Pastafarianism

A debate rages in US school boards about the teaching of creationism in the science classroom. Unlike Australia, there is no scope for teaching of religion in the normal school system, and so a network of Christians, with the funding and support of the Discovery Institute, have launched a progressive battle to have Creation taught as an alternative science. Of course, religion is not a science (it offers no falsifiable arguments, only absolute "truths"), and so instead the Discovery Institute launched a campaign based on "Intelligent Design Theory" which uses scientific arguments to prove that something 'higher' must have created life. Arguments mainly affect Evolution, a well documented process, such as reductionism (for which a typical argument is "what good is half an eye - a lens without a retina is useless and vice versa, how could they both have spontaneously arisen?"). However, the courts have systematically proven each one of Intelligent Design Theory's proofs to be invalid (such as the innumerable examples of proto-eyes, as can be found in everything from jellyfish to insects). 

Note for the religious: Evolution is an extremely well documented process, showing what is happening and has been happening for millions of years. Evolution, as a process, does not in any way discuss the origin of the process, and as such does not rule out any theory about gods, creators, or spontaneous chemical reactions. Evolution is not an attack on religion, but is often framed that way. Please don't take evolution personally!

The latest assault has been to defend individuals teacher's academic fre

edom to teach what they like - including non-science in the science classroom. By framing Intelligent Design Theory's ban as censorship, the lobby is once again gaining momentum. However, consider that if Intelligent Design Theory can be taug

ht in science, why not astrology? Scientology? Or my favorite, Pastafarianism?

Pastafarianism

Pastafarianism is a response to Intelligent Design Theory and is a mock-religious movement insisting that their creation also be taught in the science classroom. Pastafarians believe that the world was created by a Flying Spaghetti Monster, a belief supported by a well documented sighting of his Holy Noodlyness in the galaxy NGC 1275 (see below).