Fantastic news: The Council of Europe has recognized our religion.
In its September 17, 2007 report, the parliamentary assembly mentions us.
Article 52:
In this connection, in accordance with the principle of an open attitude to the alternative theories advocated by the scientific creationists, and in order to show the illogicality of teaching intelligent design alongside the theory of evolution, a movement has, ironically, developed in the United States. The so-called Pastafarian movement supports the theory of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Pastafarianism is a parody on religion created in response to the decision of the Kansas State Board of Education to permit the teaching of intelligent design in science courses on an equal footing with the theory of evolution. According to Pastafarianism, an invisible and omniscient being called the Flying Spaghetti Monster created the universe in one day. The supporters of Pastafarianism are demanding the same place in the school curricula as intelligent design. Full of irony, this pseudo-religion is setting a trend and the cult is spreading.
I object to the terms “parody”, “pseudo-religion” and “cult”, but as I have said before, the first step towards mainstream recognition is recognition as a “joke”. Mormonism took this route. Scientiology is still in the joke stage.
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Unfortunately the link above is of the draft version, the final version doesn’t mention Pastafarianism:
http://assembly.coe.int/Main.asp?link=/Documents/AdoptedText/ta07/ERES1580.htm
Still, it’s a very good development. I’m sure next time we’ll make it into the actual policy document. As it says, the cult is spreading!
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And is this my second gold of the day? I feel the embrace of His noodly appendages.
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Silver? Europe takes over!
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Going for bronze as well:)
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can’t i get a medal? even once? sooo close. i call tin!
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p.s. scientology is the joke of the century.
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@ihatemyspace – Only one medal per competitor – you get Bronze my friend :))))))))
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“…the first step towards mainstream recognition is recognition as a “joke”. Mormonism took this route.”
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Mormonism is way better than FSM as it was actually read out of a hat from 2 gold palates only one person ever saw.
And there are 2 versions of their holy text (everyone else only gets one) because the first copy was hidden to see if Joseph Smith could repeat it exactly (which he needed only re-read form his magic golden plates), which he couldn’t and Mormons are aware of this, but still believe!
Now how can you argue with the logic there?
Oh and they think Native Americans came from ancient Israel too!
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If you would like to know more about the Mormon faith you can find all the information you need in your local hat. Failing that just wait for the delusional cunts to knock on your door!
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Been to Utah. Have a friend who got chased out of a mormon town once.
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Why? Did he burn their hat?
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It’s a start!
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What EU recognition or hat burning?
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@Pluto
Why? Did he burn their hat?
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No. I think she stole it from BYU ;-)
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kudos for europe!
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Yeah. I don’t care if its a draft, the Pastafarian religion has been formally recognised by a quasi governmental organisation spanning the whole of Europe.
It is also described as spreading!
I think we’re better off as a cult rather than a parody. Parody cheapens us to a joke!
What do they know.
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Do we have the first cult-that-requires-a-well-developed-sense-of-humour in history? Mormons and scientologists don’t count: as stated earlier on these pages, they ARE a joke!
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۞ Oct 21st, 2007 at 3:55 pm
“I think we’re better off as a cult rather than a parody.”
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I’m still waiting for an explicit explanation of the difference between a cult and a religion. Everything I’ve come across, whilst searching the web, appears to define them both as the same type of organisation.
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This is just one of the sites I’ve visited in the past….searching..
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The Cult Test
http://www.orange-papers.org/orange-cult_q1.html
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PS you don’t even have to read all of it….just look at the headings of each question!
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Hey, everyone. This is Ihatemyspace. I decided I needed a screenname more befitting of the religion, so you can call me Paisley now!
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What? There’s no mention of the Great God Finagle and His Prophet Murphy?
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The only difference between a cult and a religion is the connotations each hold.
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Jean Bart
Oct 21st, 2007 at 4:01 pm
Do we have the first cult-that-requires-a-well-developed-sense-of-humour in history? Mormons and scientologists don’t count: as stated earlier on these pages, they ARE a joke!
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And they never get it themselves :) No sense of humor whatsoever!
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Jean Bart
“Do we have the first cult-that-requires-a-well-developed-sense-of-humour in history?”
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Nope. The Discordians, Subgenii, & Invisble Pink Unicornists came much earlier (I got my sainthood as a Discordian by the way).
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Even if they only put it in the draft, not the final document, the fact that the EU council has considered FSMism serves as a great milestone to our cause, and we should all give a great big RAmen! in honour.
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RAmen!!
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St John the Blasphemist
Saint of Kilometrestones
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Hail Eris!
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It’s no joke havin’ barnacles all o’er yer block ‘n’ tackle! Arrrr, Lad!
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I been danglin’ me riggin’ in the med once too often!
ArrrrAmen!
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It is pleasant to see one’s contribution appreciated.
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By the way the Council of Europe is not the EU Council.
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The reference to the Flying Spaghetti Monster was not lost from the draft to the final document. The shortest part of the report (a resolution) changed when the draft was amended and then adopted. The longer part (explanatory memorandum, where the FSM is mentioned) was not changed.
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On another point a “cult” in the USA is what we in Europe call a “sect”, a derogatory expression for a fringe, not so serious, sometimes dangerous, religious group. Of course the serious mainstream religions of today are nothing more than sects/cults which managed to develop successfully.
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RAmen
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@Perna de Pau Oct 22nd, 2007 at 3:48 am
“On another point a “cult” in the USA is what we in Europe call a “sect”, a derogatory expression for a fringe, not so serious, sometimes dangerous, religious group.”
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Not so serious? Personally I consider drinking arsenic flavoured Kool-Aid, or mass suicide so as to go meet a comet, rather serious. The difference I see between religious cults, which to my mind include all the main stream religions, and us is adherence to dogma…something cults seem to be extremely keen on!
Also something the FSM doesn’t command of its followers!
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FSM is the only way! All others are just “wanna bees”;p
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RAmen
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I had a religion teacher once who, after a lot of pestering about the difference between a religion and a cult, defined it as a cult being secretive about their practices. So the CoFSM is definately not a cult, we try to enlighten anyone who comes here.
I’m still amazed TLM never figured out the difference before he gave up.
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@Paisley the Pirate
Like the new name. Question from a local angle: over here in Belfast, Northern Ireland, the place has Ian Paisley as first minister. He’s a Protestant fundamentalist bigot. Any relation?
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@Stereotypical environmentalist
Care to join the FSM disciples group (inner cirlce of FSM regulars)? If so, send and email to Alchemist at prussicacid@googlemail.com
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Well, I stuck with Odin and Tor for a while, just out of principle, but once I found FSM I felt so much more fulfilled. Though I am considering returning to atheism and solitude again.
As for joke; a good joke is classed as one of the highest art forms. Laughter, as we all know, has healing powers. It’s full of endorfins. And that’s good for you.
I have for now put Pastafarianism as my religion on Facebook. There is absolutely no reason why it should be recognized on equal terms with all other religions and superstitions.
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@Wench Nikkiee
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Of course they present a real dnger and this has to be taken seriously. What I meant was that such groups were not taken seriously by other religious groups. For instance they are never invited to “religious dialogue gatherings”.
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@Paisley… your name wouldn’t happen to really be Paisley would it? And if it is… are you a PINK Pyrate by chance?
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Because if you are, then you must say hello to your little Pug-Pirate for me!
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Returning after a while this was the first thread I read…
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“If you would like to know more about the Mormon faith you can find all the information you need in your local hat.”
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ROFL for 5 minutes.
@Pluto – that is comedy gold! I know I’m referring to a post a few days old, no need to bother replying.
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i love how they say ironically at the begging. it shows how poorly the world loooks at us
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I completely appologize for the dissagreement of the verb-subject compliment in my previous response.
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@Stereotypical Environmentalist.
“I completely appologize for the dissagreement of the verb-subject compliment in my previous response.”
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Never mind that, just send off that email I mentioned a few posts back and join the FSM disciples (or try t.p.c.klaver@qub.ac.uk).
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I was wondering, should I or should I not eat pasta if i’m a pastafarian? I think a lot of new pastafarains have that question. Anyway thank you for reading my message and hope I get a response soon.
Marvin
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It is an ironic religion. People who think differently don’t get the point. Still, we’re NOT a cult. Or a joke.
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Did anyone notice that this took place on september 17, which just so happens to be National Talk Like a Pirate Day? Coincidence, I think not.
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@lenny – i thought international speak lke a pirate day was september the 19th?
it’s nice to know that the plural of curicculum is curricula.
nice word.
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