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Opening of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster
The church opened in 2005 for satire purposes. Bobby Henderson had written a letter arguing that schools should designate class time to discuss the theory that a flying spaghetti monster had created the universe. This was in response to the Kansas Board of education's decision to teach the theory of intelligent design. Bobby believed the theory of the Flying Spaghetti man was just as good of an example of intelligent design as anything else. -
Henderson vs Kansas Board of Education
"In May 2005, having received no reply from the Kansas State Board of Education, Henderson posted the letter on his website, gaining significant public interest. Shortly thereafter, Pastafarianism became an Internet phenomenon." Three board members, all of whom opposed the curriculum amendments, responded positively; a fourth board member responded with the comment "It is a serious offense to mock God". -
Symbolism
In 2005, the "Jesus fish" became the symbol of the church. This symbol was created by readers of the Boing Boing website. -
Kansas Board of Education
In November 2005, the Kansas State Board of Education voted to allow criticisms of evolution, including language about intelligent design, as part of testing standards. -
The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster
Henderson published the Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. The central creation myth claims that the Flying Spaghetti Monster created the universe after drinking heavily. -
Use in Religious Disputes
The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster was credited with spearheading successful efforts in Polk County, Florida, to dissuade the Polk County School Board from adopting new science standards on evolution. -
Free Speech and Expression Conflict
"In March 2007, Bryan Killian, a high school student in Buncombe County, North Carolina, was suspended for wearing "pirate regalia" which he said was part of his Pastafarian faith. Killian protested the suspension, saying it violated his First Amendment rights to religious freedom and freedom of expression. "If this is what I believe in, no matter how stupid it might sound, I should be able to express myself however I want to", he said." -
Sponsors - Cultural Phenomenon
The local chapter of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster has sponsored an annual convention called Skepticon on the Campus of Missouri State University. At this event, Atheists and skeptics give speeches regarding various topics and debates with Christian experts. This is known as the "largest gathering of atheists in the Midwest". -
Flying Spaghetti Monster Statue Conflict
"In March 2008, Pastafarians in Crossville, Tennessee, were permitted to place a Flying Spaghetti Monster statue in a free speech zone on the courthouse lawn and proceeded to do so. The display gained national interest on blogs and online news sites and was even covered by magazines. It was later removed from the premises, along with all the other long-term statues, as a result of the controversy over the statue." -
Religious Ideas and Practices
In Austria during the year 2011, a Pastafarian was permitted to wear a colander on his head in his driver's license photo. This was recognized as religious headgear for official documents. This was later recognized as religious headgear in many other places such as Czech Republic, New Zealand, and some U.S states. -
Holidays
"In December 2011, Pastafarianism was one of the multiple denominations given equal access to placing holiday displays on the Loudoun County courthouse lawn, in Leesburg, Virginia." -
Representation of the Flying Spaghetti Monster
Tracy McPherson of the Pennsylvanian Pastafarians petitioned the Chester County, Pennsylvania Commissioners to allow the representation of the FSM at the county courthouse, equally with a Jewish menorah and a Christian nativity scene. One commissioner stated that either all religions should be allowed or no religion should be represented, but without support from the other commissioners, the motion was rejected. -
Offense of Religion
"On September 21, 2012, Pastafarian Giorgos Loizos was arrested in Greece on charges of malicious blasphemy and offense of religion for the creation of a satirical Facebook page called "Elder Pastitsios", based on a well-known deceased Greek Orthodox monk, Elder Paisios, where his name and face were substituted with pastitsio – a local pasta and béchamel sauce dish." This created a strong political reaction. -
Rallying Conflict
"In August 2013, Christian Orthodox religious activists from an unregistered group known as "God's Will" attacked a peaceful rally that Russian Pastafarians had organized. Activists, as well as police, knocked some rally participants to the ground. Police arrested and charged eight of the Pastafarians with attempting to hold an unsanctioned rally. One of the Pastafarians later complained that they were arrested "just for walking"." -
Religious Headgear Complication
"In February 2013, a Pastafarian was denied the right to wear a spaghetti strainer on his head for his driver's license photo by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, which stated that a pasta strainer was not on a list of the approved religious headwear." -
Religious Milestone
"In August 2013 Eddie Castillo, a student at Texas Tech University, got approval to wear a pasta strainer on his head in his driver's license photo. He said, "You might think this is some sort of a gag or prank by a college student, but thousands, including myself, see it as a political and religious milestone for all atheists everywhere." -
Marriage Conflict
"In November 2014, Rodney Michael Rogers and Minneapolis-based Atheists for Human Rights sued Washington County, Minnesota under the Fourteenth Amendment equal protection clause and the First Amendment free speech clause, with their attorney claiming discrimination against atheists: "When the statute clearly permits recognition of a marriage celebrant whose religious credentials consist of nothing more than a $20 'ordination' obtained from the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster." -
Free Speech Conflict
"In February 2014, union officials at London South Bank University forbade an atheist group to display posters of the Flying Spaghetti Monster at a student orientation conference and later banned the group from the conference, leading to complaints about interference with free speech. The Students' Union subsequently apologized." -
City Approval of Religious Service and Practices
"In November 2014, the Church of the FSM obtained city signage in Templin, Germany, announcing the time of Friday's weekly ("pasta mass"), alongside signage for various Catholic and Protestant Sunday services." -
Religious Acceptance + Marriage Rights
In 2016, the Netherlands accepted the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster as a religion. Additionally, during the same year, New Zealand legally recognized the first Pastafarian marriage. -
Documentary - Cultural Phenomenon
A documentary is published to examine the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster and its fight for legal recognition. -
Assembly Meeting - Cultural Phenomenon
The Pastafarian pastor Barrett Fletcher offered an opening prayer on behalf of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster at an Assembly meeting of the local government in Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska.