JT of the Missouri State University Pastafarians has told me about some troubling discrimination.
The MSU campus is displaying a Holiday Tree and Menorah – but requests to put up a FSM Holiday display were denied, then false hurdles put in place, and now it seems that communication is being ignored.
It should be noted that Pastafarians are an officially recognized student organization at MSU, with the support of many of MSU’s finest faculty members.
It seems clear that the denial of the FSM display is due to the Dean of the Humanities Dept. and building coordinator, Dr. Lorene Stone.
The display is spectacular, and tasteful by anyone’s standards.
Take a look:
JT and MSU Chemistry professor Dr. Mark Richter have documented their correspondence with Dean Stone. It’s an extremely interesting read; everyone should take a look: JT’s blog post about this.
A note to Dean Stone: you’re running a school, NOT a religious organization. It’s not your place to push your personal beliefs on anyone, nor is it your place to reject beliefs that you don’t subscribe to or take seriously. Jesus would not approve of what you’re doing.
–UPDATE —
It seems the MSU administration is unwilling to discuss the matter. Dean Stone’s most recent correspondence said “I am VERY busy and do not have time to continue this e-mail dialogue with you.”
MSU President Dr. Michael Nietzel has been notified of the issue.
We need your help. We’d like the administration to get a sense of the number of people concerned about this issue. If you choose to write the administration with your views, PLEASE be courteous and respectful. The issue here is equality, not whether Pastafarianism is better than any other belief system.
Dr. Lorene Stone:
lorenestone@missouristate.edu
417-836-5529
Dr. Michael T. Nietzel:
President@missouristate.edu
Thanks for your help.
– UPDATE 2 –
I’ve been forwarded some replies by MSU President Dr. Michael Niezel, which, if accurate, indicate that the administration offered to allow the Pastafarian display to be placed in a different building.
I would like to know why the Pastafarian display is not allowed to be placed next to the other religious displays.
I believe Dr. Stone made the decision to deny the placement of the Pastafarian display based on her biased personal views, and that her decision is being upheld by the administration above her for political reasons.
My view is that a building administrator who allows a Christian and Jewish display, but denies a Pastafarian display has acted inappropriately.
What do you think? Is it enough to be allowed to place the display in another building?
what is your problem?
a flying spaghetti monster?
there is a reason no one recognizes it
its totally unbelieveable
and makes no sense whatsoever
seriously
OMG A FLYING SPAGHETTI MONSTER
its a new religion called christian
you know, god
jesus
cant you be like everyone else?
@whatever:
The reason we all like this faith so much is that we refuse to be retard conformists that will follow anything we see, we like to be ourselves and our religion, unlike yours, allows us to be ourselves.
screw u! wth? its called freedom of religion! you are in the USA! omfsm! wth is up wit this “god” guy, anywaY?
ALL religions are made up…..they are ALL fabrications. The fact that pastafarianism appears silly or daft is irrelevant because ALL religions are extremely silly. Whats the difference between an invisible spaghetti monster and any other form of invisible super being that cannot be proved? The answer is absolutely obvious……there is no difference at all. If you cannot grasp this basic level of logic then you are a deeply unintelligent person. Please note that this is NOT an insult as it is actually a factual statement (ie if you cannot understand basic logic then you ARE unintelligent afterall).
Therefore the FSM holiday display should be put up alongside the other equally “silly” displays. Putting it in a seperate building is totally annacceptable and the decision should be strongly and constantly opposed until the decision is changed. If the administrator said that the christian display must be put in a seperate building then there would be absolute chaos!! No-one would dare risk slandering the christian faith so why should they get away with doing it to pastafarians?! Stand up for your rights!!
=== “whatever” wrote:
OMG A FLYING SPAGHETTI MON
STER
its a new religion called christian
you know, god
jesus
cant you be like everyone else?
=== i replied:
all things are relative. islam is “newer” than christianity. can i be like everyone else? yes. i just choose to think for myself.
=== look at it from the other side
OMFSM GOD, JESUS
its a new religion called Pastafarianism
you know, Flying Spaghetti Monster
cant you be like everyone else?
===
looks silly, doesn’t it? now (maybe) you see how i view organized religions.
@whatever
And a zombie who, if you eat his flesh and drink his blood (literally if you’re Catholic) and telepathically tell him that you accept him as your master and would do anything he says, will save you from the end of the Earth that his father/he is causing?
Yeah, makes a lot more sense than a Flying Spaghetti Monster.
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