A majority of the Pinellas County, Florida, School Board supports the inclusion of Intelligent Design in the science curriculum, reports the St. Petersburg Times.
Four members of the school board, including the chairperson and vice-chairperson, have made statements in support of Intelligent Design.
“The entire theory of evolution is not scientific fact. Intelligent design balances it out.” — Nancy Bostock, Chairperson
“I’d probably ideally like to keep it all [evolution and Intelligent Design] out of the classroom. If it’s going to create this much controversy, how important is it?” — Peggy O’Shea, Vice Chairperson
“I think that students should be given the opportunity to view all theories on how man evolved and let their science background and their religious background take over as to which one they believe in.” — Jane Gallucci, Member
“To teach one [evolution] as if nothing else existed, I think we’re doing our students a disservice.” — Carol Cook, Member
You can read the news article here.
The PCSB website states: “The public is encouraged to contact the School Board members on any issue.”
I suggest we contact the school board and let them know there are more than two theories of our origins. Pastafarianism is built on similar tenets as Intelligent Design, and has much greater support from the academic community. If you decide to write, please be respectful.
Contact Info:
Office: (727) 588-6300
E-mail: Board@pcsb.org
Individual E-mail addresses:
Nancy Bostock: bostockn@pcsb.org
Peggy O’Shea: osheap@pcsb.org
Jane Gallucci: galluccij@pcsb.org
Carol Cook: cookc@pcsb.org
Ironically, our children will not be entirely sheltered from the fact that there is controversy on this issue. Kids are curious. It will become a hobby for our kids to seek out evolutionary studies and think for themselves at some age of reasoning. Feed the controversy!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I just sent this to the individual geniuses and the whole Pinellas School Board. Again, thanks for the e-mail info!
I personally don’t believe in Heaven or Hell. However if you want to cling to the belief in an afterlife, a better way to look at it is that THOSE WHO EMBRACED HONESTY WILL BE REWARDED WITH HEAVEN WHILE THOSE WHO PROMOTED SUPERSTITIOUS LIES THAT GO AGAINST ALL LOGIC AND EVIDENCE WILL BE PUNISHED WITH HELL.
Scientific investigation not only fails to prove religion right, it exposes as fallacious what is written as truth in “Holy Books”. I believe that this is your objection to teaching evolution. The real question is; Why? You are bringing woe upon yourself when you promote authority over truth, instead of truth over authority.
Darwin’s discovery of evolution completely rules out the possibility that man came from some dirt that a 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.
Adapted from various posts on Church Of The Flying Spaghetti Monster website. Edited and with additions from Fizzmick PaChee
Reverently,
Fizzmick PaChee
E-mail fizzmickpachee@gmail.com
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Here’s my letter. I sent to Ms. Bostock who was quoted…“The entire theory of evolution is not scientific fact. Intelligent design balances it out.” I took this idea of “balancing it out” and ran with it.
.
.
Hope ya like it!
.
———————————————-
Ms. Bostock,
.
As the subject line states, I’m with you…I like the idea of introducing more topics and/or topics with a different point of view to help ‘balance’ things out. To the best of my knowledge, nobody has a ‘lock’ on the correct idea. No one has a ‘lock’ on the correct theory. (At least to the best of my knowledge…)
.
Apart from teaching Intelligent Design (ID) to help balance out Evolution, I would suggest that other alternate theories/ideas are also taught.
.
May I suggest a few…
.
-Gravity is at odds with the second law of thermodynamics. They work towards different goals. Gravity helps order things, while the second law of thermodynamics states that everything is working towards disorder. Imagine 30 bowling balls floating around in space. Eventually, gravity will bring the balls together. There is more order in this system. One clump of balls is a more ordered system than 30 balls spread out. Why would gravity make things clump together (a more ordered system) when the second law of thermodynamics states that the balls should not clump together and there should be disorder. The only conclusion is that one idea is wrong. I believe, among others, that gravity is wrong. We believe that an intelligent being is pushing or pulling things together. “Things fall not because they are acted upon by some gravitational force, but because a higher intelligence, ‘God’ if you will, is pushing them down,” said Gabriel Burdett, who holds degrees in education, applied Scripture, and physics from Oral Roberts University. Those of us who believe in Intelligent Falling advocate that Intelligent Falling should be taught in school along with the theory of gravity so that students can make “an informed decision.”
.
-The moon is made of cheese.
.
.
I thank you for your time.
.
Sincerely,
C. Felix
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I had sent a letter to Polk County Board and now I am going to send one to these ones as well. Being proactive pays! Thank you to Bobby.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
The inevitable flooding of the state of Florida as a consequence of global warming is beginning to like a plus, no?
Here’s tweaked version of my letter to Polk County now addressed to the Pinellas Board.
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
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Dec 26, 2007
NOTE to Pastafarian Readers:
I sent this message to Chairperson Bostock, and a slightly modified message to Board Members Carol Cook and Jane Galluci. Amazing place, Florida!
Mike
——————————————–
Dear Chairperson Bostock:
As a citizen of Florida, and a retired (2003) professor of Neuroscience at Florida State University who taught generations of ill-prepared Florida students for 35 years, I am writing to urge that you fully implement the kind of balanced educational program for Pinellas students in the life sciences as envisioned in the quote attributed to you below:
“The entire theory of evolution is not scientific fact. Intelligent design balances it out. ” — Nancy Bostock, Chairperson
It must be reassuring to parents in Pinellas to have a Chairperson of the Board as open-minded as you seem to be, and so concerned about balance in this one branch of science. But, surely there is balance required in physics and chemistry, too? For, example, a nice section on Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue’s recent initiative to override the laws of physics by his Call for Massive Prayer Campaign to stop the drought in the Southeast would provide an excellent balance to scientists’ claims about why weather occurs. At this time of year, a unit concerned with virgin births would provide some serious balance to certain one-sided claims about reproduction made in Pinellas Biology classes. A unit on the raising of dead people to life could be inserted for balance at the Easter season. Please note that these suggestions are simply meant as examples to stimulate you and the Board to expand your “fair and balanced” approach more fully in the Pinellas science curriculum. Please don’t stop at Intelligent Design — it would be so unfair to your students.
But, since you seem to be focused on ID as providing “the” only balance to evolution in your schools’ science training, I must provide another specific recommendation that you seem to have overlooked.
A worthy competitor to ID that you should include for balance in your evolution units is the powerful explanatory system developed by the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster . You could instruct your life-science teachers to review, and become certified in, the Church’s ideas by studying the information provided on the web site: http://www.venganza.org/ . This is not meant as a crazy comment. It is dead serious. Just as serious as you must be about ID.
Good luck with your attempts to provide future generations of Florida students with the kind of excellence (and balance) in science training that will continue to keep Florida near the bottom of national and international scientific literacy and competitiveness.
Sincerely,
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
They say that science should be balanced by religion. If that’s the goal, then I say you balance school with church. But you don’t put church in school. This school ruling would be just the beginning if allowed to run its course because this totalitarian mentality would lead to their own kind of forced busing. This school board evidently would make church compulsory if they could, with police forcing everyone onto buses on Sunday and guiding them at gunpoint to their pew. Nobody is hindering their religious practices, and they badly need some perspective. I’m not from Florida, but I blush for you.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
@ C_Felix…
.
-The moon is made of cheese ?
.
-I KNEW IT !!
.
Paul m.
Windsor,Ontario
Canada…confirmed pirate.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I’m wondering if this is now the only school district in the country attempting to get a biblical explanation of reality into the public school curriculum. If it is, then obviously a lot of progress is being made. I remember a few years back, “creationists” had made significant inroads into a number of school districts by running stealth “fundamentalist” candidates for school boards. I think a supreme court decision a few years back permanently put the kybosh on an explicitly theological set of teachings being advanced as an alternative to evolution to explain biological change and diversity.
ID is of course the counterpunch to society drawing that line in the sand. If only one school district in the entire country can get it advanced that is probably progress.
This hopeful counterassessment must, however, be counterbalanced by the fact that many of these fundamentalist parents have opted out of the school system for “home skulin’” where there are not governmental controls on the curriculum. You just have to wonder how many kids will be deprived of their birth right to a quality education (and not just a quality science education) because spineless politicians have chosen to function as enablers for agendas of these extremists. And you have to wonder what else is being taught–any literature but the bible? How about history–is there some sort of fundamentalist revisionist version of American and/or World history being taught? Civics–What is taught about the constitution and the rights of non-believers?, about civil disobedience? What is being taught about the history of the universe and the earth?
It seems incredible to me that homes that don’t send their children to school do not receive a visit from a truant officer. After all, how many of these parents have teaching certificates, and how many of these homes are chartered as schoold? How many of these parents can demonstrate they are competent to teach, and how many of these kids can pass standardized tests? It just seems that society allowing this movement to flourish is in many ways a capitulation to these American Christian Taliban types.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
My email sent to all board members:
There is no controversy between Creationism / I.D. and evolution anywhere on the planet outside of bible-belt USA. Why do you think that is?
Please educate yourselves, for the sake of future generations:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolution
http://evolution.berkeley.edu/
If you didn’t follow the Dover County case, again, please educate yourselves so as not to become the next laughing stock of Idiot USA:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/id/
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
All that’s missing from the mugshot line-up in this post is a picture of Sherri Shepherd. :)
Kirk T: “I’d really like to see a form letter that we can all use to send to these people. Something so I don’t sound like the pissed-off person that I am.”
I respectfully disagree with that. It’s better to get a variety of arguments, in the hope that one of them might work. If you’re pissed off, say so. Others can use FSM sarcasm / humor and others scientific argument. It’s all good.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
@Mike
Very good letter, thanks for composing and sending that.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
The Moon is made of Brie!!!
Curse the infidels who voice the heresy that it is made of Swiss Cheese.
The streets will flow with the blood of the non-believers!!!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
The moon is made of swiss.
Look at all those holes in it; and you were told they were craters from impacts.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Here’s the response I got. Is that what everyone else received? It’s more than can be said for Polk county though…
Your e-mail will be shared with the Board Members, as well as with the Superintendent and his staff.
Debbie
Deborah E. Beaty
Administrative Assistant to the Board
727-588-6300 Fax 727-588-6477
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
It seems like this school board believes that they should bring their religious ID beliefs into science classes. I think this is only fair if there is a regulatory “Church Board” formed where members of the community are able to change the curriculum of sunday school classes and the content of sermons, as well as make decisions on Church policies such as gay marriage and support of contraception. Fair’s fair right?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
When are these ID people going to realize that while they may disagree with evolution, evolution doesn’t disagree with them. Evolution has nothing to say about the beginning of life, it’s only a theory of the change of life over time. The theory of ID and the biblical scripture and the theory of cosmogenesis (where life came here from extra-planetary origins) are all genesis theories. They all address the question of abiogenesis, life coming from non-life… which presumably would have had to happen at some point.
I don’t think it’s inappropriate to make comparative studies of genesis theories part of a curriculum. Although, there is no evidence on either side that is conclusive. No chemist has created life from a soup of amino acids, and no ID proponent will ever be able to prove their theory. The chemist’s theory has not been disproven, which still places it in the realm of science. The ID believer can never prove their theory scientifically, it is not testable, and is therefore a philosophy, and incompatible with science. Perhaps a philosophy class could tackle this question more appropriately.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
irate Pirate
Dec 26th, 2007 at 9:38 pm
@ C_Felix…
.
-The moon is made of cheese ?
.
-I KNEW IT !!
.
Paul m.
*
Ramen Crusader
Dec 27th, 2007 at 3:56 pm
The Moon is made of Brie!!!
*
Goat’s cheese I hope :) Absolutely lovely cheese :)))
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
What a wonderful example of the diversity of cultures that make up our Nation. Florida takes the Blue Ribbon, if it be awarded anywhere.
.
On the one hand, we have the space launch center at Cape Canaveral; and on the other hand, we have the Polk and Pinellas County Boards of Education. Where else in the world can one find such a perfect contrast between intelligence and enlightenment and blithering ignorance and stupidity?
.
Of course, one does have to remember that the intelligence and enlightenment are imports from elsewhere in the United States, while the blithering ignorance and stupidity are typical examples of what might be called native, or home grown Floridian.
.
But the ultimate contrast is still priceless.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Oh, how good it is to know believers still fight the good fight against rationality. Here is what I wrote to the four Pinellas County board members:
Dear Board Members of the Pinellas County School District,
I firmly support your courageous stand against teaching evil-ution to your impressionable and easily misled children. I am a devout member of a minority religious group, the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. You may not have heard of our beliefs but they are very sincere and also quite attractive to children who, as we all know, love spaghetti.
It may not be well known, but the term “noodle” is a nick name from the brain, as in “use your noodle.” This phrase descends, we believe, from the way the Flying Spaghetti Monster touched each human at conception and gave them a little meatball of their very own to use for thinking about where it all comes from and what it all means.
I am so glad to hear you will be teaching alternatives to evil-ution and insist that you include our teachings about the Flying Spaghetti Monster in your new, enlightened science classes. Your pupils may not be able to get into college but they will certainly get into Heaven.
Sincerely yours,
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Here’s my letter. Also, note that I’m from Pinellas County, and in fact helped campaign for Peggy O’Shea when she ran in the late 90’s. (I was dating her daughter, but that’s a story for another place and time).
———–
My name is Alexander ********, and I am a former student of the Pinellas County school system. I attended Bauder Elementary, Seminole Middle School, and Largo High School. I just wanted to send you a letter telling you how disappointed I am in the PCSB’s opposition to the new standards of teaching evolution in the classroom.
As a non-Christian student being educated in Pinellas County, I put up with the multitude of “holiday” events being passed my way. I was told that the decorated trees and wreaths in the classrooms and hallways were not religious symbols and that the lone menorah in the administration office counter-balanced it and made it okay. I wasn’t offended by the X-mas music being played on school grounds, or the seeming one-sided greetings of “Merry X-mas” I heard from countless teachers or administrators for 3 months every year. I was able to deal with the disbelieving stares and phone-calls to my parents to verify that I wasn’t skipping school but instead observing Jewish holidays throughout the year. I put up with all of this because I knew that, while I was subjected to religious material, it was not taught to me or delivered to me as fact.
Now I understand that a majority of the governing body of the entire school district believes that a religious theory, Intelligent Design, should be delivered to our children in textbooks and lectures under the guise of education. I realize that many people have strong beliefs on this issue one way or another. I also understand your concern with teaching an unproven theory in the classrooms without a counter-point. I’d like to point out a few other theories taught in the classrooms of Pinellas County have do not have counter-points taught along with them:
General Relativity
Plate Tectonics
Universal Theory of Gravity
As you can see, this short list shows ideas that are taught as fact in our schools, based on overwhelming evidence. I’m not saying I disagree with these facts, just the opposite is true. My Pinellas education has shown me to believe my eyes, and to believe the facts. While I am a religious person, I can not in my mind believe that gravity is just G-d pushing down on me. I refuse to believe that the continents of our planet have moved over thousands of years because a higher being is rearranging his living room.
The thought of omitting BOTH the Intelligent Design and Evolutions theories from our science rooms is even worse. If we omitted material from our classrooms due to controversy, we would still believe the world was flat, blood-letting via leaches was healthy, and thunder was the hammer of Thor when he was angry.
This is not the Pinellas County schools I grew up in. I feel ashamed in my home town and my upbringing now. I have since moved away from the Tampa Bay area, and am serving my country in the US Army, stationed at Fort Benning, GA. At this point, I am glad my children will not have to attend public school in Pinellas, as I cannot see any reason to move back there now.
In closing, I applaud the members of the school board who oppose this position. I think we can all agree to keep religious ideals and discussions out of the science room, and in world religious and socials studies realm where they belong.
Sincerely,
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
@Tim
I wish I could agree with you, as you bring a great point, but alas I have to disagree. While Evolution merely speculates the beginning of species, most ID people are concerned with the beginning of species. Evolution doesn’t explain the beginning at all, but it was Darwin himself who speculated that evolution causes new species to be born, regardless of size. THIS is EXACTLY what ID debates: sure, evolution can affect a proportion of a population of animals, but it it cannot create new species of larger sizes (such as humans), only God can. If anything, ID terribly distorts Evolution.
Furthermore, I heard about an experiment that physically simulated the beginning of earth in a vacuum as best as possible. While my current knowledge of this experiment says they didn’t manage to make a new life out of it, they DID make organic molecular compounds from it. The finding implies that the speculated beginning of earth can create life, as large amounts of organic molecules often leads to new cells. It may not be solid proof, but it’s getting very close.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Letter Sent!
Members of the Pinellas County School Board,
It has come to my attention that you intend to include Intelligent Design in your science curriculum along with the theory of evolution. The following statements are included among your rationale for this decision:
“The entire theory of evolution is not scientific fact. Intelligent design balances it out.” — Nancy Bostock, Chairperson
“I’d probably ideally like to keep it all [evolution and Intelligent Design] out of the classroom. If it’s going to create this much controversy, how important is it?” — Peggy O’Shea, Vice Chairperson
“I think that students should be given the opportunity to view all theories on how man evolved and let their science background and their religious background take over as to which one they believe in. ” — Jane Gallucci, Member
“To teach one [evolution] as if nothing else existed, I think we’re doing our students a disservice.” — Carol Cook, Member
I wholeheartedly agree with these statements. Neither side can be proven, and evolution is offensive to a lot of people. We must teach alternate theories so that our children can be informed. However, given that you are obviously informed about the danger of teaching only evolution in the classroom, I’m surprised that you have chosen to omit other plausible explanations for the origin of species. For instance, the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster believes that all species including humans were deposited on Earth by a Flying Spaghetti Monster. This is a perfectly legitimate theory, which has garnered great support from the scientific community. Despite the best efforts of evolutionists everywhere, it has yet to be disproven. Certainly there is a great amount of evidence to support evolution, but since none of were around to witness this fictional process, we are forced to accept that this evidence was placed there by HIS noodly appendage in order to test our faith. (He’s a tricky fellow.)
Since we, as pastafarians are your brothers in your fight to ensure fairness in the classroom, I trust I can count on your support. I hope that if it comes to a vote of the Pinellas County school board, you will vote to have both Intelligent Design and Pastarific Deposition included in the school curriculum alongside evolution.
Regards,
Brian *****
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
@Alex,
Great letter. However, blood-letting via leaches is an approved F.D.A. treatment used by plastic surgeons among others. Of course not to let out demons.
Sholom, Fellow Member Of The Tribe,
Fizzmick PaChee
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
@ Tar,
I am not familiar with your posts so forgive me if I read your post wrong but it sounds like you are debating the beginning of a species with tim. Although I don’t agree with you on your religious beliefs, you are free to believe what you want. The debate here though is just that, beliefs. Until I.D. can bring something to the table other than belief or faith to support their idea, it has no place in realm of scientific theories founded on years and years of research and testing challenging their validity, or the classrooms they are taught in. Thank you.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the ID guys are heading to Texas!!!!!!!!!!!! We have Bush’s choice as governor and he’s already fired the director of science education in the state for speaking out against ID. Please, Mighty creator of all and all creators and creations, Flying Spaghetti Monster, come to Texas and thump Perry with your noodly appendage!!!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Members of the Pinellas County School Board,
Thank you for trying to teach theories other than evolution in our schools. You are right to stand by your decision. Evolution is not yet an absolute statement, but a theory. I would especially like to thank the following members for their statements:
“The entire theory of evolution is not scientific fact. Intelligent design balances it out.” — Nancy Bostock, Chairperson
“I’d probably ideally like to keep it all [evolution and Intelligent Design] out of the classroom. If it’s going to create this much controversy, how important is it?” — Peggy O’Shea, Vice Chairperson
“I think that students should be given the opportunity to view all theories on how man evolved and let their science background and their religious background take over as to which one they believe in. ” — Jane Gallucci, Member
“To teach one [evolution] as if nothing else existed, I think we’re doing our students a disservice.” — Carol Cook, Member
I can’t agree with you more. Evolution has offended many people, especially when it has not been proven yet. We must teach our children all theories on how men come into being so that they can make a rational decision themselves. If there is anything I object to, however, it is the fact that Intelligent Design seem to be the other “alternative” you are offering, particularly since there is another theory that is currently growing in popularity. Before you decide to change our school’s curriculum, please take some time to read over the materials available at the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.
The church not only provides a theory that is becoming increasingly popular, it also provides many scientific evidence to back up its plans. Therefore, it makes perfect sense that all of us originated from an omnipotent being known as the Flying Spaghetti MonsterI, who created the universe out of his image, and deposited human beings on Earth. Furthermore, despite the best efforst of evolutionists everywhere, it has yet been disproven. On the contrary, there is so much evidence supporting the theory, we can almost say for certain that we are, in fact, created by the Flying Spaghetti Monster.
As a pastafarian, I would very much like to see my religion introduced in our classroom, and I trust that, since the Pinellas County school board would like to give students the opportunity to view all theories on how men come into being, you will also introduce our almighty Flying Spaghetti Monster to our student. Once again, thank you for your efforts to expand our students’ minds, and rest assured that my fellow pastafarians and I will continue to fight for your cause by introducing our supreme being to the world.
Sincerely,
William
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
HELP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! cic is right. Bobby please post the texas situation on the board to alert everyone. I just googled Texas school board and sure enough, another weed of I.D. is attempting to pop up in Texas (State Board, TEA). I say it’s time to employ the FSM brand of weed control in that area before to many others pop up.
RAmen to all!!!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Came across this from Florida…County and State situation..
.
Florida Citizens for Science: Defending and promoting sound science in Florida
“This list is a reference for any and all pro-science activists out there so you can see where you need to concentrate your efforts when it comes to supporting evolution against anti-scientific “other theories.
These are people who have stated they have a problem with teaching evolution without some type of so-called balance…..”
.
http://www.flascience.org/wp/
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Also…not sure if this has already been posted..
.
“ACLU to Florida Board of Education: Don’t Allow Religious Groups to Force Their Beliefs Into Science Classes..Disguising Creationism as Science Would Be Unconstitutional” (FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Tuesday, December 18, 2007)
.
http://www.aclufl.org/news_events/index.cfm?action=viewRelease&emailAlertID=3194&src=rss
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Wow..good to know being that I’m a mother of two children in Pinellas schools.. not too surprising though considering my son comes home from school talking about Jesus. I ask where do you hear this and he responds with “my teacher told me”.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Was sitting in a hospital (!) waiting room yesterday and discovered a great magazine called “Skeptical Inquirer” – many Pastafarians may well have found it already. Anyway, a mid-year issue contained a nice article by a guy who actually debates creationists more or less on-stage; he had many important observations, amongst which were that you’re kind of in a double bind: debating creationisti lends them a sort of legitimacy they really don’t deserve, but NOT debating them proves you’re chicken. He also remarked that they generate more scientific nonsense in a few hours than you can refute in a week. So – be alert and crafty; Pastafarians, smite them with your cutlass hip and thigh – and ass!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
@Apprentice Frederic Dec 31st, 2007 at 7:45 am
“debating creationist lends them a sort of legitimacy they really don’t deserve,”
.
Yep! I’m convinced of paid IDiots whose only job is to keep up the appearances of a *big debate*
They bring up the same fallacies over and over again on the same blog no many how many times their BS is adequately refuted with solid evidence. They change the subject after a solid thrashing, only to bring it up further down the line when they need to change the subject once again! Nothing but an endless circle. PB on the BBC Will & Crawley religion blog and Phillip on the “Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed” are just two that come immediately to mind as dedicated salesmen of *the Big debate*.
.
“but NOT debating them proves you’re chicken.”
.
I don’t think any of them have any serious intentions of convincing rational educated or simple aware objective people. I think they aim at preaching to the choir, (keep the sheep in the flock….lots of reputable easily accessible free info on net), and maybe convincing any ill informed fence-sitters. They basically try to run a popularity contest and it’s all *schoolyard* level at that!
.
Their intention is to vote God in! Why they always exaggerate how many support them. A favourite of mine is when they pull out all the theistic scientists name but neglect to mention how many of them (not affiliated with DI or AiG) adamantly support evolution……kinda pisses them off when you remind them of that :)
.
“He also remarked that they generate more scientific nonsense in a few hours than you can refute in a week.”
.
Yep…in one post even :(
After over a year of dealing with them…they still leave me speechless at the crap they spout. Unfortunately their intended targets have no idea it’s absolute crap! :(
I think the thing is not to let them have the offensive of just trying to pick holes in everything and putting the other side on the defensive. His Noodlyness is a great help there :)
.
They are the ones challenging so they need to present an argument in support of their IDiocy, rather than just trying to attack those they challenge. Just today I read a post trying to argue that evolutionists were only out to put God out of business, so it was therefore them who were the challengers. Fundi logic :p
.
Hail His Noodly Appendages
RAmen
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
@Wench Nikkiee:
I appreciate your note! It sounds like you’ve been in enough serious boarding parties to qualify as a Lady Pirate Captain-ess (you pick the rank). I would be honored as an apprentice to carry your cutlass….
.
And may you be carried into the New Year safe in His Noodly Appendages
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
This is my entry. It pretty much the same as the one I sent to the Polk County school Board with a few tweaks and a paragraph about the CoFSM
—————————————————————————
Dear Members of the Pinellas County School Board
Please forgive me if you receive two copies of this letter, but I felt this issue is important enough that I should send it to the school board email address as well as each of you individually to ensure that you have the opportunity to read it.
I am delighted that you are considering ignoring Judge Jones’ ruling in Kitzmiller v Dover School District on the question of whether teaching Intelligent Design is in violation of the First amendment of our Constitution. As you probably know in that case Judge Jones ruled that :
“The proper application of both the endorsement and Lemon tests to the facts of this case makes it abundantly clear that the Board’s ID Policy violates the Establishment Clause. In making this determination, we have addressed the seminal question of whether ID is science. We have concluded that it is not, and moreover that ID cannot uncouple itself from its creationist, and thus religious, antecedents.”
In short, the judge ruled that Intelligent Design is not science and is so bound in religion that it is the same as teaching religion and therefore violates the first amendment.
But I digress, as I said I am delighted that you have taken up the question of teaching alternative theories to the origin of the universe and couldn’t agree more with Ms. Gallucci when she said “I think that students should be given the opportunity to view all (italics mine) theories on how man evolved and let their science background and their religious background take over as to which one they believe in.” . The operative word here being ‘ALL’.
I believe the reason Judge Jones was able to rule against the Dover District using the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment is because they were only presenting a single alternative faith based theory to evolution. If you do in fact choose to add Intelligent Design to your science curriculum, I would respectfully suggest that you include other theories to avoid conflict with the Establishment Clause of the Constitution of the United States.
While it would be ideal to teach every single theory of the origin of the universe as Ms. Gallucci suggests, we all know how impractical that would be because, well, there are just so darn many. To that end, along with intelligent design, I would suggest that you add these competing theories to your science curriculum : Hindu, Buddhist, Shinto, Native American, Zoroastrian and Wiccan. In addition you should probably include at least some traditional African theories for balance, and please, don’t forget the Dreamtime theories of the Australian Aborigines (one of my favorites). The ‘classic theories’ such as the Greek, Roman and Old Norse can probably be safely ignored as they have so few adherents today that you are not very likely to receive many complaints about their exclusion, but you should check with your legal advisers to be sure.
I would also like to encourage you to examine a new and and exciting theory for your science curriculum: Pastafarianism . In brief this theory states that the universe was created by a Flying Spaghetti Monster in such a way that mimics the scientific data we have collected to support the theories of the big bang and evolution. Pastafarianism is quickly being accepted by many people around the world and I am sure will be considered a mainstream religion in short time. I would like to add that along with offering an alternative explanation for life, the universe and everything, Pastafarianism also offers an alternative theory to the thorny problem of global warming. Followers of the Flying Spaghetti Monster have amassed data that shows a direct correlation between the rise in global temperatures and the decrease in the number of pirates in the world. By teaching Pastafarianism, you can teach alternatives to two established scientific theories at the same time. I am sure you can see the economy of adding Pastafarianism to your curriculum. You can find detailed information about this theory at http://www.venganza.org/. I do hope you will take a moment to learn more about Pastafarianism.
In closing let me once again applaud your courage in ignoring Judge Jones’ ruling and encourage you to continue your quest to teach our children ALL competing theories of the origin of the universe.
Respectfully yours
Nicole XXXXXXX
“There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly
what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear
and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There
is another theory which states that this has already happened.” -
Douglas Adams
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Ug, it just shows their ignorance of things scientific. It always boils down to their lack of understanding of the word theory in the scientific sense.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
These people are right on, but they need to go farther. As a wiccan, I think universal gravitation is only a theory and the Wiccan theory of Intelligent Gravitation ought to be taught. Teach the controversy I say.
Specifically, we could dress physics teachers in wide brimmed floppy conical hats with long flowing black robes. They could put on silly putty noses with several warts (complete with hairs growing out of the warts). And teach that well designed broomsticks and unwavering belief in Wiccanism converys the power of flight to all.
For a final exam, the treachers could find two ten story buildings each with flat roofs, and have the children prove that Einstein and Newton were espousing unproven theory by having the entire class, brooms in hand, step off the roof of one of the buildings and fly to the neighboring roof several hundred feet away.
Imagine the triumph over secular humanistic materialistic science we would have on that day, the day on which gravity was proven to be “only a theory”. There would not be a dry eye in the nation when they heard of the triumph over rationalistic science that the school board had given them.
Teach the controversy!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
@ Daren Niklerog – yes, I got the same, but can reassure whoever it was a few pages back that it isn’t just a canned response – I wrote back after, feeling slightly guilty that the poor innocent admin person was being swamped in what should have been a quiet few days, and received a nice reply stating “Yes, we were hoping for that winding down time after the assignment plan issue – but, I do what needs to be done! Merry Christmas to you and yours.”
.
Has anybody heard any more substantial follow up yet?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
This morning (in Australia) is the first time I have visited your site.
Have you thought about extending your parody to include an attack on the teaching of Intelligent Weather alongside Meteorology?
In the UK last year when storms caused flodding in Yorkshire, a Bishop publicly lamented that god’s wrath in sending the floods had to do with the diminution of religious belief in the UK and that country’s acceptance of gays.
I emailed a letter to the good Bish. of Carlisle detailing about 12 or so biblical quotes that indicate the different forms of weather attributed to god.
It may behoove you guys to include weather patterns that can be attributed to FSM as a foil against the christians who hold the same view as the good Bish.Is it worth a thought?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
HaHaHa,
here in Europe we are laughing at those crazy ideas some American people have. HaHaHa, it must be a joke to include ID in the school teaching.
It can’t be true, noway.
We teach Science 100% separated from Religion. In the future we are planning to REPLACE “Religion” in school with “Human Relation Knowledge”.
To the Schoolboard: All people of your great country (USA) is only 5% of the world-population. Still 95% think ID is a joke and a repacked creationist stupidity.
Take care, I love your contry and plan to spend 3 weeks in it for vacation, but NOT in Florida.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
This is the letter I sent:
Good day Ms. Bostock. I am writing in response to your comments in the St. Petersburg Times, where you stated, when asked to comment on the specific mention of evolution in the new science standards to be voted on this February, “The entire theory of evolution is not scientific fact. Intelligent design balances it out.” Ms. Bostock, I couldn’t agree more and I applaud you for taking a stand on this issue.
Evolution is a theory. It is well established, peer-reviewed, so far verified and is accepted by the vast majority of the scientific community, but it still remains just that: a theory. Theories are not 100% fact and should not be threated as such. And that’s my biggest criticism of the scientific method- if you can’t say that something is 100% guarenteed to be true, why bother? Intelligent design answers all of our questions easily- the designer did it! A Christian will say that it was God, an Arab can call the designer Allah, etc. This makes intelligent design so beautiful: there are so many different versions of it!
If you will continue fighting the liberal media and the snobby scientific elite in the name of unbiased science and giving our students a choice, you will have done a great service to America. We’re a democracy, why can’t we let the people decide for themselves what the scientific truth is? But, because science is a democracy, we’ll need multiple viewpoints to be decided on. Evolution, intelligent design, and a third excellent theory known as Flying Spaghetti Monsterism. This theory, which I have decided is the scientific truth, states that the Flying Spaghetti Monster (FSM) created the universe, the mountains, the trees, and the midgits. He created the universe a mere 5000 years ago, but because He is mischievous, He uses his Noodly Appendage to alter the data we think we are empirically observing. I believe that FSMism is the truth. Try to disprove it: you can’t! All your ‘evidence’ against it is only there because the FSM wants you to think that! With a theory so unfalsifiable and therefore true, surely you must agree that students are being done a disservice by not being taught it.
In conclusion, thank you for taking the time to hear my views and beliefs. I hope I was able to convey the importance of teaching this theory to your students. The Church of the Flying Spagheti Monster 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,
J.D. Hutton
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
@Pontius Pirate
Nice letter, thanks for sending.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I am actually a student in Pinellas County and I am appalled by the mere mention that Intelligent Design should be taught in schools. They will not actually be teaching Creation “Science” but Christian Creationism. I can only hope that this intellectual atrocity will be shot down iin our fine system of government.
Don’t pray in my school and I won’t think in your church.
RAmen
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
@Esan – Florida has a fine system of government? Where do they hide it?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Since I have been shut out of registration despite my love for all things pasta, I am using this response as my only available means to start a new campaign. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board is considering granting some sort of recognition to an anti evolutionist religious outfit.. See my correspondence below.
Everybody – Get on their case!! The email address for the individual who responded to me is DeJ.Lozada@thecb.state.tx.us
Message:
Dear Mr. xxxxx:
Thank you for your comments to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
Please find below a link to information that should prove useful. After reviewing the material, please feel free to contact us with further comments and questions.
We are all stakeholders in ensuring the highest standards of excellence for our students and higher education professionals throughout the state, and as such, applaud you for your involvement in this process. We welcome your feedback at any time.
Sincerely, De Juana Lozada Asst. Communications Director Office of External Relations Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/AAR/PrivateInstitutions/
NOTE: Scroll to bottom of page.
You wrote:
The Institute for Creation Research is clearly, by the declarations on their website, a religiously based group intent on propagandizing against the well established Theory of Evolution. To grant them any authorization to award academic degrees would give credibility to their position and advance the real possibility of their adherants undermining science education in Texas and elsewhere.
There is no scientific controversy about the fact of evolution. The claim of the Creation Research Institute to “present both sides” is empty.
They deserve no degree granting authority. The internet has enough diploma mills churning out questionable degrees.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I wrote to the members of the Pinellas County School Board urging them not to neglect teaching of FSM’ism in schools.
I received this reply:
Dear Shane Sody,
Over the past few weeks we have received several emails about the article written in the St. Petersburg Times. While I have chosen not to respond to everyone I do want to clarify one issue. A St. Petersburg Times reporter called and asked our opinions and then wrote the article.
We as a Board have not had this discussion, nor are we going to discuss this curriculum. It is the state that will tell us what the curriculum will be and we will make sure it is taught.
Thank you for taking the time to share your concerns,
Carol Cook
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
This is the letter I sent
Dear Pinellas county school board,
I would first like to applaud you on your support of alternative theories to evolution. To many “scientists” are trying to make this theory seem like fact. While supporting Intelligent Design is an important first step, there is still more work to be done. ID is not the only alternative to evolution, after all. Another popular theory is the FSM theory of intelligent design. For those unfamiliar with FSM, this theory states that a Flying Spaghetti Monster created the universe, and that pirates are his chosen people. Their is numerous evidence for this theory, all conveniently compiled at http://www.venganza.org. I would give some examples , but I fear loading this email with evidence would make it far too long. I will instead allow you to peruse the evidence yourselves at the aforementioned website.
Ramen,
Tony Russo, concerned student
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
“As a scientist, I’d like to say that the currently accepted scientific theory is evolution. But, some competing ideas have been proposed, such as ID and FSMism, and discussion to include one should include the other, as these ideas are equally valid.“
– Mark Zurbuchen, Ph.D.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Only “several” e-mails? However, that does at least sound reasonably positive. As long as the state doesn’t tell them ID should be included, anyway.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
@ Landlubber- I was being sarcastic
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Ok, I agree totally with this mail i wish I heard about this stuff before you guys so I could beat you to it in spreading the word about the FSM. I want to clear up one thing with some of these posters who are apparently 5 years old and have never been inside a school in their lives: The definition of a scientific theory is proven beyond doubt. Some of you say that is not true, a law is proven beyond doubt. A law is a physics theory proven beyopnd all doubt. A theory is irrefutable, backed by so much evidence that no matter how many of your stupid holy books tell us otherwise the facts will not change.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0