The Ledger reports that the majority of Polk County, Florida, School Board members support teaching Intelligent Design in addition to evolution in public schools.
It’s unclear if they’re prepared to change the definition of science. Some people are concerned that a supernatural theory will not mesh with the study of the natural world.
Board member Kay Fields said last week she wants intelligent design, which is promoted by some Christian groups, taught in science classes in addition to evolution.
“If it ever comes to the board for a vote, I will vote against the teaching of evolution as part of the science curriculum,” Lofton said. “If (evolution) is taught, I would want to balance it with the fact that we may live in a universe created by a supreme being as well.”
The board’s majority opinion is at odds with many in Florida’s scientific community who strongly support the new, more rigorous science standards, and say intelligent design lacks scientific credibility.
Perhaps Florida’s scientific community has not realized the type of genius arguments they’re up against:
“My tendency would be to have both sides shared with students since neither side can be proven,” [School Board Member] Tim Harris said.
“I don’t have a conflict with intelligent design versus evolution,” [School Board Member] Sellers said. “The two go together.”
“It crosses the line with people who are Christians,” [School Board Member] Lofton said. “Evolution is offensive to a lot of people.”
Pastafarians are concerned that the Polk County School Board is endorsing Intelligent Design, but ignoring our theory, even though it is widely endorsed by the scientific community.
I will wager that the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster can produce more academic endorsements for our theory than Intelligent Design proponents can for theirs.
My guess is that the Polk County School Board is just unaware of Pastafarianism. As a public service, I propose that we contact them, and let them know that there are other supernatural theories just as valid as Intelligent Design, primarily ours.
Contact info:
Those in favor of Intelligent Design:
Kay Fields (District 5)
Kay.Fields@polk-fl.net
863-802-5483
Tim Harris (District 7)
Tim.Harris@polk-fl.net
863-808-0005
Margaret Lofton (District 6, Chairman)
Margaret.Lofton@polk-fl.net
863-294-9076
Hazel Sellers (District 3)
Hazel.Sellers@polk-fl.net
863-533-7714
Lori Cunningham (District 2, Vice-Chairman) – undecided
Lori.Cunningham@polk-fl.net
863-512-1656
Those not in favor of Intelligent Design:
Frank O’Reilly (District 1)
Frank.Oreilly@polk-fl.net
863-647-1390
Brenda Reddout (District 4)
Brenda.Reddout@polk-fl.net
863-324-0127
You can use this link to email all 7 School board members.
Please be respectful – remember we are not criticizing their beliefs, merely pointing out that there is another, just as legitimate, theory that should be included into the curriculum. Please leave a comment and tell us about your conversations with the School Board. Thank you!
The Ledger article can be found here.
*update* 12/11/07 – Their local newspaper published a story about our campaign here.
Just sent to the board…
I applaud you for your courage and convictions in advocating for a balanced science curriculum in Polk County.
Despite the fact that science embodies logic, reason, evidence, and the peer review process, nothing can trump our faith that there is another, greater explanation for the universe. That’s what my parents taught me, and that’s what their parents taught them, and so on. Could all of my ancestors stretching back thousands of years be wrong?
But, I implore you all not to shortchange your students. While ID has no physical evidence to support the theory, it is not the only alternative to rational thought out there. Please consider incorporating the theory of the Flying Spaghetti Monster into your science curriculum. While I grant you that there is far more logic behind FSM than ID, I can also assure you that, at its core, FSM is really based on faith and therefore passes your rigid test as appropriate material for your children.
I thank you for your consideration. If you would like to learn more about my faith, I would be most happy to enlighten you.
R’ Amen
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@Pluto–yes! Damn the evolutionist locusts to hell! Same goes with bats, the little flying heretics. :lol: That, my friend, was a letter par excellence.
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just sent this (sorry for not biggin up the FSM!):
“If it ever comes to the board for a vote, I will vote against the teaching of evolution as part of the science curriculum,” Lofton said. “If (evolution) is taught, I would want to balance it with the fact that we may live in a universe created by a supreme being as well.”
I totally agree! Should we start with Aboriginal Dreamtime, Aztec Coatlique or perhaps the Zulu creator Unkulunkulu? Which? I’m confused. I do quite like the Norse version where Ymir’s underarm sweat begats various beings. Who’d have thought it? Making beings from body parts! Crazy stuff eh?
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Don’t forget the Haida creation story of Raven finding the first people inside a clam shell. He also brought back the sun when it was stolen at Solstice. So be good to the ravens you see; they created you and gave you the sun.
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I noticed recently how difficult it is to explain to fellow Europeans at what point this creationism vs. evolution thingy is considered a hot item in the US: very few people in Europe are able to believe this is so big, and most conclude with a “Well, those Americans…” type of answer… Maybe the phenomenon will reach Europe one day… the later the better.
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One of the first actions of the actual Spanish government that got the right wing xians on the streets, was a law that diminished the “weight” of religion class in deliberating the final results of students in highschool. Here, in Belgium, even 50 years ago, in most catholic schools you wouldn’t be stopped for having failed the exam for religion , other assignments (maths, latin) being more important, and having more hours per week. The Spanish case is quite different, because right wing xians still can be quite nostalgic for the days of Franco, who had installed a double political-religious dictature.
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I didn’t catch the name of the god, but on the “History of Sex” on the History channel last night it mentioned an ancient Egyptian god that created human kind by “pleasuring” himself. Include that in your list. Googling “creating myths” will lead you to some interesting lists/articles, such as http://www.crystalinks.com/creation.html
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Boy, would I like to be a fly on the wall at Polk County each morning when they look in the inbox! Has anyone received a reply? I haven’t, which leads me to believe that they are giving the matter careful consideration :)
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@Fusillier–someone around here received a reply, but it was the “we’re looking into the matter” type of political ass-covering reply, instead of anything with substance. I do hope that these pro-ID members are taking a hard look at these letters, and realize what a Pandora’s box they are trying to open. I also hope the member who’s sitting on the fence realizes which way the political and legal fortunes lie.
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I finally sent off my 7-page letter to the Polk County School Board. The intro on my email reads:
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“I heard that you are considering including ID in the science curricula in Polk County Schools. I have never spoken out on matters but feel compelled to do so tin this case. Over about a week I put my thoughts and concerns into a letter (attached) that I hope you will read. In brief, it says that will I am in support of people and the religious beliefs that they hold, that religion and evolution are not at odds, the mere idea of teaching is bad on so many levels and will be much worse for religion than for science. Please reconsider and let’s teach science in the science classroom and cultural or traditional beliefs and their derivatives in history, literature, and social studies course, where they would be more appropriate and would be more likely to get a fuller treatment.”
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Thank you all for helpful information and insights.
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I have yet to receive a reply. Considering I put 6 or 7 minutes of my life into writing my e-mail I think I at least deserver a reply to say they have seen it.
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I know one thing, the Republicans are putting forward two religious extremists as their front runners–Huckabee and Romney. My hope is that if either is the nominee, he is utterly crushed in the general election. Both of them are pandering to the religioius right full bore. Romney is telling everyone that religion is a pre-requisite for citizenship, and Huckabee is falsely painting such ardently secularist founding fathers as Jefferson (who coined the phrase “Wall of Separation” to describe how the first amendment was intended to affect they way the American republic was to govern) as born again Xtains. It won’t be long if either of them is elected before they have that fifth supreme court justice (Potter Stewart will be lucky to live out the Bush term, let alone another republican’s term) and then it will be Katie Bar the Door. Almost certainly, public schools will become an instrument for fundamentalist indoctrination with the full blessing of Scalia, Thomas, Alito, et al; censorshiop will be in full force (wanna bet Penthouse and all other magazines are ruled obscene), the new court will almost certainly find a “right to life” in the constitution which will not only overturn Roe v. Wade, but take the choice out of the domain of individual states, and establish a nationwide abortion ban, and you can bet Ten commandment monuments the size of monster trucks will spring up in every public building. What else is up their sleve, who can say–Covenant Marriage in every state, privatizing social services to evengelical groups (so the homeless get a sermon with their cup of soup), you name it. America will become the land of Pig Entitlement.
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Thanks, great site, just found it. I’d heard of FSM of course but didn’t know there was a growing group around it.
I’d been going with more mainstream sites like American United (au.org) or Nat’l Cntr for Science Ed (http://www.natcenscied.org/)
Here’s what I sent:
You do your school district no favor in pushing creationism as science or doubting evolution.
Do you honestly expect these kids to be able to get into college after having gone through a science class based on beliefs (instead of facts)? Even if they do make it past an admissions committee – they would never last in a rigorous academic setting.
Please consider keeping people’s beliefs in their own homes or for a philosophy class where they belong and reserve science classrooms for factual discussions. You are hurting these children’s chance for a good education.
However, if you’re going to insist on including every possible “theory” of how the earth came to be and include the concept of “intelligent design” how do you pick? I’d imagine you would have to include every possible creation myth (at least the ones of American origin).
So let’s see there’s Mormon, Native American (Cherokee, Choctow, Creek, Hopi, Iroquois, Lakota, Navajo, Ojibwa, Seminole), Hawaiian, Alaskan (Tlinglit), Aztec, Raelism, Scientology, the Flying Spaghetti Monster and Wiccan.
That would actually be an interesting class (for a philosophy or religion class), but again, not in the realm of science.
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I cannot help but wondarr, what would tharr convictions be like if they warr required to include Scientology with tharr so-called Intelligent Design, and give it equal press time and opportunity as their silly Christian myth?
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Hi just to let you know I sent the board this:
Good Morning Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am contacting you all as I have heard that there is a proposition to teach Intelligent Design along with Evolution in your Public Schools. I support your endeavor to provide the best education possible for young people by looking at all sources of teaching and studying all theories relevant to modern knowledge.
This is why I must make you aware of Pastafarianism. It is a religion that has a theory of where life originated from that is just as valid as Evolution or Intelligent Design. Many academics have endorsed its teaching please see
http://www.venganza.org/evidence/endorsements1/
I feel you would be doing your students, who may themselves be Pastafarians too afraid to speak up, a great disservice if you ignore our equally valid theory. Please visit http://www.venganza.org/ for more information on our faith. Thank you for your time.
May you be touched by His Noodly Appendage
Si
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Im a student in Polk County, and i sent them my opinion along with some key philosophy about the FSM. Ill see if the respond. :)
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As a student of George Jenkins High School, i have always been different. I do not look upon myself as a Christian, but like to think i am accepting of other people and their beliefs. I know millions of emails have probably been sent concerning this discussion, but as a resident pupil of Polk county i hope you will take the time to read this letter. I am a Pastafarian, and i think that if you will teach intelligent design, you should teach the gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster as well. I feel as though I have always been a minority having my beliefs, and nothing would make me happier than spreading the word of his holiness, the FSM. Below i have a complete letter originally sent to the members of the Kansas school board explaining the manifesto of our beliefs. Below that is more information concerning this widely popular religion, and may help you understand us better. Thank you for your time and understanding patience.
RAmen,
Erik K. Hendrickson
I am writing you with much concern after having read of your hearing to decide whether the alternative theory of Intelligent Design should be taught along with the theory of Evolution. I think we can all agree that it is important for students to hear multiple viewpoints so they can choose for themselves the theory that makes the most sense to them. I am concerned, however, that students will only hear one theory of Intelligent Design.
Let us remember that there are multiple theories of Intelligent Design. I and many others around the world are of the strong belief that the universe was created by a Flying Spaghetti Monster. It was He who created all that we see and all that we feel. We feel strongly that the overwhelming scientific evidence pointing towards evolutionary processes is nothing but a coincidence, put in place by Him.
It is for this reason that I’m writing you today, to formally request that this alternative theory be taught in your schools, along with the other two theories. In fact, I will go so far as to say, if you do not agree to do this, we will be forced to proceed with legal action. I’m sure you see where we are coming from. If the Intelligent Design theory is not based on faith, but instead another scientific theory, as is claimed, then you must also allow our theory to be taught, as it is also based on science, not on faith.
Some find that hard to believe, so it may be helpful to tell you a little more about our beliefs. We have evidence that a Flying Spaghetti Monster created the universe. None of us, of course, were around to see it, but we have written accounts of it. We have several lengthy volumes explaining all details of His power. Also, you may be surprised to hear that there are over 10 million of us, and growing. We tend to be very secretive, as many people claim our beliefs are not substantiated by observable evidence. What these people don’t understand is that He built the world to make us think the earth is older than it really is. For example, a scientist may perform a carbon-dating process on an artifact. He finds that approximately 75% of the Carbon-14 has decayed by electron emission to Nitrogen-14, and infers that this artifact is approximately 10,000 years old, as the half-life of Carbon-14 appears to be 5,730 years. But what our scientist does not realize is that every time he makes a measurement, the Flying Spaghetti Monster is there changing the results with His Noodly Appendage. We have numerous texts that describe in detail how this can be possible and the reasons why He does this. He is of course invisible and can pass through normal matter with ease.
I’m sure you now realize how important it is that your students are taught this alternate theory. It is absolutely imperative that they realize that observable evidence is at the discretion of a Flying Spaghetti Monster. Furthermore, it is disrespectful to teach our beliefs without wearing His chosen outfit, which of course is full pirate regalia. I cannot stress the importance of this enough, and unfortunately cannot describe in detail why this must be done as I fear this letter is already becoming too long. The concise explanation is that He becomes angry if we don’t.
You may be interested to know that global warming, earthquakes, hurricanes, and other natural disasters are a direct effect of the shrinking numbers of Pirates since the 1800s. For your interest, I have included a graph of the approximate number of pirates versus the average global temperature over the last 200 years. As you can see, there is a statistically significant inverse relationship between pirates and global temperature.
In conclusion, thank you for taking the time to hear our views and beliefs. I hope I was able to convey the importance of teaching this theory to your students. We will of course be able to train the teachers in this alternate theory. I am eagerly awaiting your response, and hope dearly that no legal action will need to be taken. I think we can all look forward to the time when these three theories are given equal time in our science classrooms across the country, and eventually the world; One third time for Intelligent Design, one third time for Flying Spaghetti Monsterism, and one third time for logical conjecture based on overwhelming observable evidence.
Sincerely Yours,
Bobby Henderson, concerned citizen.
P.S. I have included an artistic drawing of Him creating a mountain, trees, and a midget. Remember, we are all His creatures.
We believe it’s important to keep religion out of politics. But when we see public officials abusing their positions, putting their personal religion-based ideas into policy, we fight to get our ideas included as well. It’s only fair.
For some it’s more than satire, more than activism. Just as many Christians don’t take the bible literally, many Pastafarians don’t believe in the existence of the Flying Spaghetti Monster (but understand: many do).
People get something out of religion despite their lack of literal belief; peace, a sense of community, a way to understand the world – whatever. With Pastafarianism, literal belief is even less important; belief is not required for our religion, because we have no irrational Dogma that requires faith.
Whether or not the Flying Spaghetti Monster actually exists is beside the point. It can’t be proved either way, just as Christians can’t prove the existence of their god. And there’s no reason to try. We’re all free to believe what we want.
Pastafarianism is as valid as any other religion or belief-system, more than most, even.
We’re made up largely of tolerant, intelligent people. Pastafarians reject dogma, we therefore have no problems with radical fundamentalism.
We’re the most peaceful religion in the world, our beliefs having caused zero deaths worldwide (to my knowledge). Christianity and Islam have more members, but this will change over time.
We are a group of people who are conscious about how religious belief causes as many problems as it solves. When we say we “believe”, we mean we “think”.
So the Cause is this: We are pursuing a religion that makes the world a better place. It means something different to each of us. We don’t need to analyze it.
We’re raising funds for an ocean-going pirate ship to Spread the Word of Pastafarianim to the world. Every purchase of FSM merchandise contributes to this goal. To date, we’ve raised over $100k. The ship will be open to all Pastafarians. We’ll have a great time.
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After George Bush the fundamental Christians scare the hell out of me. They are idiots. You can not reason with idiots. They are home schooled idiots. I am thinking about writing a letter to the flordia school board but point 1 comes into play, you can not reason with a home schooled idiots. All I can say I pay much more attention to the local school board races these days. It is not only evolution that scares me it is this whole wait to your married sex ed that does get passed in numerous states that caused far more harm to the teenagers than creasionist teaching.
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I immediately sent an email to all the Polk School Board members the day after The Ledger printed their article. Sorry to say, while His Greatness is known to me, His Noodly Appendage abandoned me as I wrote my email so I neglected to send His Blessings. However, I did get a personal reply from Hazil Sellers and whilst ambiguous, it looks like you may need to change the vote image at the top of this page to 50/50 with one still on the fence. Yeah! Polkonians (??) ain’t so stupid as you think they is…!!!
Here’s the reply I got from Hazel Sellers:
From: hazel.sellers@polk-fl.net [mailto:hazel.sellers@polk-fl.net]
Sent: Wednesday, November 21, 2007 2:56 PM
To: [me]
Subject: RE: Intelligent Design in Polk County Schools
Dear [lezzard],
I apologize for my not making myself clearer when the Ledger called. Of course I believe in intelligent design but I do not see how it is an either or situation. Science is the investigation, inquiry and experimentation in finding out how and why our world works the way it does. The fact that God created that system is not in conflict with the study to see how it works. The question of Intelligent design does not rival evolution or any other theory. Polk County has always taught the state standards of all subjects and will continue to do so. The question at the end of the day as to who planned how the world works is where intelligent design fits in. It does not hinder our investigative studies of how things came about. I know the Ledger put us on one side or another, although a no vote for me on the standards was not correct. I see no conflict. I hope this clears my stance.
Hazel Sellers
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here is another local Polk County news article that just came out:
http://www.baynews9.com/content/36/2007/12/11/309396.html
the ‘word’ is spreading….
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So…what’s the most recent update on Polk County?
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I have sent a letter through this site to all the school board members in Polk county. Thanx 4 making it e z. -Adapted from St. John the Blasphemer
Dear Polk County School Board,
This is an excellent read regardless of your leanings on the origin of humanity,
Darwin’s discovery of evolution completely rules out the possibility that man came from some dirt that God used to make an image of Himself out of, and that woman came from a rib of this dirt-man.
Compare the amount of interlocking data from every applicable scientific field including geology, physics, and even molecular biology, all having observational experiments done, that test and prove the hypotheses of evolution occurring, with the DISCREDITED FAIRY TALE – A BIG INVISIBLE MONSTER THAT NOBODY HAS EVER SEEN OR HEARD DID IT.
Reverently,
Marc Romain A.K.A. F.S.M.C. P.C.S.I. (Fizz Mick Pa Chee)
Flying Spaghetti Monster Church Promoting Common Sense Ideas
Adapted from St. John of F.S.M.
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I suggest in the bizarre case that this kind of initiative passes on the Polk county or any other place in the world that the people who don´t agree with the idea of teaching religion in the science class to tell their children to get out of the class room when the Inteligent Design Lesson begins, this surely will leave half empty school rooms, meanwhile a sensitive teacher could give scientific talks or perform experiments in the playgrond for the students who leave the classroom…
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CG – that could be interesting. I think it would be more effective if the kids were prepared at home for the ID lectures and had lots of interesting questions to ask the teacher, challenges to the ID theory obviously, asking why is ID science, and so on, but also wanting to know more about FSM, IPU, and other’s creating myths.
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What is this junk about “both” sides? I mean, if we’re going to open the gates to “alternatives” to evolution, why are we arbitrarily saying there are only these “two” sides to it? Even if we try to come at it from a religion standpoint, I think trying to pass off the concept of a creator deity as applying to all religions is dishonest. Not ever religion or creation myth in the world involves a creator deity.
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Here’s my letter that I sent to all of the above people with the little Jesus above his/her head. (Only the first three paragraphs are true.)
As a child I was always interested in history. This interest history led me to pursue a career in education. I currently teach HS social studies.
Throughout learning and teaching about history, I’ve learned that it is next to impossible to separate history and religion. The two are intertwined.
Sometimes in history class, one discussion leads to another, and that topic leads to another and next thing you know, you are talking about something you intended to talk about.
The result of one of the conversations has prompted me to write to you.
I was talking about how Christianity has the 10 Commandments, how I am a big proponent for hanging them in schools, and how most other religions don’t have such rules. Then a student corrected me. “The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster has 8 ‘I Rather You Didn’ts’.”
I laughed this off. She then informed me that she has as much proof as I do; there is as much proof that a flying monster made of spaghetti created everything as there is as much proof that Jesus’ dad created everything.
“It all came out of a book. No one was around to see what was described in Genesis. For all we know, The Flying Spaghetti Monster created everything with his noodly appendages.”
I then asked her what she knew of these 8 “I Rather You Didn’ts.”
“I don’t remember all of them. But the main ideas are;
-Just play nice with each other, don’t go killing or beheading people in my name.
-Don’t do anything that might hurt other people’s feelings
-Don’t spend millions making churches and what-not to worship me. Use that money more effectively; such as feeding the homeless, finding a cure for some disease. “
She then added that, to the best of the Church of The Flying Spaghetti Monster’s knowledge, no one has ever been killed in the name of his Noodly Deity. “Can you say that about any other religion? Can we say, The Crusades and the Inquisition?”
These simple ideas appealed to me and I told the class I’d “Google” the Flying Spaghetti Monster when I get home.
I read up on this Noodly Deity. I must say that I am convinced that there is as much of a chance that the Flying Spaghetti Monster created the universe as did Jesus’ dad.
If you insist in teaching Jedau-Christian belief of creation, I implore to you please consider teaching the idea of Carbo-Hyrdate-Creationism. I also encourage you to teach the main beliefs of the 8 I Rather You Didn’ts. These simple tenets encourage all men and women to do their best to get along, respect each other, and to try to help each other.
As we say,
Peace and Ramen
(A nice and simple contraction of Amen and Ramen [As in Ramen Noodles.])
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Hi. Here’s what I sent ‘em (I didn’t invoke FSM, sorry, but His devoted acolytes will let His will be known):
To the members of the Polk County Board of Education:
As a Florida citizen I have deep concerns for the integrity of science education when I hear that people in decision-making positions like yourselves want to insert non-science, i.e. Intelligent Design, into science curriculums.
The real problem with evolution in schools is that it has never been taught properly in the first place, just quickly summarized at best, leaving generations of supposedly educated people with no real grasp of its logic or the literal mountains of supporting evidence.
Reality check. Geologists started seriously comparing notes about the structure of the earth around 1800. In a few decades, a consensus existed:
1. The Earth is very old. Millions of years old, almost certainly, and perhaps far older.
2. Life has existed, and is recorded as fossils, over much of the Earth’s history, and has developed in a traceable way–evolved–over that time.
Darwin only showed up after this consensus was established and came up with the how and why of evolution–”natural selection.”
Intelligent Design is kind of like the books I read when I was a teenager, by Erich von Daniken, about Ancient Astronauts who supposedly erected Easter Island heads, built the pyramids etc. The evidence? People couldn’t have figured out how to do it themselves, so the default explanation must be aliens. Von Daniken claimed the Nazca Lines, huge scratched-out pictures of animals and enigmatic line patterns, couldn’t have been drawn without the aid of a flying saucer pilot to direct the work from the air. My conclusion was that (a) von Daniken wasn’t too smart, since at 16, I already knew how to grid up a drawing, and (b) people would rather invoke a deus ex machina than simply accept that a phenomenon is unexplained. I.D. is not science, being neither tested nor testable (you can’t disprove magic).
Please stick with science. Thank you for your attention.
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Messages sent…
Subject: Thank you, and keep up the fight!
Just wanted to let you know that we at The Very Young Earth Society are grateful that your school board is considering teaching intelligent design along side that foul, unfounded ‘evolution’. There’s just as much proof that we were created here!
I mean, just look at The Book of The Subgenius. I want all your kids to be aware that our faith believes that the universe was created by J.R. “BoB” Dobbs some 54 years ago. It’s just plain truth! And why shouldn’t young, malleable minds be completely muddled in religious dogma! I was, and I turned out great. Thanks for helping the cause.
Father Time :ordained minister, Church of the Subgenius
founder : The Very Young Earth Society
http://groups.myspace.com/veryyoungearthsociety
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I just sent this to the 7 school board members and the reporter of the Ledger:
Dear Sirs,
As a School Board I find it imperative to communicate our earnest desire to be included in your “Science” curriculum. If you are now willing to discuss the teaching of Intelligent Design as Science then I see no reason not to include FSM. If you are capable of relaxing the definition of Science to include religious beliefs then we are in (we won’t tell anyone that this is not Science, our little secret).
How dare the scientific community require us to apply science to our beliefs? Well if they want to apply scientific principles then why shouldn’t we apply religious principles to their classes?
I applaud your logic.
For those of you not in favor of ID in the classroom I have a message. Repent your evil ways, ignore your education and reasoning. Follow your Noodly Master before it is too late. RAmen!
I bid you farewell,
Pirate Saul of Tarsus
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I sent this to themlast night ; I await a responce…
If you decide to treat Intelligent Design as a scientific theory; will you in return have Rational Positivism treated as a valid religion. I think not. Your decision to treat religion as science is a mockery of science and scientific principal. Just as treating science as religion mocks religion. You are stewards of the education process. Please note that other school districts, confronted with the Intelligent Design issue have replaced their school boards with members willing to not compromise the integrity of education. Sincerely, Steven Zyla
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My letter to the school board:
Respected Board Members,
Why couldn’t the Creator {who might be a carbon (or carbohydrate) based life form} have designed the universe WITH Evolution?
Teaching ID in a science class is like teaching Grimm’s Fairy Tales in Trigonometry and excluding Evolution from Science is like asking Stephen Hawking and Albert Einstein to cease their mumblings about Black Holes, Dark Matter, and Tachyons.
JC
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As a new member of FSM, it fills me with pride to know that something is being done to stop the ridiculousness of Intelligent Design in the public school system. If parents want their children to learn about a theory that cannot be proven, they should pay extra money to send them to private school. Personally I think pastafarianism has just as much credibility as anything else. Who’s to say Bobby Henderson didn’t really have some kind of vision of the truth? Maybe he really is a prophet, who’s actions are being manipulated by a higher power. It makes about as much sense as Jesus. Thank you FSM for giving me hope that humanity still has a chance! Evolution revolution!
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I wrote something similar in my letter, that ID wasn’t science, and the proposal was actually bad for religion. But I also noted that this probably had nothing to do with either science or religion, but a quest for political power by some fascist group that is distorting Christianity to serve its own purposes.
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My email to them:
All,
I want to thank you for proudly supporting the rights of us minority. For too long, people have been teaching evolution as fact. I congratulate you on your decision to include Intelligent Design, which of course will be accompanied by the truth about the Flying Spaghetti Monster, pasta be upon him. As we all know, The Flying Spaghetti Monster (PBUH) is the one true creator of the universe, as scientific evidence clearly shows. For too long he has been relegated to myth instead of being taught as fact along-side this so-called theory of evolution. It is imperative to include both Intelligent Design and The Flying Spaghetti Monster (PBUH) in your classes in Polk County.
To those of you on the CC list of this email, shame on you for trying to keep our Lord out of the minds of children.
Good Work amd RAmen,
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Dear members of the Polk County School Board:
By now you have received several communications from my fellow Pastafarians. We are encouraging you, if you are going to include other forms of Intelligent Design (ID) in the Polk science curriculum, to also include the tenets of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. After all, our beliefs are every bit as valid and well-supported as traditional ID.
You may be having second thoughts about the wisdom of introducing ID into your science classes, given that a similar effort in Dover, PA cost that school district $1 million, and resulted in the ID supporters on that school board being promptly booted out of office in the next election. We Pastafarians are encouraging you to disregard such concerns. As the Polk County School Board, you have more pressing concerns than the financial well being of your school district. As General George Armstrong Custer so famously said: “Don’t worry about what our scouts are saying. Charge!!”
I think General Custer’s wisdom should be an inspiration to you, as you pursue your course of introducing both traditional ID as well as Pastafarianism into Polk County Schools. As our Prophet Bobby Henderson so memorably put it:
I think we can all look forward to the time when these three theories are given
equal time in our science classrooms across the country, and eventually the world;
One third time for Intelligent Design, one third time for Flying Spaghetti Monsterism,
and one third time for logical conjecture based on overwhelming observable evidence.
May you all be Touched by his Noodly Appendage!
RAmen.
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my message to the folks at polk read as follows:
3 words,
“kansas school board”.
sautations from Canada.
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Dear Board Members,
It has come to my attention that you are considering allowing Intelligent Design to be taught in the Polk County science classrooms and I am writing to protest this discrimination. If ID is taught in science classrooms as a competing theory to evolution, then all competing theories should be taught including ours; the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.
Our beliefs are fully expressed on our website: http://www.venganza.org/
If Pastafarianism is belittled as a joke the same can be said of Intelligent Design. We are a spiritual group. The word spiritual comes from the Greek root “spiritus” meaning “that which can not be defined” and since our views, as well as the views of the Catholics, the Muslims, and the Wiccans bind us together but cannot be proven through observable science then I would argue that all major religious ideologies that bind people together under a single belief system fall under the same heading. That being said, if the Board decides to advocate one theology which can not be scientifically proven to further an agenda of expanding its own spiritual group, it is guilty of discrimination if our beliefs are not explained as well.
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Note that although some of them (polk County Board) have little “Darwins” above their heads, all should have had little Jesus’. They are all creationists. Some of them don’t support the teaching of ID only because it is now illegal.
What is it about running for school board that attracts the illiterate?
They have stated that they are immediately “trashing” any emails from our little group without reading them – The same attitude toward reading that resulted in their profound ignorance.
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It’s not so much who *runs* for the office, but who gets *elected* to the office. The illiterate know their own.
And there is at least some resistance to ID in the county; one of the people there has “Touched By His Noodly Appendage” and this site’s URL on his office door. (That’s how I heard about this site… very amusing, by the way.)
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Congratulations, Pastafarians
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2007/dec/22/na-polk-needled-noodled-in-evolution-flap/
http://austringer.net/wp/index.php/2007/12/22/polk-county-school-board-backs-off-intelligent-design/
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To The Pinellas County Board of Education:
I applaud you for your courage and conviction in advocating for a balanced science curriculum in Pinellas County.
Despite the fact that science embodies logic, reason, evidence, and the peer review process, nothing can trump our faith that there is another, greater explanation for the universe. That’s what my parents taught me, and that’s what their parents taught them, and so on. Could all of my ancestors stretching back thousands of years be wrong?
But, I implore you all not to shortchange your students. While Intelligent Design (”ID”) has no physical evidence to support it as a scientific theory, it is not the only alternative to rational thought out there. Please consider incorporating the theory of the Flying Spaghetti Monster (”FSM”) into your science curriculum as well. While I grant you that there is far more logic behind FSM than ID, I can also assure you that, at its core, FSM is really based on faith and therefore passes your rigid test as appropriate material for your children.
I thank you for your consideration. If you would like to learn more about my faith, I would be most happy to enlighten you.
R’ Amen,
Daren Niklerog
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The pingback on the bottom of this page points to a little more coverage:
http://irregulartimes.com/index.php/archives/2007/12/29/polk-county-creationists-witness-the-intercession-of-his-noodly-appendage/
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Truly, the Polk County School Board will no longer doubt the existence of the omnipotent FSM! They must admit to themselves that their blatant disregard for more rational theories of cosmic and human origins have riled the great FSM himself to boldly thrust his noodly appendage into the matter. I’ll bet that is the last time they try this little gambit without first considering the consequences. All they need really do before considering such action in the future is think: WWFSMD. It would save them a lot of humiliation.
R’amen
Kona
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okay just to point out, how is there evidence for Inteligent design but none for evolution? the only people it offends are those that dont understand it, evolution is not trying to give us all the answers just the ones about how life as we know it came to be
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We all know that the real crux of the issue isn’t evolution or intelligent design, it’s power.
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I thought Oregon’s Polk County where I live……..
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I find too often that very few have a clear understanding of Intelligent Design and those who claim to know Evolution do not know science at all. In fact, I find that many people make up thier science to justify their weird beliefs like Global Warming. There are three sciences to global warming and no one talks about the accurate science. Likewise, Evolution proponents insist on naturalistic principles like randomness and Frankenstien theories of sparking life into inanimate matter that simply are not true or scientific. Did many of you know that Islamics believe the world is floating on the back of a turtle? According to their science this keeps the world from sinking into the cosmic abyss.
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There is a truth out there believe it or not. In fact, there is a science to discovering the truth. This science is called epistomology and no one studies it today.
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People have weird beliefs that they so arrogantly want to believe that they will distort truth, reality, and even perception in order to make THEIR belief justified. These people are so inept at usingtheir minds that they cannot look back at themselves. They an only look outward.
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In my minds eye, I have travelled to a far away place and looked back at this world from anothers viewpoint. I have looked at things from many other perspectives and have come to realize that it is not what I know or can see but what is revealed to me.
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There are few Christians I meet who can meaningfully discuss Intelligent design. They are trying but lack the ability to make the necessary correlations. The correlations do exist but mst are unable to make them. Likewise, evolutionist are far too emotional and rely on psuedo science to defend their belief. By the way, Evolution is not a science. It is a philosophy or cosmology of sorts. Evolutions intended message is that there is no God. Eventhough, atheist and agnostics believe either in no God or willful ignorance, they ultimately worship a God that is a NULL and this is the God they defend and fight for.
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I doubt most humans will ever come to know the truth as so many attempt to bury it in obfuscation. Unfortunately, too many people will come to know false science and perhaps fall into the allure and charms of a false God.
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MrMiama; your post has annoyed me to such an extent with it’s wrongness that I shall not deign to attempt to correct you. I’m sure that one of the other forumites will be along shortly to clean up this mess.
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MrMiami,
Please explain these revolutionary new ideas that you’re crack-smoking alien masters programmed you with….
BTW,
“Evolution is not a science. It is a philosophy or cosmology of sorts.”
if this is true, does that mean the Laws of thermodynamics are really a form of ESP?
please explain….
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