Comment on the Open Letter

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

2675 Responses to “Comment on the Open Letter”

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1921 - December 28th, 2007 at - shannon Says:

This letter, was by far, one of the best and most convincing letters I have ever read. I’d tip my hat if I wore one.
1922 - December 28th, 2007 at - Mari Says:

I’m still amazed at the time it has taken us to realize the truth about our origin.
1923 - December 29th, 2007 at - Trish Says:

Awesome, hey if L.Ron Hubbart can do it..
Well thought out and the illustrations are great!
1924 - December 29th, 2007 at - mwking Says:

Dear FSM Church Leader,
thank you for speaking up for all of us pirates. It is hoped that with appropriate worship and sacrifices to His Holiness, FSM, World Peace will be attained at last. Respectfully, Margaret King
1925 - December 29th, 2007 at - Tex Shelters Says:

While the FSM theory is as plausible as most creation stories, it don’t do a thing to help us sell products (except pasta) like crosses, habits, and candles, and it doesn’t create a docile, easily manipulated populace or get right-wing fanatics elected. Therefore, I reject it!!

Pirates can’t be fooled into doing anything, so we must reject FSMism!

Yours,
Tex Shelters
Billionaire
1926 - December 30th, 2007 at - Pie Right Says:

All of this is well and good but as informed people well know there is no objective reality. Therefore we are living in a universe more closely akin to The Matrix and the only logical thing to do is teach the all encompassing theories of Matrixism.
1927 - December 30th, 2007 at - I like pie, even more than Chuck Norris Says:

Finally!!

Life’s question’s are answered!
The truth is restored!
1928 - December 31st, 2007 at - Kira Says:

Ah, I used to be a die-hard atheist, but then a couple of weeks ago I stumbled across this splendid website. Now of course my atheist!brain, trained to base its conclusions on logic and reason, confronted with the undeniable evidence presented here quickly grasped the truth. Why, our noodly master explained everything I had ever questioned. His noodly appendage manipulating scientific test results, the interdependancy of pirates and global temperature and of course finally making String Theory understandable. Still, having been an atheist, I needed more; a scientific experiment to witness his divine intervention. Thus I set up a plate of spaghetti and waited. And - Alas! - after a few days there was life! Life, I tell you, on a plate of spaghetti! From nothing! Thus I proved the existence of our noodly creator.

May his noodly appendage touch all of us!
RAmen!

Now I’ve read the comments and the very good debates and I thought I’d drop my five cents. This concerns the christians arguing against evolution something along these lines (I can neither remember who said it nor the exact words):
“It’s just completely unbelievable and improbable that we all just came from one cell. It is way too complex for that. Do you really believe that? Do you really think that our life is so meaningless?
You just can’t see god because you closed your heart and soul. I pity you for I have found him and also, you will burn in hell for disagreeing with and not finding my Lawd.”
First and foremost, the complexity argument: As improbable and complex life is, a creator would have to be even more complex. I have yet to see a valid response to “What caused/created/whatever God?” Christians (and Jews and Muslims and every other member of an monotheistic religion) usually whince and mumble on about how “he just does”. If you are so happily ready to believe that things can exist without having a direct cause, why can’t you scratch the imaginary being and assume that life as we know it “just exists” which is infinitely more probable than the divine maker? That’s what evolution does actually; it explains the complexity with small improbabilities and simple organisms piling up to form complex and improbable organisms. It’s that simple. To put it with Richard Dawkins’ comparison: You have a mountain top you can either reach by directly climbing a vertical cliff(? Sorry, can’t think of the word since english is not my first language. I hope you know what I mean anyways) or slowly walking up the other side which is nearly even yet steadily rises.
And yes, life is inheritaly meaningless. It is your job to give your own life meaning. Noone else can do it for you, especially not some sort divine being which has some sort of plan for you you can’t understand and may very well end with your painful death (”She died slowly of cancer. Her last months were pure pain….” “Dont worry! God has a plan!”) You essentially gave your responsibility for yourself and your meaning of life into the hands of an imaginary best friend which was your choice. Fine. You do that. So without that imaginary friend your life would be meaningless since you failed to give it meaning. But do not project that on others: There are people who take that responsibility and give their life meaning and purpose without an imaginary friend. Besides, even if that was true and all Atheist were suicidal emos without purpose and meaning in life, it would still not make God exist. “It would be great if X were true” does not equal “X is true”.
As for the ever-popular “You’ll burn in hell!”. If your God exists, yes, I probably will. But see, I’d choose it over your God’s heaven. Hell is a very disturbing and disgusting concept. It’s a place of everlasting pain, and anguish, and suffering and crying. It’s a place of torture. Now, torture is sick and wrong. The concept of torture is disturbing and disgusting. A place of eternal torture is disturbing and disgusting. The creator of a place of eternal torture is disturbing and disgusting. And that’s why your god is disturbing and disgusting and so is heaven, since, as far as I know, one of its main features is watching other people being tortured. “Love thy neighbor” my magnificent behind. So, when I stand before the Lord on Judgement Day and it’s been proven to me that he exists, I will still not worship him. Never ever. I may owe him my life, but I owe it to my parents too. And if my parents would regularly threaten to torture me if I don’t do exactly as they say (and do it, too) I could not love them. And nobody could blame me for it.
You see, your god is a petty god and wants to stay that way. Why can’t you look around you and conclude “Wow, this is all so much better than what is desribed in that ancient book with glaring errors and absolutely no authority whatsoever” The way millions of atoms align to form a double helix which codes you with millions of other double helixes. The fact that you carry a little universe inside of you. The colors around you which are actually light. Millions of stars in the night heaven, many of which are by the time you see them actually dead, but their light is reaching you just now since the distances are so vast you can’t even begin to comprehend them. And that life, in all its complexity and beauty, evolved from a few little cells. If you have never been awed by evolution, you have not grasped it. You may pity me because I haven’t found an imaginary friend. I pity you because you can’t see the beauty around you without invenvting one.

Okay, I’ll stop ranting now :3

PS: Arrrrrrgh [Fighting against Global Warming since 2007]
1929 - December 31st, 2007 at - Kira Says:

Darnit
.
It was formated with paragraphs and all ;_; I hope someone can get himself to read the whole thing anyways
1930 - December 31st, 2007 at - adam silverstein Says:

Sirs: I take pen in hand to write (figuratively) I am astounded and thoroughly engaged. At long last, I have something palatable to tell my young children when they ask those unanswerable questions.
-A. Silverstein
1931 - January 1st, 2008 at - hooya Says:

I am outraged! How can you worship false idols? And follow false religions! You are certainly condemned to hell(TM)!

You must at once submit to the will of Her Holy Purpleness - May Her Hooves Never Be Shod - and quit with the FSM made of purple oyster.

PBUH!
1932 - January 1st, 2008 at - Chris Jantsch Says:

I’m quite amazed and distraught at the level of confusion apparently rampant among the masses. Why is there so much discussion as to where everything came from or why it exists? The answer is as simple as it is obvious - it’s all about ME. There was NOTHING before me, and all that is revolves around me. Wherever I go, there it is. If you join me, you’ll be there, too. So join me in my Church of My Personal Benefit (CMPB, © ® ™ and all that) and make checks payable to “cash” (certified/cashier’s check only, money-orders and equivalent ok). Give freely and quickly, because I won’t be around forever.
1933 - January 1st, 2008 at - Guthrie Theodore Says:

Dear Flying Spaghetti Monster,
I’m 7. I don’t believe in you, and here’s proof that you don’t exist: The pirate chart is messed up. The number of pirates grows WITH the average temperature at the beginning of the chart. It should decrease, not increase. Even though you don’t exist, good luck with everything.

your friend,
Guthrie (who does exist)

ps, Do you play the WII?
1934 - January 2nd, 2008 at - Eric Says:

@Guthrie

If you had researched you would know that FSM is famous for tampering with scientific data. He tampers with Carbon Dating results.

It is clear that He has tampered with our graph to help fuel the non-believers like yourself!

I pray over my bowl of starch-and-sauce tonight that you may be touched by Fis Noodlyness one day!

RAmen!
1935 - January 2nd, 2008 at - Tigger_the_Wing Says:

As I ponder the strangeness of the universe I am forced to one conclusion - there has to be balance.

The Christian churches have Atheists

The Islamists have Infidels

The Jews have Gentiles

And the Pastafarians have Cœliacs.

I had always wondered about the ‘whys’ of gluten enteropathy - your wonderful beliefs explain it all.

I believe! RAmen!

(As I contemplate my poor dish of gluten-free spaghetti…)
1936 - January 2nd, 2008 at - Touchstone Says:

I am a new Pastafarian and cannot register, has the Great FSM damned me to an eternal life of Stale beer and Dieased Strippers after death.Can one help a fellow pirate.RAmen
1937 - January 3rd, 2008 at - Sikh boy Says:

I am from India and Davy Jones(real name Devi Jaunpur) was my great great great uncle.I knew FSM existed from my dreams and from the fact that i neever run out of spaghetti.Is it true FSM wants pirates to return on there adventures to save the world?
1938 - January 3rd, 2008 at - Sikh boy Says:

Ohh,what a beautiful comment “Kira”,my thoughts exactly.I Love You..XD
1939 - January 3rd, 2008 at - KATE Says:

I think that the religion of the Flying Spaghetti Monster is very cool. and i am thinking of converting. Currently I am Jewish, but if it is possible, I wish i could be both….. Hmm.. anyway, the letter is genius and very reasonable. –kate-nip
1940 - January 3rd, 2008 at - ramen lover Says:

I am not an atheist, my friend who is told me about this website. I love it, it’s great. If people want to bad mouth it or complain about get the hell of the computer and mind your own business.

Ramen

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An elaborate spoof on Intelligent Design, The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster is neither too elaborate nor too spoofy to succeed in nailing the fallacies of ID. It's even wackier than Jonathan Swift's suggestion that the Irish eat their children as a way to keep them from being a burden, and it may offend just as many people, but Henderson, described elsewhere as a 25-year-old "out-of-work physics major," puts satire to the same serious use that Swift did. Oh, yes, it is very funny. -- Scientific American