Posted on 04/14/2016 5:01:05 PM PDT by Kaslin
A federal judge in Nebraska has ruled that the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster is not a real religion. In the case Cavanaugh-v-Bartelt, the justice found that Stephen Cavanaugh, a prisoner in Nebraska, could not use his belief in the Flying Spaghetti Monster as a legitimate claim for religious accommodations.
The Court finds that FSMism is not a "religion" within the meaning of the relevant federal statutes and constitutional jurisprudence. It is, rather, a parody, intended to advance an argument about science, the evolution of life, and the place of religion in public education. Those are important issues, and FSMism contains a serious argument-but that does not mean that the trappings of the satire used to make that argument are entitled to protection as a "religion."
Cavanaugh tried to claim that his status as a "Pastafarian" entitled him to the rights to wear religious clothing (which the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster describes as a pirate outfit) and to partake in communion (spaghetti and meatballs). A judge rejected these claims as well as his claims that he faced significant burden in practicing his religious beliefs.
The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster was founded in 2005 as a mockery to attempts to put intelligent design theories in school curriculum. Membership is acquired through the church website.
Other states, however, have ruled in favor of other Pastafarians, and allowed them to wear colanders (which FSMism describes as "religious headgear") in driver's license pictures.
While the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster is clearly a joke and a parody of religious beliefs, I'm not sure I'm okay with a judge deciding whether or not a religion is legitimate.
LOL
Captor is had the Church of Monday Night Football because they worshipped football and and watched religiously Monday nights. It got status. :-)
Captor is California had. Dam devises love to change what you wrote these days.
Mock all that is good and traditional. Used to be, you’d wake up dead for that.
A rare moment of sanity from the Federal Courts.
I’m sure they won’t be laughing it up, eventually. Revelation 20:12.
There is an out:
John 3:17-18.
I’ll admit it’s funny in pics, for sure.
May this judge be abducted by space aliens and probed with un-lubricated instruments for his transgressions against the FSM.
What do you call a lawyer who graduates at the bottom of his class?
- Your honor.
Islam isn’t a real religion either.
Another phony “religion” - scientology. Claimed to be a religion for tax benefits. It’s a fantasy invented by third-rate science fiction author L. Ron Hubbard.
And neither is Scientology.
It’s about time.
or islam.
What about the direct link between pirates and global warming? Try to disprove that Judge
we will have lots of fun joking about this, but the judge had no authority to rule that way
(its a violation of the free exercise clause and, arguably also the anti-establishment clause, plus...)
this amusing case ruling will be overturned (note: all religions contain some rather incredible features, that’s why we use words like “believers” and “faith” and, for that matter, “mysteries”.... if the courts start ruling BrandX Church to “not be a religion” then they can rule your church to not be a religion, too)...(we see quite a number of critiques right here on FR about other peoples’ faiths... but at least we are private individuals discussing these matters... and NOT the GOVERNMENT passing RULINGS about them! That’s extremely dangerous for us all...)
it is simply not the proper function of the courts to “pass” or “fail” on religious churches or their teachings
we get some weird churches as a result, but at least every person is permitted the “religion” of his/her choice (free will)
this is what our Founders provided for us. so far, its worked better for us than I think any other country’s system on earth...
imho.
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