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.
The haters SHOULD be expelled. My belief in His Noodliness is absolute. For them to want to hang us and toss us into the sea, well that’s just rude… the penalty should be no less than the penalty would be for burning a cross in front of a black guy’s house, or for leaving such a note on the door of a Christian.
Boot the evil bastards. And tell them that there’s still time for their souls to be saved if they’d just repent and see the noodles… RAMEN bruddas!
Peace
PS-> Soon the day will come when we’ll be forced to unite and declare Cheesehad on the unbelievers. Be ready, and arm yourselves with much noodles and cheese for the coming Parmageddon!!!
People who call themselves christians and don’t believe in their deity are really thick. They are obviously not christians (capitals ommitted on purpose) but just posers. So if they’re posing, why don’t they rather follow something that has some fact to it… like the holy FSM (capitals put in) ?
I became a reverend through the www.ulc.com church thingy, now I am hoping to open up a chapter of Pastafarian bretheren here in Cape Town, South Africa. And if anyone sends me a message like that, I’ll stuff their faces so full of noodles they won’t be able to deny the divinity and glory that is the holy FSM.
Well .. I guess this means we are officially a religion since we now get pursecuted for our beliefs ;)
There is a range of disciplinary actions available to the board. The important question I feel is do we have equal rights? Is our religion more made up than anyone elses?
When I went to Michigan Tech in the last century, the Flying Spaghetti Monster lived underneath the Red Ridge Dam on the road to Freda. I have heard that the dam was removed. I have not personally seen or heard from my lord and savior Spaghetti Monster since those days when I met with him under that dam.
As the doubting Thomas I was, I actually saw and touched the very wings of our beloved Flying Spaghetti Monster. It is those who have not seen and yet believe that are truly blessed.
That Is just JERKY!!!!
Ramen
P.S. I hope the’re expelled
It is an interesting case. I was lectured/harrassed by my parents when I even mentioned the FSM (I’m a 53 year old divorced father of four, it was really…humiliating is a bit strong, but close) and my father said I was damning my CHILDREN to hell…my parents are fundamentalists Christians, by the way. That’s a family matter, really, but the parallels(?) are depressing. I’m not wearing my pirate garb, so I cannot begin a tangent on His Noodly Goodness, but really, people need to shut their mouths and live and let live. I think it would be a bit much to ask for acceptance over tolerance, but I wish I could go to Christmas without fighting over the FSM. I hope expulsion for those students. If intolerance is accepted just once, even if it seems innocuous, it leaves too large a precedent for future offenders. For some people, the line between threats and action is very thin. It would be very much a shame for someone to be injured or even killed for their school club.
wow….these have to be some really “devout” Christian a$$holes trying to mess with people who mock them. These kids are just the kind of people I hate. They absolutelyshould be expelled for being secular jerks. Ramen my friends, Ramen.
It’s not the fact of whether we truly believe in the FMS, or if we use it as a tool to fight against biggots of other religions. It’s the simple principle. We ARE a religion, thus we deserve the same ‘benifits’ that being in a religion have to offer. Perhaps not being expelled, but I too am curious to see how the school handles it. If they dismiss it and say ‘Pastafarianism isn’t really that important’…THEN all hell is gonna break loose. Pardon the figure of speach ^^
Ramen.
OK, let me put this out here. I’m a Christian. And I think you guys are a ‘little’ wacky. I found out about your religion after seeing the Flying Spaghetti Monster statue on the news. BUT in your defense, I feel that you have the right to believe in who or whatever makes you happy and feel whole. The Pastafarians at MTU should be treated with the same respect as any other religious group. The students who sent the threats should be expelled and maybe even prosecuted. Death threats are no laughing matter.
Whether people like it or not, this has become a religion in istelf, promoting open mindedness. Sure, its kind of a parody, but being descriminate against for being a pastafarian is just like being descriminated agianst for being jewish or any other religion. Its a hate crime and should be treated as such.
I think the persecution and discrimination shows that these people know we are telling the truth about the FSM. Why else would they fight so hard against it?
MY GOD EATS UR GOD FOR DINNER HAHAHAA
They made the law - they think if THEIR religion is attacked like that, that the violaters should be treated severely.
I can’t see any reason in the world they shouldn’t be treated exactly as the law calls for. Hate crime is hate crime, death threats are death threats, and it’s not the place of outside parties to be making judgements as to whether the threats were “serious” or not. Just try “not-seriously” waving a toy gun around if you’re black, and see how far “not-serious” gets you.
Just remember what Ghandi once said: First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win.
Seems like the FSM is just one step away from winning there..
Expulsion is too light a sentence, although it is a start. I agree with the sentiment that this is a hatecrime, pure and simple. Thank the FSM no one was actually hurt! This kind of thing has no place in any civilized society, and certainly no college campus should allow it to go unpunished. In addition to being kicked out of school these people should be given 10 lashes with a wet noodle!
Expulsion is not enough! They must be condemned to ten years of canned spaghetti-o’s and baloney meat balls!
Raman! Praise His Holy
Noodliness!
IANAL, but threatening someone with death is Terroristic Threats and is considered a felony. Before even expulsion is considered, they should be brought up on charges in court. When they get out of jail, then they can reapply to college. The Pastafarians should be pressing charges as we speak. Regardless of religious beliefs or lack thereof, it is never OK to threaten to kill someone. I find it amazing that people are saying not to expel them when they should be serving time.
Honestly, I don’t think they should be expelled, but I do think a court should become involved. I hope that a judge orders the perpetrators to undergo tolerance education and community service involving FSM.
I’m going there in the fall, I hope that I don’t get harassed just for my belief in the FSM.
A death threat is a death threat, unless it’s a friend of yours that is joking. FSM or not, it should be treated no different than a death threat to anyone.
We could always start a holy war. Throw Pasta and Meatballs in vengence… and make sure they’re very hot.
Ramen my friends