Delicious Spaghetti Monster

Pastafarians do celebrate. Tomorrow it's the pastafarian holiday "Holidays".

Happy Holidays children of the FSM!

Outstanding, Jill. Thank you.

I for one don't believe in the Flying Spaghetti Monster. I only believe in sarcasm the the power of my own gigantic, gigantic brain.

@Benn

Ha! I'm going to steal that.

Now that is enough to give you nightmares!

Happy Holidays!
http://www.cynical-c.com/images/il_430xn14580601.jpg

I get the subtle sarcastic humor of this. I just don't understand why those that aren't religious, need to feel the need to be condescending with things like this.

The original FSM idea was basically to make fun of those that believe in a higher power.

If someone would ask a psychologist about such actions, they would tell you it was the actions of someone trying to convince themselves, instead of convincing others. An insecurity if you will.

For example, to me Catholicism is just ridiculous. But for some reason, I don't feel the need to make up a "religion" belittle it. It may mean something to someone else, even though it doesn't me. The ironic part of it all, most of these people consider themselves open minded and tolerant people.

Another example, the Jesus fish on people's cars. Some atheists aren't happy just being atheists. They also have to bash other people's beliefs. Hence the darwin beast eating the Jesus fish car emblems.

There is a difference between disagreeing with someone else's beliefs, and being an all out obnoxious douche.

@Kevin: Well said. I'm fine with people believing what they want, but you don't have to mock others.

@Kevin, I don't think your memory of the genesis of the FSM is accurate.

This wasn't (originally) made to belittle Christians. It was meant to oppose their interference with the educational system. Some school district in Kansas had decided that they should teach Intelligent Design (non-science), alongside the theory of Natural Selection/evolution.

It started out using a powerful tool (satire) to illustrate that this was a slippery slope. ID is religion, no matter how hard it's "dressed", otherwise, and their arguments to the contrary open the door to other things (FSM) being considered equally scientific. If they wanted to teach ID, they needed to teach Pastafarianism, for the same reasons. And (obviously), nobody wants them to teach Pastafarianism.

Now, the reason the FSM became so popular? Well, it *is* funny and ridiculous. And now, maybe they are making fun of people for believing something that seems ridiculous to them. Those being made fun of should either be made immune, by righteous indignation...or should reconsider whether their beliefs really are ridiculous.

Well put, Kevin.

@dbsmall- Righteous indignation? Really?

@Kevin- Very well stated, plus I agree.

Even now, I don't see FSMism as making fun of any religion. Some of its adherents may, but they're not following the spirit of the movement. FSMism is an attempt to lampoon the ridiculous arguments made by creationists wishing to elevate intelligent design to the level of science. Anybody who uses FSMism to bash people of other religions isn't following the tenants of their own "religion". The first two I'd Really Rather You Didn'ts are as follows:

1. I'd Really Rather You Didn't Act Like a Sanctimonious Holier Than Thou Ass When Describing My Noodly Goodness. If Some People Don't Believe In Me, That's Okay. Really, I'm Not That Vain. Besides, This Isn't About Them So Don't Change The Subject.

2. I'd Really Rather You Didn't Use My Existence As A Means To Oppress, Subjugate, Punish, Eviscerate, And/Or, You Know, Be Mean To Others. I Don't Require Sacrifices And Purity Is For Drinking Water, Not People.

As you can see, the official stance of Pastafarianism is live and let live, especially where it comes to religion. But when someone starts pushing their beliefs on others, especially under the guise of science, or claiming that America was founded as a Christian nation, then this is where you are encouraged to enter the debate with silly concepts that use their arguments against them.

+1 to Kevin. Nicely put.

Kevin wins one internet for his awesome quiet reasoning.

@Whenn: Yes, really. If your belief system can stand up to satire, you are made immune by righteous indignation.

Kevin is wrong about the impetus for the original FSM letter. He is right that there is "a difference between disagreeing with someone else's beliefs, and being an all out obnoxious douche." (That said, edc3, that's hardly "quiet reasoning.")

Also, I really think the FSM in the original post looks neato, but not very tasty.

The FSM itself is a mockery of those that believe in a higher power, regardless of the "intentions" It's condescending, and pretentious.

"or should reconsider whether their beliefs really are ridiculous."

I rest my case. Do you not see that as being condescending?

Regardless, believe in God, don't believe in God. Both require faith.

Am I offended? Not in the least. Just pointing out what this is really about. Those that came in here to defend it, didn't do too good of a job at convincing us otherwise.

"Yes, really. If your belief system can stand up to satire, you are made immune by righteous indignation."

Projection.

"FSMism is an attempt to lampoon the ridiculous arguments made by creationists wishing to elevate intelligent design to the level of science"

AKA "It's here to make fun of people who don't think like I do"

basically everyone taking up for it, has pretty much agreed with what I said, without realizing it.