Creature's picture irks Board of Ed member (FSM alert)

The Wichita Eagle ^ | April 13, 2006 | retMD

[retMD]

State Board of Education member Connie Morris took exception Wednesday to a picture of a made-up creature that satirizes the state's new science standards hanging on a Stucky Middle School teacher's door.

Fellow board member Sue Gamble told The Eagle that Morris asked for the picture to be removed.

The creature, called the Flying Spaghetti Monster, is the creation of Bobby Henderson of Corvallis, Ore. It looks like a clump of spaghetti with two eyes sticking out of the top and two meatballs flanking the eyes.

[js1138]

See post 16. FSM makes fun of Christians.

Why do you say Christians? If fun is being made, it equally includes Jews and Muslims.

[balrog666]

I just posted a picture. If you have a point to make, go ahead and try to use complete sentences.

[microgood]

The creature, called the Flying Spaghetti Monster, is the creation of Bobby Henderson of Corvallis, Ore. It looks like a clump of spaghetti with two eyes sticking out of the top and two meatballs flanking the eyes.

It must suck to have a room temperature IQ like Bobby.

[festus]

Who said it did ?

[retMD]

Spaghetti is "Good Carbs". It says so right on the side of the box so you know it's true.

And there is the Semolina/Whole Grain schism. The Whole Grainists would maintain that only their version is "good carb."

[retMD]

I don't see FSM as making fun of Christians, but of ID proponents who want religion taught as science. There are many, many creation myths out there. Henderson made one up and "demanded" it be taught. His point is a good one - why should one creation myth be taught in science class and not another? Why should any faith, religion or creation myth be taught as science?

No, not when arguments against ID are couched in attacks against Christians - as occurs all the time of the crevo threads.

I have seen the evo/crevo threads where a few people on each side attack the other posters in terms of faith. I've also seen those who believe in teaching only science in science class point out that many Christians also accept evolution. So I can't see it as an attack against Christianity, but as an attack against those who want to co-opt science classes. I certainly didn't post this to offend Christians, but to enjoy the parody of those who want to confuse faith (whichever faith) and science.

[Boxen]

I hope I'm not offending anyone. That would be just terrible.

[csense]

FSM was created to make fun of ID proponents.

That Might have been the initial motivation, but it hardly is now...unless you care to explain to me what the Gospels have to do with ID.

[curiosity]

Henderson has a valid point, but this is not a politically smart way of making it.

Needlessly offending believers is unnecessary and does not advance the cause of science.

I wish the pro-science side would just drop this FSM nonsense and focus on the merits of the argument. They're strong enough by themselves.

[csense]

The FSM makes fun of Intelligent Design...

If that's true, then demonstrate how the initial FSM design, and marketing for that matter, makes an argument, or criticizes in any way, the concept of irreducible complexity as it relates to biological entities.

Take your time...

[Oztrich Boy]

Creationists can sound awfully petty, too-and they do NOT speak for all Christians

Actually the problem with them is that they do.

[Old Professer]

Nothing allows for anything to come from nothing but the more we learn the more nothing seems to be easier to explain than some thing; even the notion that all there is has always been all there is.

What makes it all fit is to make the most confounded leap to suppose that time itself is but a construct and cannot be held constraining, even of itself.

Once time is removed from the equation force goes along with it and can't stand on a single leg.

With any luck it will all go back where it began.

[freedumb2003]

You seem to be mis-using the FSM and somehow treating it as a stand-in for the Christian God. That's not what it's for!

FSM is not a "stand in." It basically says that the theology belongs in theological context. ID and Creationism are interesting and compelling philosophical perspectives.

But the FSM is as valid as any other religion when put into the scientific realm. Belief is just belief.

[freedumb2003]

If that's true, then demonstrate how the initial FSM design, and marketing for that matter, makes an argument, or criticizes in any way, the concept of irreducible complexity as it relates to biological entities.

FSN is silent on this point, since it deals in the realm of belief.

[steve-b]

Repent, Ms Morris, lest ye spend eternity boiling in marinara sauce!

[balrog666]

But the FSM is as valid as any other religion when put into the scientific realm. Belief is just belief.

Beer volcanoes and stripper factories for everyone!

[Chiapet]

Henderson has a valid point, but this is not a politically smart way of making it.

Needlessly offending believers is unnecessary and does not advance the cause of science.

I think most people, believers or no, who have encountered the FSM find it kind of amusing. Trying to avoid offending the terminally offended is an exercise in futility.

[mlc9852]

Your opinion.

[csense]

FSN is silent on this point, since it deals in the realm of belief.

Without context, saying that it deals in the realm of belief is meaningless. Your statement could apply to virtually anything, with or without empirical evidence.

Thanks for the response though....

[Right Wing Professor]

That might have been the initial motivation, but it hardly is now...unless you care to explain to me what the Gospels have to do with ID.

Intelligent design is just the Logos theology of John's Gospel restated in the idiom of information theory. -- William Dembski.