Okay, so I know you’re probably not even going to read this, but I had to express myself.
First, a bit of my religious background. I was raised a Baptist, slowly came to realize that I didn’t believe a word the Bible says, and became Wiccan for two years. Then I had a “long dark night of the soul,” more commonly known as existential crisis, during the course of which I became agnostic. However, my closest friends are two devoted Catholics, an atheist, and another Wiccan. I do not make fun of or demean their beliefs, and they do not make fun of or demean me. None of us attempt to convert anyone, although we are willing to share information if asked for it. I am not sure what I think about the Kansas School Board issue, as it concerns the definition of science as well as faith, but I do know that even if I do not agree with some of my friends, I would never tell them they are being illogical.
Recently at my college, a spoken word artist performed. He was also agnostic, and one poem he wrote in particular spoke to me. He compared God to Diet Coke, saying that Diet Coke helps him get through the hard times in the same way that God helps others. So why take that away from people? The majority of Christians aren’t hurting anyone, are they? If their beliefs help them get through their lives without the despair I feel everyday due to my doubts, why ridicule them for it?
If you have actually read all this, thank you for your time. A reply, if you have time to write one, would be appreciated, but you do not have permission to repost my words anywhere.
Sincerely,
Z.E.
I can’t see why Z.E. would write us? Is he/she mocking our religion? We haven’t said anything bad about anyone. We just want to live with our beliefs in peace. RAmen.
Ps. “…but you do not have permission to repost my words anywhere.” That’s a bit naive, considering the huge hate-mail section.
That’s messed up. He/She was respectful and asked not to be published and you did anyway. If it was some wackjob saying “fuck you heathens” every 12 words that would be one thing, but this was a more articulate criticism, come on Henderson.
In response, FSMism is a direct result of the Kansas School Board thing. It IS NOT an issue of Science and Faith as you say. The IDers tried to make Faith an issue of Science alone. Inserting Faith into the Science classroom is not acceptable, Science has standards, and everything must be testable, observable, and requires evidence.
The reason FSM promotes ridicule is because it is a powerful tool. Atheism has stood silent far too long as Christianity has taken a strangle hold on America, the Kansas thing made us realize just how far it has gone and it’s time to fight back. That is all.
God has been shoved in my face for so long that I can do nothing but knock it, he, she, them. (depending on your particular delusion) You may not attempt to convert, but the OVERWHELMING majority of fundies in this world are doing just that, in our public schools, our streets and now our places of government. The more you sit back and say “its not that bad” the worse it will get. WAKE UP YOU LITTLE LAMB. sorry for the rant.
RAMEN
Diet Coke really is a good comparison for being an agnostic. Much like god, the coke poisons people. Drinking Diet, like sitting on the fence of religion, still poisons you, but has a different name and a different taste.
yep we aren’t going to read it… :P
So are you saying that God and Diet Coke are equal, or that we should make fun of Diet Coke? I think that you don’t get what Pastafarianism is all about. Its about the truth. We are not trying to “hurt” people, but instead tell them that there is another way. Follow the FSM.
They are not hurting peoeple? Have you ever heard of the Crusades, The spanish inquisition, the salem witch trials?
The fact of the matter is that we live in a society where church and state are supposed to be divided, but at the same time xtian lunatics intent on saving the unwilling creep more and more into our secular society.
And the fact of the matter is we are done with all their hypocritical ways. They preach forever about their morals, and the great things they have done, but at the same time they violate their own damn commandments. Supposed holy men molesting little boys! and then because faith is waining the church goes out and protects these monsters because they are short handed.
If i want bad life advice from a hypocrite i would rather take it from some harmless spaghetti than a Hypocritical monster!
If the world was divided into people who have faith and never do crimes, and atheists that do nothing but break the law i would try to convert the entire world in a heartbeat. But it’s not that way!
When was the last time you saw an atheist:
Blow up a building?
Hijack a plane?
Start a holy war?
Faith doesn’t make you a good person.
Hmm…not too bad, but Z.E. doesn’t stick to the topic….FSM is about not mixing faith with science. Anything else is a matter of someone’s perception. That’s what I think……