I wonder if this will give the Darwin Fish a run for the money?

Jim Leftwich’s Flying Spaghetti Monster T-shirt at Boing Boing store

Just what is the Flying Spaghetti Monster, you ask?

Well, here is one depiction:

From Wikipedia:

Flying Spaghetti Monsterism is a parody religion created to protest the decision by the Kansas State Board of Education to allow intelligent design to be taught in science classes alongside evolution.

The “religion” has since become an Internet phenomenon garnering many followers of the Flying Spaghetti Monster (sometimes referring to themselves as “Pastafarians“, a pun on Rastafarians) preaching the word of their “noodly master” as the one true religion.

It originated with an open letter to the Kansas State Board of Education:

I am writing you with much concern after having read of your hearing to decide whether the alternative theory of Intelligent Design should be taught along with the theory of Evolution. I think we can all agree that it is important for students to hear multiple viewpoints so they can choose for themselves the theory that makes the most sense to them. I am concerned, however, that students will only hear one theory of Intelligent Design.

Let us remember that there are multiple theories of Intelligent Design. I and many others around the world are of the strong belief that the universe was created by a Flying Spaghetti Monster. It was He who created all that we see and all that we feel. We feel strongly that the overwhelming scientific evidence pointing towards evolutionary processes is nothing but a coincidence, put in place by Him.

It is for this reason that I’m writing you today, to formally request that this alternative theory be taught in your schools, along with the other two theories. In fact, I will go so far as to say, if you do not agree to do this, we will be forced to proceed with legal action. I’m sure you see where we are coming from. If the Intelligent Design theory is not based on faith, but instead another scientific theory, as is claimed, then you must also allow our theory to be taught, as it is also based on science, not on faith.

Given how poorly most American high school students understand the science that is taught in the schools, what sane person wants their faith taught in the schools?

Their beliefs would get distorted beyond all recognition. Believe me, I had to “unteach” all the strange things that the students in my college class had “learned” in high school about science; it was not pretty.

Be careful when you advocate teaching belief in a science class.