Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster

Have you heard about the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster? I’m not making this up. It started as a response to the 2005 proposal to introduce the creation argument of Intelligent Design into Kansas public schools as an alternative to teaching evolution. Hard to read this stuff without picturing the founders writing with a tongue firmly planted in their cheek, but they really want us to take them seriously. Their website is http://www.venganza.org/

A guy named Bobby Henderson started the debate when he wrote an open letter supporting the CFSM to the Kansas School Board. Here’s an excerpt:

Let us remember that there are multiple theories of Intelligent Design. I and many others around the world are of the strong belief that the universe was created by a Flying Spaghetti Monster. It was He who created all that we see and all that we feel. We feel strongly that the overwhelming scientific evidence pointing towards evolutionary processes is nothing but a coincidence, put in place by Him.

It is for this reason that I’m writing you today, to formally request that this alternative theory be taught in your schools, along with the other two theories. In fact, I will go so far as to say, if you do not agree to do this, we will be forced to proceed with
legal action. I’m sure you see where we are coming from. If the Intelligent Design theory is not based on faith, but instead another scientific theory, as is claimed, then you must also allow our theory to be taught, as it is also based on science, not on faith.

According to their website one of the most vocal critics of the CFSM is fundamental Christians. Their plea to be taken seriously is reflected on their website (see “About” on the CFSM website):

Some claim that the church is purely a thought experiment, satire, illustrating that Intelligent Design is not science, but rather a pseudoscience manufactured by Christians to push Creationism into public schools. These people are mistaken. The Church of FSM is real, totally legit, and backed by hard science. Anything that comes across as humor or satire is purely coincidental.

Okay so their belief may be a little odd, but the U.S. Constitution guarantees their right to to believe the absurd. One thing’s for sure they have a great sense of humor and a really cool logo, which you may have already seen on a car, or t-shirt in your area. They are also on their way to cashing in on the sales of logo products! Sadly, the angry response of legalistic fundamental Christians is undoubtedly exactly what they expected to prove their point. C’mon folks could we at least acknowledge that biblical creation might sound just as ridiculous to a person who has never considered the Bible and its faith claims? How does that make our view any weaker? Imagine telling people in the 40’s-50’s that one day we would launch a jet-like spaceship that would fly into space, dock at an international space station and return to earth in the same vehicle. No one would have believed it. Yet, time and history have proven it to be true.

I can’t explain creation without the Bible and faith in God. But I do believe that time and history will prove it to be true. Faith accepts something so preposterous that to an unbelieving world it would appear to be a total joke. Like a man being crucified, rising from the dead on the 3rd day and thereby ushering eternal life for all of humanity. Sounds crazy doesn’t it? Yet, I believe time and history will prove it to be true! Faith reads the Bible from cover to cover and accepts the acts of God as well as the testimony of Jesus. The two can't be separated. Here’s a scary thought, what if we’re right? If we’re wrong we’ve lost nothing. If we’re right, God help those who refuse to hear, only accept the bits and pieces they can accept, or worse yet, reject the claims of Christ altogether!