general) at the time of the so called “pirates”? Those conditions probably killed more men than any sea battle… Funny, how people get excited when their convictions receive a little light from an unexpected angle!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Thanks Nikki – I am glad you posted too – you chose a slightly different angle to me which was interesting and the more information the better – I get the impression his mind is a little closed though. *shrug*.
Luckily there weren’t any clowns – just lots of boys dressed as super hero’s!
My head hurts now! ;)
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
A tidbit to the function of religion in society conversation: Religion must have a function because it is an idea that has survived for millenia. Like many societal dysfunctional behaviors (slavery, war, old men in Speedos) it persists because it fills some sort of role. We as individuals decide what the role is and if it can be filled by something else that brings us a much pleasure/comfort/understanding/explanation/raison d’etre.
.
I prefer pirates. And wenches, of course.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Re-Oared Marc,
i feel your getting somewhere now with your last post. please expand on your thoughts on this “void” that we as humans have for religion.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
p.s. i apologize for the retard post. very offensive. someone thought that would be funny to post while i was signed in.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Shakazulu – “please expand on your thoughts on this “void†that we as humans have for religion.”
.
Is this going to be a “when man stops believing in God he starts to believe in anything” answer?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Alchemist Jan 6th, 2007 at 6:14 pm
Shakazulu – “please expand on your thoughts on this “void†that we as humans have for religion.â€
.
Is this going to be a “when man stops believing in God he starts to believe in anything†answer?
.
Yep it is! And even a flying bunch of pasta!
Her post last night was pretty sad!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
@Re-Oared Marc Jan 6th, 2007 at 11:43 am
“Like many societal dysfunctional behaviors ……….. old men in Speedos)”
.
Hahahahahaha
RAmen
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Was that the link she says she didn’t post? Bu er Peter? To be honest I believe her. It was a pretty gross site. Gross on my scale too! and you know how low that is?
If not can you give me a link peter, I’m quite interested in her argument. Ta
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Yeah, it’s the one back up in these thread, it’s the one you are thinking about. I don’t think porn is cool here. We get fresh enough without that crap! I try to remember that kids come here. Heck, my kid lurks here, she knows her dad is nuts. But she also knows I’m not a perv. Although she does comment to me at times. Heh heh
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Well, Shakalaka, one of the problems of being a theist is that it lets you off of the hook for a lot of thought and due diligence. “I don’t have to watch my child because God is watching him for me.” Crash, boom, kid is dead. This actually happened in my family. “I don’t need to ask my teenage girl what she is doing staying out all night because Jesus is looking out for her.” Wham, bam, thankee, 15 year old girl is pregnant. This has also happened.
.
Uh, no. Individual and family and community responsibilities are not controlled by God or Jesus or Allah or the Tooth Fairy. They are controlled by us as a society. Until you can take responsibility for yourself as a person and a citizen and a member of society, you are doomed to an existence as a puppet of a mind-control machine so numbing that only centuries of practice could make it as perfect as it is.
.
It is your choice.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I couldn’t have said it better Marc,
Ramen
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Peter “Heck, my kid lurks here, she knows her dad is nuts.” Hahaha.
To be honest, that does worry me a bit – not your young ‘un lurking, but other, more impressionable ones. I’m glad that this site isn’t moderated as such – hell, a few of us would still be serving bans – but links to porn. No, not nice.
I took a ride to the forum today and read the rules – they seem to frown upon everything I enjoy (noticed you only posted 5 times:))
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Haha Alchemist. Same here I’ll wager? I haven’t read the rules, but since we share the same twisted views. I’ll guess I’d be banned to hell for sure!
Yeah, I had to post 5 times to get to some thread there? It’s kind of a funky forum?
Every time I’ve been there, either no one else is logged in, or I don’t feel like chatting the chat. Here in the church, it’s light and easy. Not to much to try to comprehend. The fundies are easy, and Nikkiee being a drink getterer just makes me smile!
.
And yes, I do try to think of the kids that come here. Altough I hold all parents responsible, I do realize some just aren’t.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
@Re-Oared Marc
RAmen Marc
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Yep Peter “…, but since we share the same twisted views.”
.
Isn’t it odd that some people can’t understand that people can hold similar views, have similar (warped) senses of humour.
They go around calling us homos – nothing against that – I’ve been called a homo many times – even when my girlfriend’s been with me (?). It must be very lonely. They must be the only people to laugh at their jokes.
Can you imagine inviting everyone to your party, only to find yourself in the kitchen, at your own party, talking to the microwave?
Yeah, someones comment made me think twice about some of my posts – I thought it was funny! Then I think, what the hell, at least I’m not inciting murder or telling kids to disown their parents because they are not of the faith.
And you’re right about parental responsibility – in the UK it’s never the child’s fault, nor the parents. Oh no, it’s always the school, the system – anything to avoid responsibility.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Alchemist Jan 6th, 2007 at 7:54 pm
Yep Peter “…, but since we share the same twisted views.â€
.
Isn’t it odd that some people can’t understand that people can hold similar views, have similar (warped) senses of humour.
They go around calling us homos – nothing against that – I’ve been called a homo many times – even when my girlfriend’s been with me (?).
I think it’s jealousy, I really do. They envy us for hitting it off.
.
It must be very lonely. They must be the only people to laugh at their jokes.
Can you imagine inviting everyone to your party, only to find yourself in the kitchen, at your own party, talking to the microwave?
hahahahaha
.
Yeah, someones comment made me think twice about some of my posts – I thought it was funny! Then I think, what the hell, at least I’m not inciting murder or telling kids to disown their parents because they are not of the faith.
Again, the same has been done to me.
.
And you’re right about parental responsibility – in the UK it’s never the child’s fault, nor the parents. Oh no, it’s always the school, the system – anything to avoid responsibility.
Here in the States, there is a war between the schools and the parents, and who gets the blame.
I have always been responsible for my own actions. When the wife and I decided to have a child, we knew that kid would be our responsibility. Not the schools nor the courts nor jesus christ’s, just ours, we made the damn thing! We should own up to it.
Some things, are so damn simple.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
“i feel your getting somewhere now with your last post.” 0o When did this become a therepy session?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
gill Jan 6th, 2007 at 8:19 pm
“i feel your getting somewhere now with your last post.†0o When did this become a therepy session?
.
Gill, Shkalakallalala is progressing nicely, in her own mind.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Peter, I made a conscious decision not to have children until I grew up. Unfortunately that hasn’t happened yet. So my baby has four legs, barks a fair bit and bites like a bugger- he’s not quite four months old.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Alchemist, hahaha
Four months old. I wish mine was four months old again, those were the best times. Watching her grow, at 15 now, she’s just a pain in my ass! Just kidding, I waited till I was 29 to have a kid. I needed to grow up myself. I figured at 29 I wasn’t going to grow anymore? Kids are great! I live to see mine smile, but you are right in waiting till you are old enough! That’s for you to determine. I went sober for about six years while she was growing. Just to prove to myself I could. Glad that’s over with!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
That disgusting link that was on a previous post featured girls from Townsville. I have some friends who attend the James Cook University in Townsville. Small world.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Hahaha – oddly enough I went two years without beer. My ex hated the stuff because of her mum. Eventually it wasn’t worth the nagging. I did sneak the odd spliff in though ;) Well, more than the odd one. I will never be old enough – I’ll stick to terriers!
.
Night – it’s 0400 and bed is calling – catch you later
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Alchemist Jan 6th, 2007 at 9:30 pm
Night – it’s 0400 and bed is calling – catch you later
.
Hey Alchemist, You going to stick around tonight too?
And help me through my innebreated state?
FSM I hope so! I also hope for world peace, but you knew that!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I think I’ll hang around for a bit – as the dictator said to the hangman. Ahhh beer, the thinking mans cotton wool!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
oops – and womans :)
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Good deal then!
I’m what we say here, six sheets to the wind.
Started at lunchtime, it’s now 8 hours later, I’m a buzzin!
.
Wasn’t it Homer Simpson who said…
Ummmm beeerrrrr…..
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
The prophet homer ’twas. Anyone posting that we can take the piss put of?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
erm *out*
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Haven’t seen any? Although Teh seems to be a bit fanatical, but that happened to me, the first time I was ‘touched’ too!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Oh shit, I forgot. It’s Sunday.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Work tomorrow?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
If “Teh” refers to me, I’m not a fanatic, I’m just annoyed at the moronic masses. They have a bunch of Christain practices in most schools (”under God” in the pledge, time set aside for prayer every day, my debate teacher gave me an F- becuase I chose a “ID not in schools topic” and he decided that by saying Buddhist/Greek/Norse/etc. should therefor also be taught in schools I was insulting his über-fanatic-Christian beliefs and told me God was going to send me to hell unless i repent.) This seems like a good way to make a point. I’m already ordering a FSM shirt and magnet to add to my collection of Darwin Fish. Someday this will be a better known religon, and it will be great to be a part of.
Wow, I DO sound fanatical !
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Na, Teh. We just bust on each other here, it’s all in fun.
And congrats on the F! I wish I’d had the FSM in my school days, Sister Mary, loved me well enough as it was!
Again, welcome to the CoFSM. Please do become a regular here! Power in numbers and all that!
Ramen
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
@Teh Pirate Fish
Sounds OK Teh. Not a bad religion to be fanatical about and fanatics give us more cred as a real religion. Can’t have a religion without some fanatics. It is just not the done thing. :)
RAmen
Like or Dislike:
0 
0