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Title: Passion of the Spaghetti Monster
Source:
wired.com
URL Source: http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,69905-0.html
Published: Dec 22, 2005
Author: Kathleen Craig
Post Date: 2005-12-22 09:42:53 by Indrid Cold
Keywords: Spaghetti, Passion, Monster
Views: 44
Comments: 8
Bobby Henderson is holed up in the boonies -- Corvallis, Oregon -- hard at work on his next entry into the fray over just what students should learn about the origin of species. When the Kansas Board of Education proposed balancing evolution instruction by teaching intelligent design, said to be a scientific theory that supports an "intelligent creator" of all life, the decision outraged many, including 38 Nobel laureates (.pdf). Henderson responded with a satirical letter to the Kansas board demanding equal time for a different, "equally scientific" theory of intelligent design, in which a Flying Spaghetti Monster created the world. The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, or Pastafarianism, turned into a phenomenon, appealing to scientists, academics and many others, who flock to Henderson's website to pick up FSM mugs and T-shirts, play games and learn about other school boards hostile to evolutionary thought. The site now draws as many as 2 million hits a day. Meanwhile, public debate over intelligent design is intensifying. One Georgia suburb recently put warnings on biology texts stating evolution was "a theory, not a fact," prompting a legal challenge by the American Civil Liberties Union heard last Thursday in the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals -- a ruling is expected next year. And Tuesday, a federal judge ruled that intelligent design couldn't be mentioned in biology classes in Pennsylvania public schools, deciding a closely watched case that evolved from a Dover, Pennsylvania, school board policy that steered students to the intelligent design textbook Of Pandas and People. Now Henderson -- a 25-year-old physics graduate -- has banked a reported $80,000 advance for the still unfinished The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, scheduled for publication in March. He isn't talking much publicly while he writes, but he took time for an exclusive conversation with Wired News about the Gospel, a future influenced by intelligent design and his plans to build a pirate ship to convert heathens. Wired News: Why does Pastafarianism deserve equal time in science classrooms where intelligent design is taught? Bobby Henderson: Our theory is as much science -- in fact much more so -- than what the ID (intelligent design) guys are proposing. And, if you are going to redefine science to include supernatural explanations, you have to allow them all. To include intelligent design in a science classroom you have to first expand the definition of science to include supernatural explanations, rather than only natural ones, as it is now. WN: Supernatural? Henderson: They are saying that a "designer" created everything, and that natural phenomena can't have caused these things to happen, that a designer must have magically made these things the way they are. If it's not supernatural, I don't know what it is. WN: How were you inspired to write The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster? Henderson: The book is necessary so that people see how much hard evidence supports the existence of the FSM. You can make a pretty strong argument for His existence. Especially if you use the same sort of reasoning the ID people do: specious reasoning and circular logic. I suspect the mainstream religions will concede after reading it. WN: I notice there's a Wikipedia FSM Bible page. Is that a draft of the Gospel? Henderson: Nope. There's actually another FSM "bible" brewing on the discussion forums. Neither of those are particularly similar to the "real" one. WN: Why do you think so many people have responded to this, so many scientists? Henderson: I think it's just because they have a better understanding of what the ID nuts are trying to do. I think part of it is that the science community, itself, is pretty quiet about the issue. Their strategy is to ignore the "debate" so that the ID people don't get the forum. WN: Do you think that's a mistake? Henderson: Yeah, totally. They need to be out there calling these people retarded all the time. Nonstop. The ID people are winning because the scientists think if they ignore the issue, it will go away. Plus, I'm sure it would be therapeutic to make fun of the ID people. I think it's pretty amazing that these people without scientific backgrounds -- or really any education at all -- think they have the right to decide the science curriculum. And it blows my mind that they are getting away with it. WN: What do you think about the impact this all has on the education a student will get? Henderson: I would be skeptical of anyone with a supernatural science education. WN: So how do you stop these folks from deciding the science curriculum? Henderson: We have to vote them out. Or make a crazy rule like (people) without educations can't decide the curriculum. Something like that would work, too. Being a born-again Christian shouldn't be enough to get on a school board. WN: Do you credit the FSM with inspiring voters to toss out eight of the Pennsylvania board of education members who wanted to teach ID in science class? Henderson: Hmm … that would be awesome if the FSM had something to do with it, but I think the Pennsylvania people just realized what a mistake they made. The Kansas school board is next. WN: To be voted out? Henderson: I think it's likely. Or, worst-case scenario, in 20 years everyone will get sick of having no electricity, etc., because science based on magic doesn't work so well for things like engineering. WN: I understand that all proceeds from the book will go toward a pirate ship? Henderson: Yeah. Seriously. As well as all proceeds from the other FSM merchandise. WN: What's your plan for this pirate ship? Henderson: It will be for missionary work mainly; also occasional scientific use related to pirates and global weather, etc. WN: Do you plan for this to be a land-going pirate ship? Or a floating pirate ship? Henderson: Ha! Floating. As huge and bad-ass as we can afford. The fund exceeds $100K at this point. Pirate ships are expensive though. Plus cannons, etc. The first several months will be cruising around, spreading the Word to others. Probably in a tropical locale, where they need converting, I assume. WN: What about those cannons? Henderson: Cannons are for defense, that's what I figure. WN: Once you've spread the Word in a nice tropical locale, what will the pirate ship do next? Henderson: It will be open to all Pastafarians. We'll cruise around and do missionary work, I imagine. It's like a floating church. It's not just a toy for me. Although I am the only one who can use the cannons. Probably. WN: Will your work include challenging schools that want to teach ID in science class? Henderson: We're not above legal action. There have been some very wealthy people offering to donate to the cause, but accepting money limits what we're able to do. The missionary pirate ship, for example, could be considered tax-evasion to über-conservatives. Although they may help in other ways, legal support, etc. WN: You plan to become a religious group qualified for tax-exempt status? Henderson: Yeah. The pirate ship will then be tax-exempt, as it's for missionary work. Falwell/Tilton set the precedent. WN: You said believers could come aboard the pirate ship. Can you suggest good works for Pastafarians? Henderson: Good works -- the FSM approves of religious propaganda, finding new members, etc. We are also a peaceful religion. WN: Is there any particular message you -- or the FSM -- would like to pass on to the faithful (or the unfaithful)? Henderson: I think religious diversity is a good thing. The FSM may disagree, I don't know.
Poster Comment: Yarrrr!
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#1. To: Axenolith, Elliott Jackalope, dakmar, Starwind (#0)
Religious flameware *ping*
I love children, but I can never finish a whole one.
And I'm optimistic. See, I think you can be realistic and optimistic at the same time. I'm optimistic we'll achieve -- I know we won't achieve if we send mixed signals. I know we're not going to achieve our objective if we send mixed signals - gwbush
Pirate Ping!
And I'm optimistic. See, I think you can be realistic and optimistic at the same time. I'm optimistic we'll achieve -- I know we won't achieve if we send mixed signals. I know we're not going to achieve our objective if we send mixed signals - gwbush
Gee, slow day. I thought the guy made a lot of great points.
I love children, but I can never finish a whole one.
I think it's a bit silly. I prefer the theory that the earth is a giant turtle and we're riding on its back.
And I'm optimistic. See, I think you can be realistic and optimistic at the same time. I'm optimistic we'll achieve -- I know we won't achieve if we send mixed signals. I know we're not going to achieve our objective if we send mixed signals - gwbush
Dolt! Midgard is but one plane on the giant world tree, Yggdrasil. The squirrel Ratatosk runs back and forth between the denizens of Yggdrasil, delivering insults.
I love children, but I can never finish a whole one.
That squirrel should have been eaten long ago by the Kveld-Ulf .
And I'm optimistic. See, I think you can be realistic and optimistic at the same time. I'm optimistic we'll achieve -- I know we won't achieve if we send mixed signals. I know we're not going to achieve our objective if we send mixed signals - gwbush
And one day Ragnarok will set the whole thing ablaze! Praise Odin!
#2. To: Indrid Cold (#1)
#3. To: CAPPSMADNESS (#1)
#4. To: Dakmar (#3)
#5. To: Indrid Cold (#4)
#6. To: Dakmar (#5)
I prefer the theory that the earth is a giant turtle and we're riding on its back.
#7. To: Indrid Cold (#6)
#8. To: Dakmar, Indrid Cold (#7)
Hey, Meester,wanna meet my seester?
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