I wrote the Open Letter sometime around January of 2005 and posted it online several months later after receiving no reply from the Kansas School Board. Within days of posting it online, the letter became an internet phenomenon, generating tens of thousands of visits each day, as well as personal responses from the school board members themselves. To date (August 2006), the venganza website has received upwards of 350 million hits, and somewhere in the proximity of 15 million unique visits. This website operates on a dedicated server and uses 600 – 800 GB/month in bandwidth. I’ve received over 15,000 emails in response to the letter.
The letter, after being blogged heavily for months, was printed in several large newspapers, including the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Chicago Sun Times, and many others. The newspaper articles caught the attention of book publishers, and at one point there were six publishers interested in getting the Word of the Flying Spaghetti Monster out to the public. In the end, the Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster was released by Random House in March of 2006.
It’s now been over a year since the FSM phenomenon started. I hope that a year from now we will be recognized as a legitimate religious organization, with all the same benefits *and tax loopholes* that the mainstream religions enjoy.
Please leave me a comment on the Letter, the FSM movement as a whole, or whatever you like. Thanks,
-Bobby
I’m doing my Piratey Part for Global Warming.
Like or Dislike:
4 
1
Spread the Word!
Like or Dislike:
2 
1
All hail the Noodly Appendage
Like or Dislike:
2 
1
Having a pirate-themed party this year.
Ramen
Like or Dislike:
3 
0
this is the truth!!!! I hail the ghetti monster
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
what about cd pirates i they must not count
Like or Dislike:
2 
0
I repent my sins and look onward to an eternal life under the watchful appendage of pirate god
Like or Dislike:
4 
0
I am an ambassador of teh PLanet Strange. I would like to inform you of the great joy that fills our planet. We have recently decided to adopt a religion here, as we had none before now. The leading candidate for this position was pastafarianism, and I am pleased to announce that the vote was unanimous among each and every Strangian. We are now all proud members of the Chruch of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.
Ramen.
Like or Dislike:
2 
1
It is with great joy in my heart that I announce my immediate coversion to Flying Spaghetti Monsterism.
Ramen.
Like or Dislike:
2 
0
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
Like or Dislike:
1 
12
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
Like or Dislike:
0 
13
Sure! Why not? Makes as much sense as the “Theory” of Evolution!
Like or Dislike:
1 
3
Like or Dislike:
7 
0
Good work! Thank you!
I used to point out the possible existence of the giant dragon hiding on the far side of the moon, but I never writ it up.
Like or Dislike:
6 
0
Upon reading this, you have my full support. I’m off to buy an eyepatch and a wooden leg. And, the Gospel, of course.
Ramen.
Like or Dislike:
4 
0
Hey, I’m from Germany (so please ignore language misstakes) and I’ve just stumbled across your amazing site… I’ve found some stuff about the fsm earlier on wikipedia, but I’ve only now realized that this is actually a new church:) I just wanted to assure you of my support for your new but obviously true belives, personally I used to belive that the erarth was created as the result of a competion who could make the biggest pizza in the big italian resaurant somewere in space. This belive resulted out of the fact that the earth is flat and only varies on the top side just like a pizza. I’ve eaven managed to prove scintifically by various experiments how life evolved on this big pizza we call earth (I carefully stored a pice of pizza under my sofa, gave it some time… and voila there was life) but now I’ve extensivly read and reaserched about the fsm I had to change my religion an become a fsm believer…
so thank you for opening my eys…
MfG
Like or Dislike:
3 
0
I am appauled at the absurd response of Christians discussing the matter of Pastafarianism. I think it is a very clever way to belittle the arguments of the Kansas School Board, and also a way to show the author(and Creator’s opinion.) Why shouldn’t the Lord be a Spaghetti Monster? More to the point, HOW WOULD YOU KNOW? Finally, where might I purchase full pirate regalia? I am getting mighty sick of Christians forcing their religion down my throat.
Like or Dislike:
3 
0
RAmen
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
I was trying to send my 16% monthly tithing, composed of spaghetti – with meatballs, of course, pizza, fish (and fish bones) and tomato juice to the cauldron of abyss but every time I tried, I ended up eating them. I hope the divine monster would not send his wrath of forks upon me.
Please have Gideon International, or a similar outfit, mass distribute the GOSPEL according to the most prolific FSM pirate prophets so that the good and not so good news would be propagated like spam email.
I (burp) thank you. RAmen.
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
I LOVE YOU!! tahst all I have to say, thats is the simply most beutifully written letter, and so, you now have my LOVe, of course not in teh romantic, sense, but whatever….I love you never the less.
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
You are truly a brilliant man, and a king amongst prophets. However, I am currently distressed. I am currently a pastafarian, however my wife is catholic. I’ve agreed to have our child baptized, so long as it is done in meatsauce and the service is performed by Johnny Depp in full regalia. Is that particularly blasphemous? Will our great lord forgive me this trespassing? Should I avoid having this done in a church so as not to offend the FSM? I was also wondering which the FSM prefers, Del Monte, or Newman’s Own? I don’t wish to offend him, or ruin the baptism. If it doesn’t make a difference, I prefer Newman’s myself. I look forward to your response wise and venerable leader.
Like or Dislike:
3 
0
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
Like or Dislike:
0 
7
I believe the baptism is kosher (yes, the religious cross is intentional), but the ceremony must be performed on a pirate ship…in full regalia, in order to not offend His Noodly Greatness.
Ramen
Like or Dislike:
2 
0
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
Like or Dislike:
0 
10
Now I’m a fairly tolerant person, but to be brutally honest the sado-masochistic imagery of your god-child nailed to a plank, whilst mildly arousing, is not really enough to pull the followers of the one true god to your den of lies. If I believed in a “hell”, as you carpenty enthusiasts put it, I would condemn you to burn in it for eternity for your lies.
Ask yourself, Pennhigh – if that is indeed your real name and not merely another deceipt – what kind of god does not place pirates above all others? There work to combat environmental damage clearly denotes a level of understanding of his noodliness above all others. To think otherwise is both outrageous and absurb.
I call shennanigans on this one, Pennhigh and I think you should take your so called god and stick it in your sanctimonious bumhole.
Like or Dislike:
5 
0
Speaking as someone who is from Kansas and also as a person who has faith(although not sure in what)I find your letter clever, well written, and thought provoking.
I will point out, however, that just earlier this year in Pennsylvania a case was brought before Federal court in which several parents were outraged at a school who handed out pamphlets about so-called “intelligent design theory” and filed suit against the school and school board. The FEDERAL court ruled in favor of the parents saying that the “theory” of “intelligent design” was based soley on faith and not on scientific evidence and therefore could not be taught in a school by reason of the separation of church and state amendments laid down in the UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION.
Matters of Faith are just that and have their place….in a house of faith(cathedral, sinigogue, church, temple). That place is NOT the science classroom. Science is an institution based on FACT. Faith is an institution based on THEOLOGY. Newton’s faith did not make an apple all on his head. Einstein’s faith did not help him come up with relativity. The space station was not built on faith. I know what you are thinking now “God made the apple fall!” or “Christ gave Einstein the theory of relativity.” To that I say that I feel sorry for you. You have so blindly fallen into your faith that there will be no doubt in your mind that you are right. You will pick my response here apart pointing out all of my logical flaws and hypocracy. To that I say… WARS have begun for less than that. FACT is one of the most bloodiest wars was fought over faith(The Crusades). FACT is some believe we are fighting a war like that one now(on terrorism).
My closing argument is this: The Theory of Evolution has behind it many proven facts. The Theory of Intelligent Design has behind it religious dogma and faith. Looking at that reasoning as the judge in Pennsylvania did my view becomes clear.
KEEP YOUR INTELLIGENT DESIGN AND YOUR FAITH OUT OF THE SCHOOLS AND IN THE CHURCH WHERE IT BELONGS.
LEAVE THE SCIENCE IN THE CLASSROOM AND THE LAB.
Or maybe we should just not teach anything at all and be dumber for it.
Like or Dislike:
3 
0
RAmen.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I must say, even though I don’t trully believe in your religion, I can point out it’s more “logical” (there’s no such word to express what I mean to say) than most religions, even more than Christianism. Why do I say this? Because it DOESN’T STATES THAT IT’S GOD IS THE ONLY UNIQUE ONE AND THAT OTHERS SUCK, it leaves place to chances. And I love chances. Thanks, I’m a maths addict. Anyhow, to any christian guy out there, I’ll love to say this on your faces, but as you can see, I’m pretty much limited: How can you asure the Christian or whatever religion’s God is the real one? How can you be called by Him taking into account YOU said you CANNOT prove it exists, and It is only fed up by your unfinishing faith?
PD= I’d laugh if a christian said God talked to Him and tomorrow the Flying Spagetti Monster appears in the TV saying It is the only God out there. Really, I’d make a book about that.
Ramen.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Hi all
i’m really happy to see how the tolerance full fill the mind of the Cristhians ;-).
That’s the problem with faith, it is not possible to build a discussion around faith, it as to be accepted as is. And the need of peoples having faith to save (or burn) the others that does not, could be the problem.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
ADD FAITH AND ECONOMIC INTEREST AND YOU’LL GET A DANGEROUS MIX
Like or Dislike:
2 
0
In response to Brianna’s post: “I’m fairly certain that you don’t yourself believe we were created by a flying Spaghetti Monster (considering both spaghetti and the idea of monsters are both products of man’s creativity and imagination),”.
Considering what you said, the idea of gods are too products (or byproducts I might say) of the man’s creativity and imagination. Furthermore, I don’t see a reason in your thoughts not to believe that noodles and monsters pre-existed humanity, and as all gods, were found and worshiped at some point onwards in the human history. Manifestations of early noodly appendages date back to B.C. 5000, providing proof that the FSM is the first and only real god, pre-dating yours and most others’ gods.
Also, His noodly divinity keeps us FSM believers united in a single, monolithic, and true body of religion, in contrast with virtually all other religions which at least once in their history have experiences a schism and formed other branches. Christianity alone (just a random example) has over 700 branches, all having contradicting beliefs, even contradicting the role of Jesus Christ.
In conclusion, my point is, you create religions on what you want and suits you to believe, whereas we base our beliefs on what is true and what’s not. It was our choice to believe in His noodly appendage, and you’ll never see some of us believing in Flying Tagliatelle/Pappardelle/Fettuccine Monsters.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
In a word – FABULOUS!! I bow down to you and your (and now mine as well) god – the Flying Spaghetti Monster. May the sauce be with you…
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
Like or Dislike:
0 
7
I heart you….
but it all makes sense now!
why else would every culture dig pasta and noodly-ness?
why else would sphagetti and meatballs be so damn tasty?
why aren’t I having sphagetti for dinner?!
I’m spreading the word! my friends, my co-workers, my boyfriend!
all will worship his graceful noodlyness!!
…
…
…
is it blasphemy to say god bless the flying sphagetti monster?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Personally I think it is really weird how you people think that the universe was really created by the Flying Spaghetti Monster just because in the Gopspel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster it says that the Flying Spaghetti Monster created everything! Just because there is a book that says that he created everything does not mean that it is true!
See, God really created the universe. I have proof! It SAYS SO in the Bible. So it must be true. Get it?
Like or Dislike:
3 
3
I just wanted to be the first to comment today.
May the FSM bless all who believe.
Ramen
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
At last I find the one place where my affirmations of faith are truly held in esteem.
Thou art my god Flying Spaghetti Monster, and mayst His Noodly Appendage guide me.
RAmen
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Like or Dislike:
7 
0
All hail his noodly appendage.
I am a proud pastafarian, and so are all my friends. I would never talk to someone who was so stupid to believe in all of the fake religions out there -cough-.
ALL HAIL FSM!~
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
i have spoke to the allmighty fsm and it said with a booming voice send me 14.95 and i will heal you,forgive you of all your wrong doings plus a free one of a kind bleesed tee shirt .
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I am from Barcelona (Spain), sorry for my deficient english.
I have seen the light, and now I am a proud pastafarian. :D
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
Geona, while I agree with all your points, this bit made me laugh:
“Here’s a cold fact. Europeans hate us. Yes, part of it comes from old grudges, nationalism, yearning for the days when their countries were number one or two, sheer jealousy of our wealth, scope and influence.”
That attitude is yet another reason why Europeans dislike Americans. Oh and I have some bad news for you, its not just Europeans, its basically the entire planet.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
All hail his thick and chunky sauce!
Ramen
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Oh dear me, open up that can of worms!! I am a pandeist, can we also teach pandeism– that there was a God who created the Universe by becoming the Universe, leaving nothing of God? Can we teach Last Thursdayism, that the universe was created last Thursday, and everything that appears to the contrary (even our memories of last Wednesday) is God’s illusion to trick us?
//// Pacific PanDeist
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I so love reading every one of the posts here. That people think religion should not be in school, that science should not be in religion… dang, one begat the other… but which came first, the religious chicken or the scientific egg? Who knows, but both sure taste good!!!
Long live the Flying Spaghetti Monster, may his noodles be of rice so those of us with sensitivities to the wheat demons may partake of his goodness!!
RAmen!
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
Brilliant, man, brilliant =). In one day, you have done what 21 years of Christians could not do: convert me. All hail the Flying Spaghetti Monster!
PS – To all you Christian nuts who left comments, you really aren’t helping your image at all. May you know the Grace of the Flying Spaghetti Monster’s Noodly Appendage, that you may not be subject to the Lake of Fiery Garlic Breath.
RAmen
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I am Australian, and, though I was disappointed that you had to write the letter, I was pleased to find your letter and learn of the interest it generated in the USA: it gives me hope that the US is not too far down the path which Geona fears.
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
Let us pray.
Oh holy Noodliphant, may thy spaghettishness squirm through the minds of the disbelievers! OH HOLY NOODLIPHANT, forgive them for they know not that only ketchup can purify their ignorant vains! They know not that only YOUR meatballs entwined by your shiny Appendage can carry the message and embodiment of TRUE ETERNITY! Please oh Noodliphant, let us forgive them! Semen.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
You are the greatest man who ever lived! Finally I can see the truth!!!
And some idiotic christians should be enlightened!!!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
SPREAD THE WORD, BROTHER BOBBY!!!
MAY HIS NOODLY APPENDEGES EMBRACE ME WITH HIS LOVE FOR ALL OF ETERNITY,
RAMEN
Like or Dislike:
0 
0