The Tampa Tribune reports the Polk County School Board was caught by surprise by the widespread response to their interest in Intelligent Design. They have decided not to pursue the teaching of Intelligent Design.
I suppose it’s a victory for science, but I was optimistic about Polk County being the first to introduce Pastafarian theories into the curriculum.
The article by Billy Townsend is titled “Polk Needled, Noodled in Evolution Flap“.
Public floggings hurt, even when administered by satirical sacred noodles.
Ask the Polk County School Board. The panel made news last month when five of its seven members declared a personal belief in the concept of intelligent design, the religiously based explanation of the development of life believed in by many Christians.
Four of those five sympathetic board members said they would like to see intelligent design taught in Polk schools as an alternative to Darwinian evolution, at a time when new state standards mentioning evolution by name for the first time are under consideration.
Just like that, it appeared the Darwin wars had found their newest battlefield.
Yet a few weeks later, the controversy is dying with a whimper. There’s no board support for a challenge to the proposed standards. Some of the five school board members blame the local newspaper for trying to start a fight.
“It’s not our agenda,” said Tim Harris, one of the board members. “My personal opinion and how I vote don’t always jibe.”
What happened? You can start with the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.
The satirical religious Web site asserts that an omnipotent, airborne clump of spaghetti intelligently designed all life with the deft touch of its “noodly appendage.” Adherents call themselves Pastafarians. They deluged Polk school board members with e-mail demanding equal time for Flying Spaghetti Monsterism’s version of intelligent design.
“They’ve made us the laughingstock of the world,” said Margaret Lofton, a school board member who supports intelligent design.
It’s an excellent article. I’m even quoted a couple times. I admit it sounds like I’m against the inclusion of supernatural theories in science, which would include Pastafarian beliefs as well as Intelligent Design, but I assure you my statements are part of a larger strategy of some sort, in the best interest of Pastafarianism.
Here’s the article, enjoy!
Ramen to all!
Not good not good
how can young ppl with no knowledge about the FSM learn about intelligent falling or the truth about global warming :(
It’s indeed a sad day for the youth of america :(:(:(:(:(
I don’t know whether I should react sarcastically, or honestly…
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But I do believe we need to make an apology for making the issue too big.
Woot! Go us!
RAmen.
does this count as a victory over intelligent design, or a failure for unintelligent design?
More proof of His Divine Existence!
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As we all know, the FSM works hard to hide any evidence of his existence. The fact that another school board has been dissuaded from teaching His noodly story is further proof of His presence.
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Or is it?
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OEJ
““They’ve made us the laughingstock of the world,” said Margaret Lofton”
Like they weren’t already.
hurrah!
Heh, heh, heh, it shows the power of His Noodly appendages! :)))
It appears that his Noodlyness has touched us with his appendage just in time to celebrate chriFSMas!!
On to Pinnellas County. Ramen to all!!!
Great!
I’m proud to have done my part in preserving science standards around the country.
RAmen!
I love this!! The CoFSM may have lost much of its appeal to many of the ‘old guard’ posters because of the moderation, but this is still unbe-asskicking-lieveably sweet! In the words of one of histories great men (and early Pastafarian, I have been told) Winston Churchill:
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“This was the CoFSMs finest hour.”
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A RAmen to that, our greatest hour sofar at least. With hopefully still greater to come.
I’m sad they misinterpreted our incessant stream of e-mails as “satirical” and “mocking” when we only had the best interest of their students in mind. Their students NEED to learn about the Flying Spaghetti Monster! There’s nothing wrong with being fair.
Hahahahahaha!!!! We win!!! And sorry, Ms. Lofton, but I agree with CatholicLiberal–you did a good job making yourselves laughingstocks all on your own. And to Mr. Harris, stop playing politics. You *were* in support of *teaching* ID in the science classroom, and not just believing in it personally. Here’s hoping Pinellas County wises up as well. Merry ChrisFSMas to you all!
They must find it difficult…
Those who have taken authority as the truth,
Rather than truth as the authority.
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WOW…another victory for common sense & critical thought !!
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FSMism is empowerment…thanks Bobby.
Now its off to Pinellas county !!
Victory!!!
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JT
Wohooooooo!!
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Oh, and, Tar…I will so not apologize, you can do it if you want.
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Hahahahahahaha as I always say…Elightment!
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God will so not be proud of them…Didn-t they throw their beliefs over the window when they decided that their carrier and what other people say was more important than the so-called god? Aren-t they supposed to keep preaching what they belief even when other people make fun of them, just like Jesus did when he was mocked by the Romans when he was preaching that he was the son of God. For fuck-s sake, he even died.
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Hyprocrits!
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By the way sorry for the dashes, I just couldn-t find the fucking apostrophe in this computer.
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Ramen and ramshank!
@all: So happy to be a tiny bit of al dente in this piratical, pastafarian siblinghood (?). An extremely merry chriFSMas to you! I have so much enjoyed the privilege of being a communicant in the Church. FSM touch us, one and all….
oh well… And I was really hoping for a school to teach about His Spaghettideity.
True, we were unsuccessful in getting FSMism taught in Polk County schools. But as long as 700 club viewers serve on school boards, we will continue to have more chances spread His Noodly Deliciousness.
And there is nothing like a public controversy like this to bring future Pastafarians to our site, or better yet to read Our Prophet’s Gospel.