Flying Spaghetti Monster facts for kids
The Flying Spaghetti Monster is seen as the god of Pastafarianism. Pastafarianism is often called a parody religion. This means it uses humor and imitation to make a point about serious topics, like beliefs about how the world began. Many people who follow the Flying Spaghetti Monster are called Pastafarians. They often use this idea to show their disagreement with the teaching of certain religious ideas in public schools.
Bobby Henderson first wrote about the Flying Spaghetti Monster in 2005. He sent a letter to the Kansas State Board of Education. Henderson wrote this letter to object to new rules. These rules said that teachers had to teach something called intelligent design in public schools. Intelligent design is the idea that life and the universe are too complex to have developed naturally. It suggests they must have been created by an intelligent being. Henderson created the Flying Spaghetti Monster to argue that if intelligent design was taught, then other ideas, even silly ones, should also be taught.
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What is Pastafarianism?
Pastafarianism is a social movement. It uses humor to make a point about religion and education. It suggests that if schools teach religious ideas as science, then all kinds of creation stories should be taught. This includes the idea that the universe was created by a Flying Spaghetti Monster.
Pastafarian Beliefs
Pastafarians have some playful beliefs. They believe that the Flying Spaghetti Monster created the universe. They also believe that pirates are the original Pastafarians. They think pirates were peaceful explorers, not criminals. They also believe that global warming is caused by the shrinking number of pirates. Pastafarians often wear colanders on their heads as religious headwear. This is a way to show their beliefs and to protest against religious symbols being treated differently in public.
Bobby Henderson's Letter
In 2005, Bobby Henderson was a physics graduate. He wrote his letter to the Kansas State Board of Education. The Board was debating whether to teach intelligent design alongside evolution in science classes. Evolution is the scientific theory that living things change over many generations. Henderson argued that if intelligent design was taught as science, then his belief in the Flying Spaghetti Monster should also be taught. He said that the Flying Spaghetti Monster created the universe after a night of heavy drinking. This was his way of showing that intelligent design was not a scientific theory.
Impact and Recognition
The idea of the Flying Spaghetti Monster quickly became popular on the internet. It spread as an internet meme. Many people saw it as a funny way to support the teaching of science in schools. It also became a symbol for freedom of speech and the separation of church and state. Some countries have even recognized Pastafarianism as a real religion. This has allowed Pastafarians to wear colanders in official ID photos.
Related pages
Images for kids
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An alternative tree-topper for Pastafarians, handmade from pipe cleaners and pom poms.
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The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster
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Flying Spaghetti Monster contingent preparing for the 2009 Summer Solstice Parade and Pageant in Fremont, Seattle, Washington
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Handmade knitted and felted Flying Spaghetti Monster
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Two Pastafarians dressed as the Flying Spaghetti Monster and a pirate respectively
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A woman wearing a colander as Pastafarian headgear
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Pastafarian protester wears a colander while showing an icon of the Flying Spaghetti Monster
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See also
In Spanish: Monstruo de Espagueti Volador para niños
