Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, Crossville: "Once a public forum is established, government may not discriminate against other speakers (. . .)"- The Christian Science Monitor...Sound Familiar?

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

"Once a public forum is established, government may not discriminate against other speakers (. . .)"- The Christian Science Monitor...Sound Familiar?

Cumberland County is not the only place struggling with the place of religious symbols on government property. Check out The Christian Science Monitor's article by Warren Richey on the U.S. Supreme Court deciding another 1o Commandments case- this time in Utah.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0401/p02s01-usju.html?page=1

4 comments:

Anonymous said...: To Ariel, as an expatriate of C-town I am proud of what you are doing.

To mayor Hill and all the others who feel that this project is an attempt to "ridicule religion": placing the ten commandments on public property ridicules religion. You are placing your religion (and mine) on level footing with the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Why all the effort to secularize your beliefs? Is your view of government that of a repository of your beliefs where they are stored as if in a safe deposit?

It is interesting that everyone with an opinion claims to have an in depth understanding of the Constitution. Yet, none seem to grasp that interpretation through judicial review of the Supreme Court is binding as if it were explicitly addressed within the original document.; April 1, 2008 at 6:14 PM
Ben said...: Hello Ariel,

What you've done is FANTASTIC ! The world needs people like you fighting for reason and respect.

May the Flying Spaghetti Monster and the The Invisible Pink Unicorn bless you.

Cheers from Benoit, France (ben119(@)gmail.com).; April 2, 2008 at 9:54 AM
Erik R. said...: MHNATY, Ariel!; April 3, 2008 at 12:06 PM
Unknown said...: As a member of the Word of Blake, I would like to commend you for bringing an interesting discussion to life.

Now, when may I be permitted to erect a tribute to our Blessed Founder?

May you be touched by Blessed Blake and may all of your technology continue running for many cycles to come.; April 3, 2008 at 1:38 PM

Post a Comment

Why is displaying the Flying Spaghetti Monster important?

The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster represents many things to many people and yet it is a faith that is often neglected by the general public. When Bobby Hendersen, a devoted Pastafarian, patriotic American, and concerned citizen of Kansas, realized that local students would never even learn about the Spaghedeity in public schools, he was gravely upset. Mr. Hendersen wrote to the school board immediately:

I am writing you with much concern after having read of your hearing to decide whether the alternative theory of Intelligent Design should be taught along with the theory of Evolution. I think we can all agree that it is important for students to hear multiple viewpoints so they can choose for themselves the theory that makes the most sense to them. I am concerned, however, that students will only hear one theory of Intelligent Design.

Just as Mr. Hendersen was concerned when Pastafarianism was neglected in public schools, I worry when our courthouse lawn is absent of the Spaghetti Monster's holy image. Many would argue that no type of religious symbols should be put on government property. Those few would say that worshipping should be the decision and act of an individual, and not the government. But I disagree. I am thankful that that is not how it is in Crossville. I believe all of us should share our beliefs on that nicely cut piece of grass on Crossville's Main Street. My only concern is that as it stands now, the Spaghetti Monster and others are absent. By displaying only one type of symbol on our great town's communal property, an atomsphere could be created in which other faiths and ideas are stifled.

I would like to be a voice to spread the love of It and It's teachings. Hunter Thompson stated, "Freedom is something that dies unless it's used." Please follow me on my two month journey to understand more about It's Holy Pilgramage from the Heavens to Crossville and back again.

The Vision

Tonight at dinner as I was staring down at my spaghetti and meatballs I was startled to discover that the remains of spaghetti sauce took the shape of It, the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

It came to me then, that in only a few short weeks, on March 21, is Day of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, followed by six weeks of spaghetti fasting. The six weeks ends with huge festivities on May 1, the Day of National Prayer. It occured to me looking at the holy image of It that stared up at me from my plate that this is indeed a Sign. I sense that I am supposed to build the image of the Flying Spaghetti Monster and display its holy appendages on the Courthouse lawn of my hometown, Crossville Tennessee. There its blessed presence can help all the world celebrate Day of the Flying Spaghetti Monster and the six week fast.

Tomorrow I will begin the build. I do not have long to build this sculpture...nor much money to buy the necessary tools to make it worthy of It. Time is also racing...in only a few short weeks is that sacred Friday, March 21.

If you would like to make a donation to help purchase the materials for me to follow my holy vision.

Why March 21?- What is Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster Day?

March 21, a Friday on the first day of Spring, is the day the Flying Spaghetti Monster appeared from the giant pasta pot....or so the the Cook Book says. The monster had to cook up the universe because nothing yet existed. As the Flying Spaghetti Monster created everything, there was no food. It created light, and plants, and monkeys, and much much more. However, It began to get hungry. It was almighty and powerful, so It refused to let hunger stop creation. It continued creating butterflies and the ocean, and the sky. The Book describes that the hunger increased, It became dizzy...It tried to continue and just as the Flying Spaghetti Monster was about to create the first Pirate, It passed out from hunger. It realized it did not have the strength to finish creating. It had not eaten since the creating had started several hours before. With the last of Its strength the Flying Spaghetti Monster created a sturdy pot and put on some water to boil from the ocean. The Flying Spaghetti Monster then dropped angel hair pasta into the boiling water. Every moment as It watched the boiling water consume the spaghetti noodles, the Flying Spaghetti Monster felt weaker and weaker. 1 minute passed....then 2...3.....4.....5.....and then just as the Flying Spaghetti Monster was passing into unconciousness the sixth minute passed, and It saw that the spaghetti was perfect. It ate and it ate...and had enough food to share with all of Its creations. The monkeys ate, and the butterflies ate. The Flying Spaghetti Monster threw the perfectly boiled spaghetti into the ocean, into the sky, and into the rich soil where flowers immediately bloomed. Now the Spaghetti Monster sat up strong and with Its new energy It created Women and Men pirates at the exact same time.

And so you see, Spring is the time of the birth of Pirates, the birth of butterflies and monkeys. It is a time to be grateful for creation and life and spaghetti. We fast from ALL spaghetti products for six weeks to represent the six minutes that the Flying Spaghetti Monster waited in hunger and pain without food, and then we celebrate the creation of Pirates in the form of men and women when the fast ends.

The story is told in many ways by many tellers. But as a person of faith this is the version I choose to believe. And so, renewed by the struggle of It, I will not complain that I have been chosen for this building task. Somehow I will find the strength and continue.