Received this last night…
I was only aware of the FSM today while in my Biology and society class for 1st year medical science at Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia. Up untill today did i not relise that Americans where still believing in the ‘eye evidence’ for ID, it has been long proven that the eye was indeed evolved in parts which can be seen gastropods (may not be actual spelling).
As i was surfing your site the hate mail section caught my eye, the lecturer, who, by the way is a priest, was talking about how most of the people who wrote hate mail to you are illiterate, angry and quite often murderous. Well naturally i had to take a look! One such writter caught my eye, not only did they refer to the ‘eye evidence’ but also to a soup can analogy. I myself am a roman catholic but even I at an early age realised flaws in the bible, indeed i am a very strong supporter of evolution and all things scientiffic (testable and tentative) and have dabbled into the world of string theory, (although not enough to comment on the topic).
It is alarming that the richest and most technological country (the U.S.A) has i significant proportion (25%) of the population that refuses to believe in evolution and even 12% that dont believe the world is round! Your struggle to bring sense to the world is not unheard and the way in which you are doing it is briliant to say the least. It begs the question of whether a standard definition of science is needed, one that not only the scientific community can use but the general community (like the people who do not know the difference between theory in every day speech and theory in science). so if a catholic and a baptist priest can see the difference whats wrong with the great country of America?
P.S your hard lined baptists are crazy nutters ie that family who protests at troops funerals
your biggest catolic fan, Big Kev
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Good message, but there’s a point where I draw the line:
“and even 12% that dont believe the world is round!”
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We’re stupid, but we aren’t THAT stupid.
RAmen
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right on Kev!
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first off, I’m pretty sure less than 1% of people dont believe the earth is round, so I dont know where you got that information. Also, that baptist church your thinking about is the Westboro Baptist church. ya, they are crazy, but they do it for attention. and most of the people in it are of the founders family anyway, so its not like theres a lot of those retards.
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Hey Kev,
Though I am a raging atheist (of the Judo-Christian god), an apathetic agnostic (don’t know, don’t care) concerning the existence of some other nebulous kind of god, and a deeply religious Pastafarian, I have to admit that most Baptists are perfectly nice people, who despise the so-called Baptist “Westboro Baptist Church” just as much as any other even slightly sane person does. Most baptists can be kind of hardline in their beliefs, but they would never act like that. I know it is an embarrassment to them that those sick people call themselves Baptists.
And you, as a Catholic should know that you can be a Pastafarian too. The Noodly One does not require that you believe in him. Look up the 8 I’d Really Rather You Didn’ts on Wikipedia
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This country was settled by fundies called puritans, who unfortunately bred, so today we have all these religious nutters. They are very efficient at indoctrinating their spawn, and rarely can education, logic, reason, or evidence overcome this indoctrination. In moments of clarity, some have felt His Noodly Appendages, but most of the nutters are content to remain semi-literate, clueless whack jobs. Unfortunately one of these got elected president.
Welcome to America.
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Haha… Last time I envisioned the stripper volcano, string theory involved a game of cat-and-mouse with a lady.
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Kev,
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Thanks for the encouragement. It is truly sad to live in an America that is so backward, not only in science but in so many other ways, as well.
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You are fortunate to live in Australia, where apparently even religious followers believe in science. It’s a whole different story in the USA, which used to be progressive, but now I fear is sinking into ignorance and religious dogma. Thanks for supporting the Pastafarians!
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Hey man, thanks. But for future reference, you misused “beg the question”. I think you meant, “raise the question”. Very different.
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I’m not going to comment of the whole of the mail – but one line stood out:
“It is alarming that the richest and most technological country (the U.S.A)…”
“Riches” only in the sense of “the one of the biggest with the most money” – that’s okay. But “most technological” – in what way? The country with most electric equipment (because of it’s size)?
If you ask around the world what country people considers to be the most “technological” country – many would answer Japan or maybe even Switzerland. Some would answer Sweden. But I doubt that many outside of the US in any way can see USA as a technological country.
That so many people in USA thinks of USA as the “greatest”, “the most free”, “the most technological”, “the richest” + more, country in the world (while this not being the case for most other countries) can be explained by looking at the extreme nationalism (patriotism) in USA. This I then link to the extreme number of religious people, people who don’t people in evolution and people being narrow minded.
Don’t get me wrong. Many Americans are good people (whatever that does mean) and many are also technological, intelligent and have great world views. But even more don’t fit this – and see “God” and “USA” as being superior this anything and anyone else. This is a problem – maybe even bigger then the many fundamentalistic religious people in the world.
“Nationalism and religion – the two biggest evils of our world today, as well as any day”
– Halfdan Reschat
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Damn now i can see all my spelling mistakes haha
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You know, we do occasionally need reminding that not all Christians are rabid, illiterate, bible thumping eejits. It’s just that these tend to make the most noise. We do need reminding that looking at things through the Internet is like pointing a magnifying glass at the various strange components of human nature and enlarging them to a far greater extent than their accomplishments warrant.
As illustrated by Kev, most Christians do know the difference between a book inspired by God and a book dictated word for word by God, with appropriate corrections applied if the silly human makes mistakes. As they know the difference between “knowing” and “believing”.
Just as Christians need to know that we Atheists do realise that many of the concepts in the Bible make perfect sense in context, illustrating brilliantly the way that human minds work, where they can go wrong and how to guard oneself against that happening.
Just ignore the bits about the dead-then-alive-again, and bearded-man-on-a-cloud-pointing-and-there-we-are.
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Twelve percent that don’t believe the world is round? WTF?
I have never wanted to be Canadian more desperately than I do now…
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You know henderbob, we should have a section for respect mail as well as hate mail, this is in no way hate mail, Kev here agrees with us, so why don’t you create a section to put the mail that does not qualify as “hate” if you were to do this it would make more sense and all would be slightly better, please consider it.
RAmen to all
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Thank you, that is so refreshing. We always truly appreciate thanks from anyone, especially when we can help bring people together, thank you.
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The most recent millenarian tradition (Left Behind et al) was invented in America less than a hundred years ago. It’s reasonable that it would be more pronounced there.
Do we know enough about the demographics of Pastafarians to say where most of them are from?
PS: I used to mis-use the phrase “begs the question” all the time. I have since learned that a statement begs a question when it ignores that question entirely, or assumes one answer or another to it. If I say “Where are we going out to eat?” then I am begging the question “Would we like to go out to eat?” and “Are we hungry?”
But anyway, kev’s “standard definition of science” sounds a lot like more comprehensive and universal science education. Including, of course, alternative but equivalent hypotheses as they arise, like Pastafarianism to Natural Selection. In which case, I agree!
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RAmen! May you be touched by His Noodly Appendage, Big Kev!
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A most al dente post, Big Kev. Cheers!
Whats wrong with the great country of America? Where to begin…
Our political figurehead is a fool, our education system is as efficient and refined as a turd,
corporate interests own our politicians, and misguided zealots that refuse to embrace new ideas.
I feel our country is becoming the living stereotype of a bunch of hillbillies hanging out on the front
porch with a bible, a rifle, and a mouthful of tobacco chew. We’re grooming our children to be lazy and embrace a culture of victimhood and excuse, rather than hard work and accountability.
I can only look to his noodlyness for hope.
Ramen
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Big Kev -
Very nicely said. But also very badly spelled, punctuated, etc. I’m sorry, but I just couldn’t let this go. Especially if you’re studying medical science, you have GOT to learn to check your writing. In this age of ubiquitous information access (i.e. the internet) phrases such as ‘may not be actual spelling’ are laughably obsolete.
In my opinion, it’s even more important to write correctly on the internet than elsewhere because potentially many more people will read it.
Sorry if I sound like I’m ranting, but you’re from Australia, studying at a tertiary level and studying science no less. Please, just consider this some friendly advice for your future.
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Why are Australians so damn cool?
RAmen Brother Kev!
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Thanks Big Kev. It’s good to hear you understand what we’re about.
Pasta be with you,
Ramen
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Big Kev,
`
I ask myself the same question you just asked every day of my life here in the US. My only answer is that there is a vocal percentage of the population which feels threatened by the idea that the bible might not be literally true. This group is so vocal that they can’t help but be heard and they take advantage of the American ideal of fairness. They make it sound like that the 2 view points are equally valid and then stir up a fight over it so that text book publishers are forced to not include large amounts of the supporting evidence for evolution in text books pre college. By keeping that evidence out of the public school system they can then prey on the 3/4ths of the US population that never goes to college. At least that is my guess.
~RAmen
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Though unappreciated in our own country at least other people around the world support us! Awesome post and finally a non-hate letter to comment on (besides the usual posts on the front page of course).
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RAmen, brother, and, indeed, well said.
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I haven’t much else to comment about this, as I have to go to the store now. xD
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To your P.S.: You mean Westboro Baptist Church? Not all baptists are that hateful and insensitive.
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Well, the Catholic Church may have a taste for burning people at the pyre, however the Pope endorses evolution and he recently made comments celebrating the work of Galileo. This puts the Catholic Church closer to mainstream scientific groups than any other Christian denomination. Quite a paradox right?
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To Rachel, I’m not sure which Baptist Church its was, given the majority are normal this one was absolutely off the wall, they did a radio interview here once, it was insane
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It is ok, I’ll be studying English next semester, hopefully not at 3am like when i wrote the email haha
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What?! The Earth is ROUND?!
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Rum for you, good sir.
Cheers.
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Read Terry Pratchett. You’ll like him.
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Thank you, but we have an excuse, our country was founded by a bunch of puritans who killed people because they’re witches. You guys got off lucky! I don’t see how Australia would be a prison, it seems pretty awesome today. Yes, we have many fundamentalists or creationists in the USA. They have a lot of clout with the republican party. Not quite as much with the democrats. Oh and has anyone noticed that when the republicans are in power, they’re supposed to create a small government that leaves people alone, but thanks to the creationists they’re doing the opposite. Thanks, and wow 12% really? Is our education system that shitty?
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P.S. Can I go anywhere in the commonwealth with a British passport? I can’t stand these creationists.
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Thank his noodlyness, I live in a free country!
(one that doesn’t just pretend to be one)
Not particularly big spaghetti fans, though the FSM might change that. (^ -)
Went to a protestant school, but only a small group of the children actually went to church with their parents. Never had to deal with ID, but I have to say, his deliciousness (with tomatosauce) has a point.
Something that tastes that great must be special enough to have created our world.
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USA is neither the most technologically advanced nor the richest country. If anything, we’re dead poor (look at our massive debt!), and well behind in technology thanks to commercial reluctance of making things better (look at our cars!).
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My technical school is relatively ID-free (there’s a few…), so don’t go off thinking everyone is a creationist in the US!
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As for the flat-earth theorist….Wow, that’s a lot of eighties-minded people (for those who doesn’t get it, read the “book of general ignorance”).
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I am glad someone understands, Kevin. Maybe you will convert to Pastafarianism!
Peace, Love and Pirates to all!
Ramen.
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It pays to remember that America still doesn’t have a metric system, and then it might seem obvious why they don’t teach evolution… It’s just too dern newfangled hank!
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@Noodles in soy sauce
Wow, really? CATHOLICISM is taking steps towards making religion more, you know, intelligent?
My mind is blown.
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What’s this nonsense about the earth being round? As the navigator of a pirate ship, I KNOW if you sail too far in any direction you’ll fall off this flat planet!
Once when I was pirating, I saw a shipful of midgets with a load of dinosaurs they were delivering to their pygmy cousins. They got scared when they saw our pirate flag, and took off at top speed. Just a few leagues past the southern tip of Africa I watched as they fell off the edge of the world!
The fact “I” have seen it is incontrovertable evidence my statement is true. So anyone who doesn’t believe me is an uneducated moron…
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You really shouldn’t believe all of the information that is thrust at you on a plate made of point-proving plastic. 12% of Americans means 12% of Americans tested that we decided to use in this particular study of the stupidity of the country to prove our point. Also, Pastafarianism isn’t about disproving the Catholic bible, maybe you should read your own Gospel.
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