The Michigan Tech University Pastafarian club has been the victim of harassment even before their first meeting. The MTU Lode reports:
Two individuals are currently undergoing disciplinary procedures through the Dean of Students Office after an investigation by MTU Public Safety determined that they posted a threatening message on the door of the President and Vice President of a recently-formed student organization called the Pastafarian Club.
Some background on the MTU Pastafarian club’s leaders:
According to the president of the Pastafarianism Club, Matt Halberstad–who identifies as agnostic–the group is a parody “religion.” But the group’s purpose isn’t to attack religion, and one would be hard-pressed to find a member of the group who truly believes in their parody deity–the Flying Spaghetti Monster.
The vice president of the Pastafarian Club, Steven Wheeler–who is atheist–believes that Henderson’s argument boils down to the main belief of the Michigan Tech chapter of the Pastafarians: creationism, whether or not one believes in it, is not a science, and should not be taught in a science classroom.
I agree with that, but there are people - maybe not in this particular club - who do truly believe in the FSM. Also, I want to make the point that there are plenty of Christians who are members of the Christian religion without truly believing in the deity God/Jesus.
The harassment was hateful, not unlike some of the messages I receive. In part, the message said:
they [Pastafarians] should be shot and hanged from the tallest redwood and then thrown to the raging sea.
The individuals who left the hate messages were caught and are now facing a hearing:
The Bias-Related Harassment and Violence section of MTU’s Code of Community Conduct covers threats due to one’s “race, ethnicity, national origin, disability, religious or cultural identity, sexual orientation, gender-identity or gender.” The penalties for violating the Bias-Related Harassment and Violence section range from disciplinary probation to expulsion.
The outcome of this will be very interesting. Even if the death threats were not meant to be taken seriously, they were still hateful messages directed at members of a religious group on campus. What if the harassment had been instead directed at an Islam club? I strongly suspect the kids would be expelled.
I wonder if the school admins are willing to make the statement that Pastafarians deserve less protection against religious harassment than other mainstream religions.
That said, I don’t think these kids should be expelled. But it would upset me if a Pastafarian organization received less protection than another religious organization (or any other organization).
I guess we’ll see what happens.
Read more about it here.
I’ve recently started to engage in holy wars. Only last night i fought an intense battle, despite an onslaught of fusilli i emerged victorious by utilising cannelloni.
I don’t think Lawrence is reading this, so this is no longer a discussion.
He just posted a reply explaning his disbeliefs in FSM, probably a joke.
Mabey he truly beliefs what he says, i don’t know.
In fact, I don’t care anymore, because he’s not replying.
Lawrence, if you still are reading this, please respond.
It’s extraordinary that they want to throw your bodies into the raging sea when you’re in Michigan.
I have began to feel happier about myself ever since i followed the path of pastafarianism. Ramen
Hey, stop picking on Lawrence. If people like him didn’t sit up and say something on this message board, there would be NOTHING to talk about. Invite MORE like him to write herein.
Lawrence,
It is because of people like you that the church of FSM exists.
Pascal’s wager works on our side too, you know.
We will not stop until fundamentalists, like you I imagine, loose all political influence.
To the REAL one true religion.
Ramen, brothers!
MikeTheKnife,
Of course, all like Lawrence are encouraged to write. Then WE GIVE HIM A GOOD PICKING.
Afterwards, if he feels that he was treated unfairly he can respond. His silence may reflect an admission of stupidity, that only the very strong can otherwise acknowledge. -Fizz
In sydney, Australia, they have the gospel in the humour section, i put it in religion and argued for what I love and believe in
Everyyboddy praise the almighty monster
LOL at people who believe in GOD!
FSM FTW!
The more they oppress us, the stronger we will grow. The FSM is looking after us and I’ve already surrendered my life to the FSM.
Matt, you are right to be fighting for more religious diversity and acceptance, Its like a FSM crusade.
has anyone realized that any time a human opens the hole in the front of its head it spews nonsense and creates even more chaos in a world drive and sustained by chaos?
Everyone now: SHUT UP! You are boring and you have nothing to contribute through your useless ramblings.
Betcha you cannot go seven days without uttering a sound! Try it. You will not be successful. Should tell you something about your habitual behavior… You are boring. Your restlessness does not equate to knowledge.
Once again: SHUT UP!
lol
Fred. Do the words “case in point” mean anything to you?
This is what pastafarianism is about, making people treat even the most unlikely sounding religion as well as all the “real” religions and, if we reduce global warming as a by-product then AVAST!!
take a hike fred. and give yourself a hug sometime very soon.
I agree that the kids should be expelled. This is sick and disgusting, especially to believers of the one true religion.
Also, Fred, we technically don’t need to open our holes ino order to be annoying. For example, I have held my breath for the two minutes it took me to type this. All I’m getting is respiration problems, not peace. :P
The article doesn’t say if the harassers are mainstream religious or not — what was their motivation to harass Pastafarians? Personally, I can’t think of a reason other than for their religion. If so, it’s ironic that they should advocate that ” [Pastafarians] should be shot and hanged from the tallest redwood and then thrown to the raging sea. ”
As a follower of Christ (sorry, the word “Christian” makes me feel sick and I’d like a new term that doesn’t associate me with them — maybe a ‘wayist’) and fellow Pastafarian, I am appalled and sickened that “Christians” would think it’s okay to advocate such violence against other human beings. Of course, they are just the the religious fundamentalists of Christ’s day — and God wasn’t okay with people like them back then either.
Oh well. Maybe I’m wrong and they were just a bunch of kids playing a sick joke.
Hey all you christians out there this stuff is good, me and budda are hanging up here in the heaven created by the almighty spaggetti monster!! why are you all bagging this out christianity is just as retarded! this is jebus and good night!
*Quoting*
What if the harassment had been instead directed at an Islam club? I strongly suspect the kids would be expelled.
That said, I don’t think these kids should be expelled. But it would upset me if a Pastafarian organization received less protection than another religious organization (or any other organization).
*Unquoting*
So you shoudn’t be expelled for giving death threats to the Islam club? That really the only way I see these two statements meshing…