This is one of the greatest things to happen in the history of Pastafarianism. The Cumberland County Courthouse lawn in Crossville, Tennessee now features an enormous statue of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Behold:
This was the work of Ariel Safdie and her brother David, and it is spectacular. I am sure that everyone who sees it will feel Touched.
Statement at Installation Ceremony
We are lucky enough to live in a country that allows us, its citizens, the freedom of speech. I have chosen to put up a statue of the Flying Spaghetti Monster to represent the discourse between people of all different beliefs. The many faiths, ethnicities and backgrounds of Cumberland County’s residents make our community a stronger richer place. I respect and am proud that on the people’s lawn, the county courthouse, all of these diverse beliefs can come together in a positive dialogue. Here, we are all able to share the issues close to our hearts whether it is through a memorial to the soldiers killed fighting for our country, the Statue of Liberty honoring our nations welcoming promise to all, a group’s fight to stop homelessness, or powerful symbols of faith. I greatly treasure this open forum between everyone in the community.
The Flying Spaghetti Monster is a pile of noodles and meatballs, but it is meant to open up discussion and provoke thought. Being able to put up a statue is a celebration of our freedom as Americans; a freedom to be different, to express those differences, and to do it amongst neighbors -— even if it is in a noodley way.
Here’s a television news report of the display:
“Our message is freedom of speech, freedom of religion” — Well Said! All Pastafarians should feel fortunate at having such a fine ambassadors for our cause.
I strongly suggest that everyone check out Ariel’s site, itlovesyou.blogspot.com. You’ll find the whole story behind the statue, pictures of the build, and updates as they happen.
Here are a some more pictures:
Thank you very much Ariel - you did an amazing job. Please let me know if you need funding for a Beer Volcano.
Update: cnet news.com has picked up the story here.
Good I saw this article the other day and was hoping you saw it as well. We all need to live in a fair and balanced city like this. I just wonder how long until the Jesus nuts(hardcore christians) whine and cry about this.
This is fantastic! Thanks to David Safdie and his sister.
Absolutely amazing. I’m glad to see that everyone’s so open in this community. I wanna move there!
Fantastic. That is the most awesome thing I have seen in a long time- Ramen.
thank you for being alive, awake and using your brain. It feels good to meet the presence of others who strive to enjoy the short life we have.
I would not enjoy living my whole life thinking it sucks, and waiting for a magical being to take off the shackles and grant my freedom, nor to lay in fear, that I may soon face am eternal unjust punishment from tha “all-loving” creator.
your sculpture is pretty.
-gaz
WHOOO, and were finally not being hacked as well right? What a great community, and who cares if the jesus nuts start to whine, if they take down our display, they have to take down their jesus! (R)Amen
It is fantastic that they are open to such displays, but gloating over how it will piss off the Christians kind of ruins the message. I enjoy the church of the FSM because of it’s no dogmatic ways and it’s support of freedom and tolerance, but it seems that many people use it to attack other faiths. I feel this undermines the message it sends and makes this church no better than the fundamentals and fanatics of other world religions. In the end it will be freedom and forgiveness that will bring people of all faiths together and end the thousands of years of bloodshed in whatever deities name. There is truth in all religions, to throw that out because you don’t like what they have become is a terrible waste, and to judge someone based on their faith is exactly what got us here in the first place. Peace brothers and sisters, and Ramen.
Awesome! Check out my (and my b/f’s) Noodly creation:
http://atheisthussy.blogspot.com/2008/03/noodly-appendages-licorice-style.html
I saw the picture earlier, but i didn’t know what it was about or where. I cannot express my pleasure to find it in front of a courthouse and publicly sanctioned. WE BEAT THE TEN COMMANDMENTS!
i truly felt touched
Peace,love& pirates
-RAmen
That is wonderful. Absolutely wonderful…
I’m speechless.
RAmen
I like the statue i think it really shows off the noodly appendeges and meatballs well
It shows our noodly creator off really well
It shows off the FSM off very well
Wow! Some people have a lot of time on their hands. But I guess it is the work of the devine noodly intervention inspiring these works of art to get the one true religion out there!
That is awesome!
May the FSM bless this town.
Rob,
You should correct something in your post. While David did help with the art, Ariel is the prime-mover, blog owner/writer, and named party in the display application.
Ramen!
I thought you might enjoy the most recent post on my blog: Paul the Pastafarisee: http://exploringourmatrix.blogspot.com/2008/04/paul-pastafarisee.html
Feel free to link to it from your site, if you like it. Or to denounce it as an unacceptable departure from Pastafarian orthodoxy… :)
Well said, Balthazar! If this keeps up, I can envision a day when there will be “fundamentalist” Pastafarians. I hope I am enjoying the beer volcano and stripper factory by then.
.
RAmen
PS Fact is, if more so-called Pastafarians would actually read our Sacred Text, they might TRULY be touched by His Noodly Appendage and change their ways for the better. At least read the Eight I’d Really Rather You Didn’ts and follow them.
This is the coolest guy ever, let him live as long as possible, that judge rules.
Ah yes! I actually know the Safdie’s and I know Crossville very well. What you DON’T see is the enormous carved wood “Last Supper” that sat in front of the same courthouse for MONTHS. We put birthday party hats on all of them in the middle of the night. :-)
It’s magnificent! I do hope weather doesn’t knock off any oh his appendages.
FSM-
Yesterday my friend came up to me adn said”Wanna know what my religion is?” Curious I said sure what are you. He then told me the craziest thing Ive ever heard”Pastafarian.” Immediately I shouted “Thats not a religion!” He continued to tell me the story of a man who wanted to make a religion, was turned down because he didnt have enough followers. He asked if the people beleived in giant pink fuzzy monsters, would it be a religion and the government said..Yeah sure. So he came up with a religion that believes in ginat flying spahghetti monsters. I still refused to belvie hima nd said I’ll look it up online, google knowns all. I coudnt belvie it but here I am.On a site all for Flying spahghetti monsters. Hey, maybe i should amke a GIG Religion-Google is God. Hehe,
:)
Ok, this just sounds like the coolest thing ever. Im going to convert! Where can i sign up?
Today, a courthouse in Tennesee, tomorrow the world!
Hooray for the spread of Pastafarianism! RAmen.
A real pity its April 1st ?
–Quinta
Ah progress. The courts are FINALLY moving towards logic.
Good show everyone, and RAmen to you all.
what’s really amazing is the reasonably straight face of the news anchor lady while she talked about it.
I think she’s a believer, but secretly. Check out the knowing glint in her eye.
ct
I think they could have used lasers and some fireworks, anyway, the meatballs were depicted accurately.
I don’t suppose that fundamentalist pastafarians would consider me a heretic if I said it needs more marinara sauce?
Article got farked!
RAmen.
A pirate friend of mine told me about FSM and all of his noodly goodness! I now feel compeled to educate everyone I meet about FSM.
Maybe I am not worthy of noodles. I love the statue. But I never thought of fsm as being a “religion” of tolerance so much as a wonderful, satirical, response or critique of it.
While the mainstream reaction is general condemnation or ridicule rather than intellectual I cannot give religion a free pass for all it’s inanities.
Wow, recently the Vatican put its first church in Qatar http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/Religion/?id=1.0.2025120577 and now we have his Noodley Holiness in the Bible-belt. We are finally seeing progress with religious freedom.
Are we going to start saying non-FSM humans are going to eternal hell? It tends to boost membership numbers!
Dear Pastafarians,
Basil Baxter Loves You. It warms Basil Baxter’s heart to see so many people in the thrall of this One True Friend that you have in the Flying Spaghetti Monster. But Basil Baxter fails to see how this Flying Spaghetti Monster deserved a statue. After all; statues are awarded to people who kill people, as it should be. How many people has this Flying Spaghetti Monster killed? No counting people choking in restaurants please, accidental deaths do not count.
@ StephyPoo
Well - Google IS god. I have a button on my computer marked “god” and when I push it it takes me to Google. Google is always there, comes as close to knowing everything as I could want, and when I ask a question I get a useful answer every time. Better than most other gods out there (except, of course, the FSM).
.
Really - there is an online Church of Google. It’s easy to find the website. Just Google it!
.
RAmen
Did you notice the Invisible Pink Unicorn statue right across it? :P
I did. It was well done.
Excellent. Finally our religion will be noticed. A banner day for all PastaFarians. May his noodley appendages bless us all :)
Praise FSM!
This might be the best thing ever, and I’m not even a Pastafarian!
I can assure you Crossville is anything but a fair and balanced city. I’m from than town, and was in Ariel’s graduating high school class. The flying spaghetti monster created such an uproar in the community, the courthouse demanded all “Freedom of Speech” displays removed. I guess the only way to keep the peace is to support government that can suppress our rights.
Wait, where is it now? And all the other statues? We went through Crossville today and stopped to see the FSM, but it was gone–all the statues were gone. I asked about it at a gas station and the attendant had no idea what I was talking about. What’s up??
@Limpy99:
At the least, you’re an honorary Pastafarian.
I am really disappointed to hear that the statue is gone. I saw the news report above when it aired locally and emailed all of my friends about it. I only live about an hour and a half from Crossville and have been planning to stop by next time I pass through on my way to Nashville. Please let us know if it is installed elsewhere.
Someone told me this weekend that they had heard that there had been some controversy about it but could offer no details. Knowing this area as I do, my presumption is that some good christian soul took it upon themselves to protect the community by suppressing the freedoms of expression and religion and defaced or destroyed it.
I hope not.