Flying Spaghetti Monster Dead

[Grestarian]

@Little_Nemo

Speaking as somebody who’s been on the other side of this issue, we generally have a sensible reason for establishing the procedure as well.

For example, every man who enters the New York prison system has a picture taken of his face for identification purposes. Then if they have a beard and/or moustache, we require them to shave it off and we take a picture of their clean shaven face. The reason for this is so we have identification pictures of what they look like with and without facial hair. I think most people would concede that’s a reasonable security procedure.

But some people have religious beliefs that prohibit them from shaving their facial hair. Some prisoners have won exemptions from shaving based on their religious beliefs. Does that mean we should allow any prisoner who simply wishes not to shave out of personal preference the same exemption?

I would think that (semi?)modern technology makes that more feasible. Take pictures of every prisoner upon entry and then use a simple version of photoshop to add or remove hair around the skull/face. Save each version and, if/when a particular prisoner escapes, release the collection of variations to the media (and to LEOs with ‘watch for this guy’ instructions).

–G!

[running_coach]

@Grestarian

I would think that (semi?)modern technology makes that more feasible. Take pictures of every prisoner upon entry and then use a simple version of photoshop to add or remove hair around the skull/face. Save each version and, if/when a particular prisoner escapes, release the collection of variations to the media (and to LEOs with ‘watch for this guy’ instructions).

–G!

Depends on the beard. Duck Dynasty/Grizzly Adams style can make it hard to estimate the face beneath.

[Spiderman]

@Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew

…and him always! :):)

Who was the, ahem, former-poster who ended every post with “Love You Always :):):)”? The triple smilies give it away - you’re their sock!
::looks at Charter tag:: Correction - you’re their sock who joined before them.

Which can only mean one thing: We’ve broken the space-time continuum! :eek:

Which can only mean one thing: FSM EXISTS! :):)

[Little_Nemo]

@spamforbrains

is there a difference between personal preference and belief? shaving is quite temporary and it all grows back. it’s not like you’re asking them to cut off an ear or something.

As a practical matter, there’s a big difference. Religious practices are protected by law. Personal preferences are not.

[Chronos]

Serious question here: What are the genuine, sincerely-held religious beliefs of Unitarian Universalists? We recognize them as a religion; why not Pastafarianism? Pastafarians do have genuine beliefs associated with the religion as a whole, and practices which stem from those beliefs, and people really have engaged in all the same sorts of acts associated with religions as a result of those beliefs. It might have originated as a joke, or as a rhetorical device… but are either of those things actually inconsistent with it being a real, legitimate religion? I don’t see any reason it can’t be both.

[Cabin_Fever_1]

@Chronos

Serious question here: What are the genuine, sincerely-held religious beliefs of Unitarian Universalists? We recognize them as a religion; why not Pastafarianism? Pastafarians do have genuine beliefs associated with the religion as a whole, and practices which stem from those beliefs, and people really have engaged in all the same sorts of acts associated with religions as a result of those beliefs. It might have originated as a joke, or as a rhetorical device… but are either of those things actually inconsistent with it being a real, legitimate religion? I don’t see any reason it can’t be both.

I will have what he is drinking.
Oh, and get FSM one too. Just put it on my tab.
(Poor guy needs one about now).

[Larry_Borgia]

@ITR_champion

Says who? In this country, people get arrested for toy guns, fishing equipment, or letting your kid walk down the street. Those don’t violate the rules of any religion I know of.

How much prison time did any of those people do?

[dropzone]

@Cabin_Fever

Flying Spaghetti Monster Dead

Meh. Give Him/Her/It three days; He/She/It will be back

@Inner_Stickler

How many people will need to believe?

More than none?

@Little_Nemo

Let’s put this into the proper perspective…

Quiet, you!

[Cabin_Fever_1]

@dropzone

Meh. Give Him/Her/It three days; He/She/It will be back

More than none?

Quiet, you!

He has arisen!

Lawfully wedded pastafarians – DW – 04/16/2016

[dropzone]

He has risen, indeed! Alleluia!

Sorry. Reflex.

[Cabin_Fever_1]

@dropzone

He has risen, indeed! Alleluia!

Sorry. Reflex.

I am cooking spaghetti tonight. What a coincidence. Come on over…bring beer.

[Guinastasia]

@kayaker

Anyone with a lick of common sense, when told the biblical story of Noah and his ark, would laugh.

ETA: goes double for Xenu, also the Mormon planet.

That’s assuming you’re talking about Biblical literalists – which the vast majority of Christians are not.

(I prefer Ceiling Cat myself.)

[kayaker]

@Guinastasia

That’s assuming you’re talking about Biblical literalists – which the vast majority of Christians are not.

(I prefer Ceiling Cat myself.)

Ahh, so you are open to the idea of metaphor, but you won’t allow it be used Pastafarianally. OK.

Pax.

[dropzone]

Anal what?

[Novelty_Bobble]

@Little_Nemo

As a practical matter, there’s a big difference. Religious practices are protected by law. Personal preferences are not.

Then the law makes no sense.

If a secular personal preference is deeply felt why should it be treated differently from those derived from a religious point of view?

Pacifism, vegetarianism…why not Pastafarianism?

[kayaker]

@dropzone

Anal what?

Hey, spellcheck didn’t mind.

[JKellyMap]

@VinylTurnip

In other words, it’s only a real religion if nobody is in on the joke.

This is a brilliant, pithy way of saying a whole lot. Seriously.

If anyone puts together a Vinyl Turnip Quotes Page-a-Day Calendar, I’ll buy it.

[aldiboronti]

When is a religion not a religion? When it’s self-confessedly a parody of a religion. Are all religions totally divorced from reason? Of course they are but that’s not the point. The point is belief. It doesn’t take a Solomon come to judgment to realize that this guy is gaming the system. The judge made the right decision.

[Frodo]

@aldiboronti

When is a religion not a religion? When it’s self-confessedly a parody of a religion. Are all religions totally divorced from reason? Of course they are but that’s not the point. The point is belief. It doesn’t take a Solomon come to judgment to realize that this guy is gaming the system. The judge made the right decision.

So, if someone where to decide to take pastafarianism as his religion, no more divorced from reason than someone who took Catholicism, Mormonism or Hinduism for example, he would be SOL?

[Novelty_Bobble]

@aldiboronti

When is a religion not a religion? When it’s self-confessedly a parody of a religion. Are all religions totally divorced from reason? Of course they are but that’s not the point. The point is belief. It doesn’t take a Solomon come to judgment to realize that this guy is gaming the system. The judge made the right decision.

From the very pages of the Church comes the following.

We believe religion – say Christianity, Islam, Pastafarianiasm – does not require literal belief in order to provide spiritual enlightenment. Much of the transcendent experience of religion can be attributed to the community. And while some members of religion are indoctrinated True Believers, many are not. There are many levels of Belief and each is no more or less legitimate than the other.

That is to say, you do not have to Believe to be part of our Church, but we hope in time you will see the Truth. But skeptics, as well as members of other religions, are always welcome.

I don’t know about you but that statement above seems to me to have as much validity as any pronouncement by the “main” faiths.

Read some of their Q and A’s here. Below is an example

Q: I don’t believe you or any of your so-called followers actually believe any of this.
A: Some Pastafarians honestly believe in the FSM, and some see it as satire. I would just make the point that satire is an honest, legitimate basis for religion. Satire relies on truth to be effective. If it’s a joke, it’s a joke where to understand the punchline you must be conscious of underlying truth.

Compare our religion to those that are built on lies. I am not talking necessarily about mainstream religions (which themselves are often full of mysticism and ad-hoc reasoning), but think of cults, or churches where the leaders are scamming their followers out of money. These are groups where the followers fully believe. Are these churches legitimate since they have many True Believers?

Or can we agree that religion is as much about community as any shared faith. By any rational metric, Pastafarians are as legitimate a religious group as any. Arguably more so, since we’re honest and rational.

I don’t see how you can pronounce that it is not legitimate religion, (although their inclusive, non-judgemental nature and excessive rationalism is certainly unusual compared to most religions.)