Synopsis
Can I get a "ramen" from the congregation?!
Behold the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster (FSM), today's fastest growing carbohydrate-based religion. According to church founder Bobby Henderson, the universe and all life within it were created by a mystical and divine being: the Flying Spaghetti Monster. What drives the FSM' s devout followers, a.k.a. Pastafarians? Some say it's the assuring touch from the FSM's "noodly appendage." Then there are those who love the worship service, which is conducted in pirate talk and attended by congregants in dashing buccaneer garb. Still others are drawn to the Church's flimsy moral standards, religious holidays every Friday, or the fact that Pastafarian heaven is way cooler: Does your heaven have a Stripper Factory and a Beer Volcano? Intelligent Design has finally met its match-and it has nothing to do with apes or the Olive Garden of Eden.
Within these pages, Bobby Henderson outlines the true facts- dispelling such malicious myths as evolution ("only a theory"), science ("only a lot of theories"), and whether we're really descended from apes (fact: Humans share 95 percent of their DNA with chimpanzees, but they share 99.9 percent with pirates!)
See what impressively credentialed top scientists have to say:
"If Intelligent Design is taught in schools, equal time should be given to the FSM theory and the non-FSM theory."
-Professor Douglas Shaw, Ph.D.
"Do not be hypocritical. Allow equal time for other alternative "theories' like FSMism, which is by far the tastier choice."
-J. Simon, Ph.D.
"In my scientific opinion, when comparing the two theories, FSM theory seems to be more valid than classic ID theory."
-Afshin Beheshti, Ph.D.
Read the book and decide for yourself!
Review
Bobby Henderson has a degree in physics. He is the Prophet for the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, which keeps him quite busy. He likes to cook in his free time.DEAR FRIEND,
Welcome to the wonderful world of religion!
These are exciting times in holiness-politicians are crusading, nations are invading, and science1 is fading. With these changes come religious opportunities the likes of which haven't been seen since the Reformation ... or at least since the persecuted masses first huddled together and shipped off to that great democratic revival meeting we call the United States of America.
With this in mind, the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster (FSM) invites you to learn a little more about us. We'd like to tell you all about our Heaven, which features a Stripper Factory and a giant Beer Volcano. We'd love to see you dressed in His chosen garb: full Pirate regalia. We want you to enjoy Fridays as His chosen holiday. But first you need to know a little more about us.
What do we stand for?
All that is good.
What are we against?
All that isn't good.
Sounds sweet, right? Of course it's not that simple, and that's why we need a book. (Doesn't every religion have a book?) The Jews have the Bible (The Old Testicle), the Christians have ditto (The New Testicle), the Muslims have the Q-tip or whatever, the Jains have Fun with Dick and Jain, the Sufis have Sufis Up!, the Buddhists have the Bananapada, the Hindus have Ten Little Indians, the Wiccans have The Witches of Eastwick, and so on. If this was a manifesto, a pamphlet, a flyer, an article, or some nut preaching from a street corner, you, fair reader, might perceive FSMism2 to be just another two-bit cult. But we're not a cult (we're more like a boutique religion at this point), and this is a book that will stand up to any of the others-at least in terms of strict plausibility if not literary finesse and retributive beheadings and disembowelments. The more you read about us the more you're going to be persuaded that the Flying Spaghetti Monster is the true Creator and that FSMism just might be the Best. Religion. Ever.
Go ahead. Try us for thirty days. If you don't like us, your old religion will most likely take you back. Unless it's the Jains, whose feelings are easily hurt.
RAmen.
BOBBY HENDERSON
Prophet
The Need for Alternative Theories
SCIENCE IS A SUBJECT IN CRISIS. There's a dirty little secret that the scientific establishment has been trying to keep under wraps for years: There are many unproven theories that are being taught to people as if they were established fact. But thanks to the heroic efforts of a handful of deep thinkers, the winds of truth are sweeping across the nation.
Consider the theory of Evolution. To their credit, Intelligent Design advocates have successfully argued that their alternative theory deserves as much attention as Evolution, since neither can be considered fact. This is a valid point, but Evolution is hardly the only theory in trouble.
It seems strange that Evolution is singled out as "just a theory" when there are so many basic ideas in science that remain unproven, yet are still taught as fact. The objections to teaching Evolution have only illustrated this point further: Alternative theories must be taught in order to give our young students' minds a broad foundation. The Intelligent Design proponents make a compelling, and totally legitimate, argument that if a theory has not been proven, then one suggested theory is just as good as another.
Take gravity, for example: the force of attraction between massive particles. We know a great deal about the properties of gravity, yet we know nothing about the cause of the force itself. Why are particles attracted to one other? If we review the literature, we find a lot of material dealing with the properties of gravity, but very little dealing with the underlying cause of this attraction. Until we have a proven answer to this question, it seems irresponsible to instruct students in what is, ultimately, just a theory. However, if we must discuss the theory of gravity at all, then it's reasonable that all suggested theories should be given equal time, since none have been proven or disproven. Therefore, I formally submit that the Flying Spaghetti Monster is behind this strange and often misunderstood force.
What if it is He, pushing us down with His Noodly Appendages, that causes this force? He is invisible, remember, and is undetectable by current instruments, so in theory it is possible. And the fact that the gravitational powers of the Spaghetti Monster haven't been disproven makes it all the more likely to be true. We can only guess as to His motives, but it's logical to assume that if He is going to such trouble, there is a good reason. It could be that He doesn't want us floating off earth into space, or maybe just that He enjoys touching us-we may never know.
And while it's true that we don't have any empirical evidence to back up this theory, keep in mind the precedent set by Intelligent Design proponents. Not only is observable, repeatable evidence not required to get an alternative theory included in the curriculum, but simply poking holes in established theory may be enough. In this case, the established theory of gravity makes no mention as to the cause of the force; it merely presents the properties of it. I fully expect, then, that this FSM theory of gravity will be admitted into accepted science with a minimum of apparently unnecessary bureaucratic nonsense, including the peer-review process.
For further evidence of the true cause of gravity-that we are being pushed down by His Noodly Appendages-we need only look at our historical records. The average height of humans two thousand years ago was about five feet three inches for males, compared with an average height of around five feet ten inches for males today. Useless by itself, this information becomes quite important when viewed in terms of worldwide population. Humans, apparently obsessed with fucking, have increased their numbers exponentially over the years. We find, counter-intuitively, that a small population correlates with shorter humans, and a larger population correlates with taller humans. This only makes sense in light of the FSM theory of gravity. With more people on earth today, there are fewer Noodly Appendages to go around, so we each receive less touching-pushing down toward the earth-and thus, with less force downward, we're taller.
We can fully expect that as the population increases, and we receive less downward pushing by the FSM, we'll continue to grow in height. Conversely, we can expect that the sudden occurrence of a worldwide plague would cause our average height to decrease. This phenomenon can be verified in historical records. We find that regions undergoing health crises have shorter people-strong evidence that the theory is sound.
No one is saying that the FSM theory of gravity is necessarily true, but at the very least, it's based on sound science, sound enough to be included in the curriculum with the other nonproven theories. Until the currently taught theory of gravity, known as Newtonism, is proven as fact, alternatives should be taught as well.
The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster
Can I get a “ramen” from the congregation?! Behold the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster (FSM), today’s fastest growing carbohydrate-based religion. According to church founder Bobby Henderson, the universe and all life within it were created by a mystical and divine being: the Flying Spaghetti Monster. What drives the FSM’ s devout followers, a.k.a. Pastafarians? Some say it’s the assuring touch from the FSM’s “noodly appendage.” Then there are those who love the worship service, which is conducted in pirate talk and attended by congregants in dashing buccaneer garb. Still others are drawn to the Church’s flimsy moral standards, religious holidays every Friday, or the fact that Pastafarian heaven is way cooler: Does your heaven have a Stripper Factory and a Beer Volcano? Intelligent Design has finally met its match—and it has nothing to do with apes or the Olive Garden of Eden. Within these pages, Bobby Henderson outlines the true facts– dispelling such malicious myths as evolution (“only a theory”), science (“only a lot of theories”), and whether we’re really descended from apes (fact: Humans share 95 percent of their DNA with chimpanzees, but they share 99.9 percent with pirates!) See what impressively credentialed top scientists have to say: “If Intelligent Design is taught in schools, equal time should be given to the FSM theory and the non-FSM theory.” –Professor Douglas Shaw, Ph.D. “Do not be hypocritical. Allow equal time for other alternative ‘theories’ like FSMism, which is by far the tastier choice.” –J. Simon, Ph.D. “In my scientific opinion, when comparing the two theories, FSM theory seems to be more valid than classic ID theory.” –Afshin Beheshti, Ph.D. Read the book and decide for yourself!
Simon, Ph.D. “In my scientific opinion, when comparing the two theories, FSM theory seems to be more valid than classic ID theory.” –Afshin Beheshti, Ph.D. Read the book and decide for yourself!"
Religious Parodies and Satires
Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Pages: 28. Chapters: Church of the SubGenius, Kibology, Jedi census phenomenon, Flying Spaghetti Monster, The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, Reverend Billy and the Church of Life After Shopping, ApologetiX, Invisible Pink Unicorn, The Church Lady, Parody religion, Parodies of the ichthys symbol, Church of Euthanasia, Dudeism, LOLCat Bible Translation Project, Iglesia Maradoniana, Betty Bowers, Landover Baptist Church, Neo-American Church, Christwire. Excerpt: The Flying Spaghetti Monster (FSM) is the deity of the parody religion the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster or Pastafarianism. In 2005, Oregon State physics graduate Bobby Henderson wrote an open letter about a "Flying Spaghetti Monster" as a satirical protest against the decision by the Kansas State Board of Education to permit the teaching of intelligent design as an alternative to evolution in public schools. In the letter, Henderson parodied the concept of intelligent design by professing belief in a supernatural creator that closely resembles spaghetti and meatballs. Henderson further called for Flying Spaghetti Monsterism to be allotted equal time in science classrooms alongside intelligent design and evolution. After Henderson published the letter on his website, it rapidly became an internet phenomenon and a symbol for the case against teaching intelligent design (and religion in general) in public schools. Pastafarian (a portmanteau of pasta and Rastafarian) beliefs-generally satires of creationism-are presented both on Henderson's website (where he is described as "prophet"), and in The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster (written by Henderson and published by Villiard Press in 2006). The central belief is that an invisible and undetectable Flying Spaghetti Monster created the universe. Pirates are revered as the original Pastafarians, and...
Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online."
Humorists vs. Religion
Critical humorists and religion are steeped in a long-standing cultural antagonism. This book recounts the dramatic skirmishes between religion--its dogma and edicts, political manifestations, and the nature of faith--and the satire, parody, jokes and hyperbole of popular wits. The writings of Twain, Vonnegut, Mencken and Hitchens are included, along with the films of Monty Python, the cartoons of Charlie Hebdo, the animated television series The Simpsons and South Park, the comedy of George Carlin and Bill Maher, the music of Randy Newman and Pussy Riot, the performance monologue of Julia Sweeney and the magic of Penn Jillette.
84. 5. Bobby Henderson , The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster (New York: Villard, 2006), p. xii. 6. Paul Wilson, “English Football and the World Has Lost a Shining Light in Bobby Robson,” The ..."
Invented Religions
Utilizing contemporary scholarship on secularization, individualism, and consumer capitalism, this book explores religious movements founded in the West which are intentionally fictional: Discordianism, the Church of All Worlds, the Church of the SubGenius, and Jediism. Their continued appeal and success, principally in America but gaining wider audience through the 1980s and 1990s, is chiefly as a result of underground publishing and the internet. This book deals with immensely popular subject matter: Jediism developed from George Lucas' Star Wars films; the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, founded by 26-year-old student Bobby Henderson in 2005 as a protest against the teaching of Intelligent Design in schools; Discordianism and the Church of the SubGenius which retain strong followings and participation rates among college students. The Church of All Worlds' focus on Gaia theology and environmental issues makes it a popular focus of attention. The continued success of these groups of Invented Religions provide a unique opportunity to explore the nature of late/post-modern religious forms, including the use of fiction as part of a bricolage for spirituality, identity-formation, and personal orientation.
The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster is somewhat different, in that it began as a protest against the Kansas School Board's decision allowing ... 3 Bobby Henderson , The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster (New York, 2005)."
Voices of Unbelief
This book spotlights individual expressions of atheist, agnostic, and secular humanist opinion--both public and private--to shed light on the phenomenon of religious disbelief throughout history and across cultures. Voices of Unbelief: Documents from Atheists and Agnostics is the first anthology to provide comprehensive, annotated readings on atheism and unbelief expressly for high school and college students. This diverse compilation brings together letters, essays, diary entries, book excerpts, blogs, monologues, and other writings by atheists and agnostics, both through the centuries and across continents and cultures. Unlike most other anthologies of atheist writings, the collection goes beyond public proclamations of well-known individuals to include the personal voices of unbelievers from many walks of life. While readers will certainly find excerpts from the published canon here, they will also discover personal documents that testify to the experience of living outside of the religious mainstream. The book presents each document in its historical context, enriched with an introduction, key questions, and activities that will help readers understand the past and navigate current controversies revolving around religious belief. Documents include book and diary excerpts, letters, blogs, and video and radio scripts, bringing historical settings and individual lives into focus A chronology helps place the writings and writers in history and in relation to each other
Sincerely Yours, Bobby Henderson , concerned citizen Source: Henderson , Bobby . The Gospel ofthe Flying Spaghetti Monster . New York: Villard Books, 2006. AFTERWARD In 2006, four of the six religious conservatives on the board who had ..."
It Happened in Kansas
It Happened in Kansas features over 25 chapters in Kansas history. Lively and entertaining, this book brings the varied and fascinating history of the Sunflower State to life.
The Flying Spaghetti Monster “Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.” Bobby Henderson , www.venganza.org (accessed October 30, 2009). Henderson , Bobby . The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster . New York: Villard, 2006."
Spaghetti Issues
There may be other references in this book attributable to the Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster although I did attempt to name them all. There is no doubt that without the Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster by Bobby Henderson ..."
Historical Dictionary of New Religious Movements
In this newly updated second edition of the Historical Dictionary of New Religious Movements, George D. Chryssides traces the rise and development of new religious movements throughout the world. An updated introduction summarizes the phenomenon of new religious movements and lays out the changes to the dictionary since the 2001 edition, while the main body of the dictionary consists of close to 600 cross-referenced entries on key figures, ideas, themes, and places related to various new religious movements. An index organizes the information in the dictionary, and a comprehensive bibliography leads the researcher to further sources.
The flying spaghetti monster ( FSM ) phenomenon originated from a letter written in January 2005 by Bobby Henderson , a physics graduate from Oregon State University, to the Kansas Board of Education. Henderson objected to the teaching of ..."
The Religion and Theology Student Writer's Manual and Reader's Guide
The Religion Student Writer’s Manual and Reader’s Guide, is a set of instructions and exercises that sequentially develop citizenship, academic, and professional skills while providing students with knowledge about a wide range of religious concepts, phenomena, and information sources. Part 1 begins by teaching students about reading and writing in introductory religion. It focuses on the crafts of writing and scholarship by providing the basics of grammar, style, formats and source citation, and then introduces students to a variety of rich information resources including the religious journals and the Library of Congress. Part 2 prepares students to research, read, write, review, and critique religious scholarship. Finally, Part 3 provides for the practice of religious scholarship in advanced courses such as the history of religion and contemporary approaches to the study of religion.
“Religious Differences in Female Genital Cutting: A Case Study from Burkina Faso.” Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 50, no. 2 (2011): 252–71. Henderson , Bobby . The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster ."
Pirates in History and Popular Culture
This collection of new essays covers the myriad portrayals of the figure of the pirate in historical records, literary narratives, films, television series, opera, anime and games. Contributors explore the nuances of both real and fictional pirates, giving attention to renowned works such as Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island, J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan, the Pirates of the Caribbean saga, and the anime One Piece, as well as less well known works such as pirate romances, William Clarke Russell’s The Frozen Pirate, Lionel Lindsay’s artworks, Steven Speilberg’s The Adventures of Tintin, and Pastafarian texts.
Henderson , Bobby . The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster . New York: Villard, 2006. Laycock, Joseph. “Laughing Matters: 'Parody Religions' and the Command to Compare.” Bulletin for the Study of Religion 42.3 (Sept. 2013): 19–26."
I Do Solemnly Swear
This book asks whether officials can be moral and still follow the law, answering that the law requires them to do so.
By asserting (or presuming) the authority of a book of the moment, the author can skip the job of explaining the ... See Bobby Henderson , The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster (Random House, 2006); Cf “Review: The Editors Recommend ..."
Atheism for Christians
What can Mary Wollstonecraft teach Christians about sexual ethics? Can John Stuart Mill help the church understand toleration? Are there lessons for the Christian world from writers like Marx, Nehru, Shelley, Popper, and Hume? Atheism for Christians looks at the work of some of the most influential secular thinkers and asks what Christians can learn without giving up their faith or core values. Looking at important modern issues such as gender equality, same-sex marriage, creationism and evolution, abortion, universal health, biblical literalism, and religious tribalism, this work offers a fresh perspective on old questions. The Bible says the value of wisdom is far above rubies. It should not matter where that wisdom comes from. The Christian world should be able to celebrate and learn from the intellectual giants in the secular tradition just as atheists can still appreciate the great academic and artistic contribution of Christianity. The nexus between faith and reason is sometimes stretched but should never be abandoned. Atheism for Christians offers a unique insight into the work of some of the greatest secular thinkers and argues there is much to learn.
Gudorf, Christine E. Body, Sex, and Pleasure: Reconstructing Christian Sexual Ethics. ... Gundry, Robert H. Matthew: A Commentary on His Literary and Theological Art. ... Henderson , Bobby . The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster ."
Hunting the Faster than Light Tachyon, and Finding Three Unicorns and a Herd of Elephants
In 1905, Albert Einstein declared speeds greater than light to be impossible. This book describes the author’s decades-long search for the hypothetical subatomic particles known as tachyons that violate this principle. This book is a scientific detective story. The crime is speeding—that is, the possible breaking of the cosmic speed limit, namely the speed of light, as stipulated by Einstein. This detective story is also a memoir written by a member of a band of "tachyon hunters." The author’s pursuit of tachyons has been met with skepticism from most physicists, who note correctly that no such superluminal particles have ever been surely observed and that there have been many false sightings. Nevertheless, considerable circumstantial evidence for tachyons has already been published and an ongoing experiment could decide the issue in the next few years. This book is written for the general reader, containing humor and eliminating jargon whenever possible, and will also be of interest to scientists. The hunt for the tachyon will fascinate all readers who approach the study of physics with curious and open minds.
Robert Ehrlich. approaches. In the nal part of this chapter, we considered the paradoxes that tachyons and time travel would create, ... Henderson , Bobby . The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster , New York, NY, Villard Books, 2006. 9."
The Debaters of This Age
It is June 2018 as an unusual group of scholars, professors, lecturers, and students gather in a California hotel. They are all attendees of an Apologetics conference intended to join qualified representatives of Christian, Deist, and Atheist thought for a two-week, no-holds-barred debate and discussion of their respective positions that will ultimately be included in a book published after the conference. Evangelical Christianity is represented by advocates of Evidentialist and Presuppositionalist approaches to Apologetics. Catholicism, liberal Christianity, and Deism are also well-supported. The Atheist perspective is advocated by a polemical author and a college professor notorious for attacking the views of his Christian students. As the participants argue over controversial issues such as cosmology, evolution, The Bible, historical evidence for Jesus, the resurrection, biblical prophecies, and the problem of evil, intellectual fireworks result. But what will result when such a volatile and eclectic group is placed face-to-face for more than two weeks? The Debaters of this Age is the tale of what happens inside a California hotel in 2018 when a group of intellectuals gather to vigorously discuss the religious issues of our time.
Exposing the Roots of Anti-Semitism in the Gospel Story of the Death of Jesus Cunningham, George C.: Decoding the ... Why We Don't Know about Them) Ehrman , Bart D .: Misquoting Jesus : The Story Behind Who Changed the Bible and Why Ehrman ..."
Are We Postmodern Yet?
In this book, Reinhold Kramer explores a variety of important social changes, including the resistance to objective measures of truth, the rise of “How-I-Feel” ethics, the ascendancy of individualism, the immersion in cyber-simulations, the push toward globalization and multilateralism, and the decline of political and religious faiths. He argues that the displacement, since the 1990s, of grand narratives by ego-based narratives and small narratives has proven inadequate, and that selective adherence, pluralist adaptation, and humanism are more worthy replacements. Relying on evolutionary psychology as much as on Charles Taylor, Kramer argues that no single answer is possible to the book title’s question, but that the term “postmodernity” – referring to the era, not to postmodernism – still usefully describes major currents within the contemporary world.
The Beauty of the Infinite: The Aesthetics of Christian Truth. ... Neuron 68: 149–160, http://www. sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0896627310007208 Henderson , Bobby . 2006. The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster ."
American Genesis
The question of teaching evolution in the public schools is a continuing and frequently heated political issue in America. From Tennessee's Scopes Trial in 1925 to recent battles that have erupted in Louisiana, Kansas, Ohio, and countless other localities, the critics and supporters of evolution have fought nonstop over the role of science and religion in American public life. In American Genesis, Jeffrey P. Moran explores the ways in which the evolution debate has reverberated beyond the confines of state legislatures and courthouses. Using extensive research in newspapers, periodicals, and archives, Moran shows that social forces such as gender, regionalism, and race have intersected with the debate over evolution in ways that shed light on modern American culture. He investigates, for instance, how antievolutionism deepened the cultural divisions between North and South--northerners embraced evolution as a sign of sectional enlightenment, while southerners defined themselves as the standard bearers of true Christianity. Evolution debates also exposed a deep gulf between conservative Black Christians and secular intellectuals such as W. E. B. DuBois. Moran also explores the ways in which the struggle has played out in the universities, on the internet, and even within the evangelical community. Throughout, he shows that evolution has served as a weapon, as an enforcer of identity, and as a polarizing force both within and without the churches. America has both the most advanced scientific infrastructure as well as the highest rate of church adherence among developed nations, and the issues raised in the evolution controversies touch the heart of our national identity. American Genesis makes an important contribution to our understanding of the impact of this contentious issue, revealing how its tendrils have stretched out to touch virtually every corner of our lives.
The Flying Spaghetti Monster had its genesis in Bobby Henderson's open letter to the Kansas State Board of Education protesting ... More detail available in Bobby Henderson , The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster (New York, 2006)."
The New Testament of the Flying Spaghetti Monster; Dinner 2. 0
The New Testament of The Flying Spaghetti Monster: Dinner 2.0 is the Holy Book of The Unitarian Church of Pasta. They are a breakaway sect of Pastafarianism that focuses on inclusion. It is not part of Bobby Henderson's church, just to be very clear. These words were spoken by His Noodliness to the prophet Violet Johnson, in hopes of clarifying His message. He hopes that all Pastafarians will consider reading the words set down here, and that even those who do not yet believe in our Devine Carbohydrate will try his tasty new recipe and find that it is delicious. All glory to His Noodliness the Flying Spaghetti Monster, R'amen!
The New Testament of The Flying Spaghetti Monster: Dinner 2.0 is the Holy Book of The Unitarian Church of Pasta."
Naturalism and Protectionism in the Study of Religions
How should we study religion? Must we be religious ourselves to truly understand it? Do we study religion to advance our knowledge, or should the study of religions help to reintroduce the sacred into our increasingly secularized world? Juraj Franek argues that the study of religion has long been split into two competing paradigms: reductive (naturalist) and non-reductive (protectionist). While the naturalistic approach seems to run the risk of explaining religious phenomena away, the protectionist approach appears to risk falling short of the methodological standards of modern science. Franek uses primary source material from Greek and Latin sources to show that both competing paradigms are traceable to Presocratic philosophy and early Christian literature. He presents the idea that naturalists are distant heirs, not only of the French Enlightenment, but also of the Ionian one. Likewise, he argues that protectionists owe much of their arguments and strategies, not only to Luther and the Reformation, but to the earliest Christian literature. This book analyses the conflict between reductive and non-reductive approach in the modern study of religions, and positions the Cognitive Science of Religion against a background of previous theories - ancient and modern - to demonstrate its importance for the revindication of the naturalist paradigm.
The Seventh Book of the Stromateis: Proceedings on the Colloquium on Clement of Alexandria (Olomouc, October 21–23, 2010). Leiden and Boston: Brill 2012. ... Henderson , Bobby (2006). The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster ."
Toleration in Political Conflict
Political disputes over toleration are endemic, while toleration as a political value seems opposed to those of civic equality, neutrality and sometimes democracy. Toleration in Political Conflict sets out to understand toleration as both politically awkward and indispensable. The book exposes the incoherence of Rawlsian reasonable pluralist justifications of toleration, and shows that toleration cannot be fully reconciled with liberal political values. While raison d'état concerns very often overshadow debates over toleration, these debates – for example about terrorism – need not be framed as a conflict between toleration and security. Framing them in this way tends to obscure objectionable behaviour by tolerators themselves, and their reliance on asymmetric power. Glen Newey concludes by sketching a picture of politics as dependent on free speech which, he argues, is entailed by the demands of free association. That in turn suggests that questions of toleration are inescapable within the conditions of politics itself.
Henderson , Bobby , The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster (New York: Villard Books 2006). Heyd, David (ed.), Toleration: an elusive virtue (Princeton University Press 1996). Hobbes, Thomas, Leviathan, ed."
505 Unbelievably Stupid Webpages
When sheep feel glad that they can't use computers, this is why. 505 Unbelievably Stupid Webpages reveals the Internet's weirdest, funniest and overall dumbest websites. With more than 25,000 copies sold this new edition is completely updated and revised to include the most bizarre websites to emerge in the last few years. You'll never forgive yourself if you miss these insane, laugh-out-loud sites: -Marshmallow Bunny Survival Tests -The Corn Cam -The Leonard Nimoy Should Eat More Salsa Foundation -The Virtual Stapler -Star Wars Gangsta Rap -Squirrel Hazing: The Untold Story -Poke Alex in the Eye: The Game
Of all the bizarre Internet churches in this book , this one has to be the weirdest. The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster (or CFSM) was founded in 2005 when a guy named Bobby Henderson wrote a letter to the Kansas City School Board ..."
Theology after the Birth of God
Engaging recent developments within the bio-cultural study of religion, Shults unveils the evolved cognitive and coalitional mechanisms by which god-conceptions are engendered in minds and nurtured in societies. He discovers and attempts to liberate a radically atheist trajectory that has long been suppressed within the discipline of theology.
Henderson , Bobby , The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster (New York: Random House, 2006). Henrich, Joseph, “The evolution of costly displays, cooperation and religion: Credibility enhancing displays and their implications for ..."
Visioning New and Minority Religions
Cover -- Half Title -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Table of Contents -- List of illustrations -- Notes on contributors -- Part I Theoretical perspectives on new and minority religions -- 1 Introduction: projecting the future for new and minority religions -- 2 The changing scene: what might happen and what might be less likely to happen? -- 3 'The silent majority?': understanding apostate testimony beyond 'insider/outsider' binaries in the study of new religions -- 4 Seekership revisited: explaining traffic in and out of new religions -- 5 Economies of love and squalor: fraud and deception in religious milieus -- 6 No leader, no followers: the Internet and the end of charisma? -- 7 A guaranteed future for new religious movements -- Part II International perspectives on the future of specific new religious groups -- 8 The changing face of contemporary Paganism in Britain -- 9 You can't smash the Internet: a historical analysis of the LDS Church's negotiation of technology and how the Internet has changed the rules of the game -- 10 From Japanese Buddhist sect to global citizenship: Soka Gakkai past and future -- 11 Christian Scientists: has-beens or twenty-first century spiritual pioneers? -- 12 Anticipating the future: the growth of practice-oriented spiritualities -- 13 Pop culture-a new source of spirituality? -- 14 A neo-orthodox Buddhist movement in transition: the Diamond Way -- Index
The Brill Handbook of Christian Movements. Leiden: Brill. Barrett, David 2013. The Fragmentation of a Sect: ... Henderson , Bobby 2006. The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster . London: HarperCollins. Itzkovitz, Nahum, Ido Benjamin and ..."
Come Out from among Them, and Be Ye Separate, Saith the Lord
Believers’ Churches have their origin in the Radical Reformation of the sixteenth century. Over the past 450 years the movement has included the Brethren, Mennonites, Hutterites, various types of Baptists, and the Restoration Movement. While never a unified denominational structure, the Believers’ Churches together have been characterized by a strong personal faith in Christ, a call to discipleship and Christian activism, a high view of the authority of Scripture, and profession of faith in believers’ baptism. The Believers’ Churches have represented their beliefs in various ecumenical settings, missionary gatherings, and theological conversations. In the late 1950s, representatives of the several Believers’ Churches began to meet in a series of conferences to explore their common views on doctrine, history, and ethics. Topics at the conferences have included baptism, Lord’s Supper, the nature of the church, and religious voluntarism. In 2016, the 17th Believers’ Church Conference was held at Acadia University and sponsored by Acadia Divinity College. The theme was 'The Tendency Toward Separationism Among the Believers’ Churches', a key recurring characteristic. This volume includes the papers presented at the conference and examines the theme from an immediate post-Reformation perspective, including Baptists, Black Baptists, Restorationists (including the Churches of Christ), the Hutterites, Pentecostals, the role of women, and significantly, the separationist tendency as it occurs in New Religious Movements. Typologies and analyses are provided by leading historians, theologians, and social science specialists.
Henderson , Bobby . The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster . London: HarperCollins, 2006. Her Majesty's Government. Revised Prevent Duty Guidance: For England and Wales. Guidance for Specified Authorities in England and Wales on the ..."
Religion—One Man’s Overview
Everyone wonders, at least at times, about such questions as the purpose and future of his or her own life. Some would even trouble themselves with similar questions about the universe. In Religion—One Man’s Overview, a retired professor with a background in both Eastern and Western cultures, shares the outcome of his own enthusiastic search for answers. In simple language and a meticulously organized fashion, Dr. Robert Wen provides a concise overview of all the world’s major religions and explains the underlying philosophy behind each, while covering discussions of the origin and development of religion and its relationships to politics, culture, morality, philosophy, and science. Along with synopses of seven major world religions, Dr. Wen includes a comparison of Christianity and Buddhism as well as his personal views highlighted by his synthesis of the pragmatic and metaphysical views of religion. For anyone who possesses considerable earnestness and curiosity about religion, Religion—One Man’s Overview provides a fascinating, comprehensive, and easy-to-understand philosophical and historical overview of all key religions and theories.
Robert K. Wen. there were a number of similar cases, although they received less publicity.111 In the same year of the Dover School Board ... 112 Henderson , Bobby , The Gospel ofthe Flying Spaghetti Monster , Villiard Press, 2006."
Chronology of the Evolution-creationism Controversy
Chronicles the conflict between science-based and faith-based views of evolution and creation over three thousand years.
2005 In response to the actions of the Kansas State Board of Education, physicist Bobby Henderson (b. 1980) facetiously promotes the ... The following year, Henderson's book The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster was a best-seller."
50 Things You're Not Supposed To Know: Religion
If you're waiting for the world's "Holy Men" to tell you the truth about their religions, do you suppose they'll mention that: The Tao Te Ching was only created because Lao Tzu was thrown in jail by a disciple who didn't want to let him leave town without writing down his teachings?"Passover" celebrates God killing all firstborn Egyptian kids while Jewish homes were "passed over" by the angel of death?Shinto, a nature-loving, mellow religion, was transformed by the Japanese government into a nationalistic ideology promoting "holy" war? Adding to its popular 50 Things You're Not Supposed To Know series, Disinformation has teamed with Daniele Bolelli—writer, professor of comparative religion, and renowned martial arts practitioner and philosopher—to tackle an ever more serious and important topic: popular misconceptions about religion. Among other revelations: Carpocrates, an early Christian, argued that sex orgies were a key to heaven.Prostitution was a religious duty in Mesopotamian temples.The two major Chinese religions (Taoism and Confucianism) are completely at odds with each other and yet are often practiced together.Despite having persecuted Jews for 2,000 years, Christian fundamentalists are Israel's biggest supporters. Capturing just the right balance of in-depth knowledge, respect, humor and irreverence, Bolelli takes an ecumenical approach to the task, revealing surprising, shocking, and little-known facts about the "big three" religions but also many more, including Zen Buddhism, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, and, of course, the increasingly popular non-religion: atheism.
My God Has Bigger Balls Than Yours: The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster Hear it from the man himself: Bobby Henderson's The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster (Villard, 2006). Horses, Nietzsche And The Destiny Of The World ..."
Law and Religion in the Liberal State
The relationship between law and religion is evident throughout history. They have never been completely independent from each other. There is no doubt that religion has played an important role in providing the underlying values of modern laws, in setting the terms of the relationship between the individual and the state, and in demanding a space for the variety of intermediate institutions which stand between individuals and the state. However, the relationships between law and religion, and the state and religious institutions differ significantly from one modern state to another. There is not one liberalism but many. This work brings together reflections upon the relationship between religion and the law from the perspectives of different sub-traditions within the broader liberal project and in light of some contemporary problems in the accommodation of religious and secular authority.
In 2006, Henderson published The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster37 and continued to be critical of 'intelligent design'. Meanwhile, the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster ( FSM ) or Pastafarians gained many adherents.38 In ..."
1001 Ideas that Changed the Way We Think
An awe-inspiring overview of the development of human knowledge over the centuries! Part of the highly successful '1001' series which have sold over a million copies in the UK alone 1001 Ideas That Changed The Way We Think offers not only a comprehensive history of ideas, but also an eminently browsable source of amusement. This richly informative and entertaining book provides a wide variety of answers to those eternal questions such as... How was the universe created and what is the place of humans within it? How should a person live? And how can we build a just society? Readers will discover how the Greek philosopher Zeno 'proved' a flying arrow never moves and the mathematical proof of the existence of life in other galaxies. The inspiring ideas explored range from Gandhi's theory of civil disobedience to Mary Wollstonecraft's groundbreaking advocacy of women's rights. A wide variety of cultural movements are also covered, including Neoclassicism, Surrealism and Postmodernism. Drawing of a wide spectrum of topics including politics, cosmology, the arts, philosophy and religious beliefs, 1001 Ideas That Changed The Way We Thinktraces the exponential growth of human knowledge across the centuries. Ranging from the ancient wisdom of Confucius and Plato, to the cutting-edge theories taking shape in the twenty-first century, this book offers a wealth of stimulation and wit for any reader with a lively and curious mind.
Robert Arp. suggested that the first true believers in the FSM were pirates, and that the reduction in their number over the ... thethinkingatheist.com Receiving no reply from Topeka, Henderson posted his letter online, and his website ..."
The Bloomsbury Companion to New Religious Movements
The Bloomsbury Companion to New Religious Movements covers key themes such as charismatic leadership, conversion and brainwashing, prophecy and millennialism, violence and suicide, gender and sexuality, legal issues, and the portrayal of New Religious Movements by the media and anti-cult organisations. Several categories of new religions receive special attention, including African new religions, Japanese new religions, Mormons, and UFO religions. This guide to New Religious Movements and their critical study brings together 29 world-class international scholars, and serves as a resource to students and researchers. The volume highlights the current state of academic study in the field, and explores areas in which future research might develop. Clearly and accessibly organised to help users quickly locate key information and analysis, the book includes an A to Z of key terms, extensive guides to further resources, a comprehensive bibliography, and a timeline of major developments in the field such as the emergence of new groups, publications, legal decisions, and historical events.
2005 Bobby Henderson writes his open satirical letter 'The Flying Spaghetti Monster'. 2006 Publication of The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster . 2007 Sri Chinmoy dies. Jean-François Mayer sets up Religioscope."
Picturing Quantum Processes
Quantum phenomena are explained through the language of diagrams, setting out an innovative visual method of presenting complex scientific theories. Focusing on physical intuition over mathematical formalism, and packed with exercises, this unique book is accessible to students and researchers across scientific disciplines, from undergraduate to Ph.D. level.
In the Name of the Pasta, and of the Sauce, and of the Holy Meatballs ... – Bobby Henderson , The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster , 2006 After the conceptual comes the practical. While the study of quantum foundations is as old as ..."
New Religions: Emerging Faiths and Religious Cultures in the Modern World [2 volumes]
A valuable resource for students and general audiences, this book provides a unique global perspective on the history, beliefs, and practices of emergent faith communities, new religious traditions and movements worldwide, from the 19th century to the present. New Religions: Emerging Faiths and Religious Cultures in the Modern World provides insightful global perspectives on the emergent faith communities and new traditions and movements of the last two centuries. Readers will gain access to the information necessary to explore the significance, complexities, and challenges that modern religious traditions have faced throughout their history and that continue to impact society today. The work identifies the themes and issues that have often brought new religions into conflict with the larger societies of which they are a part. Coverage includes new religious groups that emerged in America, such as the Seventh-day Adventists, the Latter-day Saints, and the Jehovah's Witnesses; alternative communities around the globe that emerged from the major Western and Eastern traditions, such as Aum Shinrikyo and Al-Qaeda; and marginalized groups that came to a sudden end, such as the Peoples Temple, Heaven's Gate, and the Branch Davidians. The entries highlight thematic and broader issues that run across the individual religious traditions, and will also help students analyze and assess the common difficulties faced by emergent religious communities. Presents alphabetically arranged entries on new religions that provide readers with easy-to-access, historical information about how these religions emerged from their cultural contexts and evolved over time Provides numerous primary source documents—each introduced by a headnote—that convey firsthand accounts of the founding of new religions and supply students material for critical analysis Includes photographs that help students better visualize important places, people, and things related to new religions Helps meet world history content standards and enables a fuller understanding of religious beliefs and practices in the contemporary world as well as how religions have responded to challenges and uncertainties
Pastafarianism (or the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster ), which began as an internet spoof in 2005 ... design and evolutionary theory in science classrooms, Bobby Henderson (1980–) sent the Board a letter satirizing creationism."
Pseudoscience and Extraordinary Claims of the Paranormal
Pseudoscience and Extraordinary Claims of the Paranormal: A Critical Thinker's Toolkit provides readers with a variety of "reality-checking" tools to analyze extraordinary claims and to determine their validity. Integrates simple yet powerful evaluative tools used by both paranormal believers and skeptics alike Introduces innovations such as a continuum for ranking paranormal claims and evaluating their implications Includes an innovative "Critical Thinker’s Toolkit," a systematic approach for performing reality checks on paranormal claims related to astrology, psychics, spiritualism, parapsychology, dream telepathy, mind-over-matter, prayer, life after death, creationism, and more Explores the five alternative hypotheses to consider when confronting a paranormal claim Reality Check boxes, integrated into the text, invite students to engage in further discussion and examination of claims Written in a lively, engaging style for students and general readers alike Ancillaries: Testbank and PowerPoint slides available at www.wiley.com/go/pseudoscience
Bobby has enunciated a few additional beliefs and practices: 1. The FSM ... These beliefs are outlined in the Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster ( Henderson , 2006), a must-read for serious students of the paranormal or supernatural, ..."
Souls in Transition
How important is religion for young people in America today? What are the major influences on their developing spiritual lives? How do their religious beliefs and practices change as young people enter into adulthood? Christian Smith's Souls in Transition explores these questions and many others as it tells the definitive story of the religious and spiritual lives of emerging adults, ages 18 to 24, in the U.S. today. This is the much-anticipated follow-up study to the landmark book, Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers. Based on candid interviews with thousands of young people tracked over a five-year period, Souls in Transition reveals how the religious practices of the teenagers portrayed in Soul Searching have been strengthened, challenged, and often changed as they have moved into adulthood. The book vividly describes as well the broader cultural world of today's emerging adults, how that culture shapes their religious outlooks, and what the consequences are for religious faith and practice in America more generally. Some of Smith's findings are surprising. Parents turn out to be the single most important influence on the religious outcomes in the lives of young adults. On the other hand, teenage participation in evangelization missions and youth groups does not predict a high level of religiosity just a few years later. Moreover, the common wisdom that religiosity declines sharply during the young adult years is shown to be greatly exaggerated. Painstakingly researched and filled with remarkable findings, Souls in Transition will be essential reading for youth ministers, pastors, parents, teachers and students at church-related schools, and anyone who wishes to know how religious practice is affected by the transition into adulthood in America today.
... 179, 207,260 fertility rates, 110 fight/fighting, 44, 110 financial giving, 71, 72, 174, 258, 276 financial support to children, 5 Fish, Stanley, 49 Flying Spaghetti Monster , 177 Fosdick, Harry Emerson, 288 foster care, family, 15, ..."
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