Category Archives: General

General

Gary Smith’s Pirate Hat ID photo will happen eventually

Posted on by Bobby Henderson

Here’s a nice article about Gary Smith and his efforts to wear a pirate hat in his ID photo. Until now they have denied him, issuing him temporary licenses without the photo. I find it inspiring that he keeps up the fight.

I admire the people who wish to wear religious headwear – colander or pirate hat – in their ID photos, while putting up with the questions, smirks, or full-on discrimination of workers. I hear about it often, and most people give up after being denied. It takes a special type of person to continue to fight for their rights. I have no doubt that Gary will be successful.

The article goes into detail about some of his other Pastafarian activites and outreach, it is truly impressive. Let’s find a way to help the effort.

Pease check out the Richmond News article about Gary.

General, Hate-Mail (and Concerned Criticism)

Thoughts on hate-mail

Posted on by Bobby Henderson

After 10+ years of receiving hate-mail (or if not hate, let’s call it well-intentioned criticism), I find it hard to take offense or argue with these people. For years I have stopped posting these messages and rarely reply to them. I don’t believe these people are representative of the groups they claim to speak for, so I often felt that posting these messages was in a way unfair to those groups, because it may give a wrong impression of the groups as a whole.

I’ve decided to post a few messages from time to time, but I will not argue with these people. I received a message today that moved me to respond, if only to try to make peace with a critic.

I do not agree with some of Jeremy’s statements such as “When you die , you will not go to your Satan invented Pasta Heaven where your beer volcano and sex factory . You in reality will go to the everlasting Hell where you will burn and suffer for all eternity . There no beer in Hell and not even water . No girls for sex , but demons who will torture you.” .. but I respect that these are his personal beliefs and feel no ill-will towards him. Let’s agree to disagree, live and let-live.

I’ve posted his email, and my response below:

General

Church of FSM’s Growth in Australia

Posted on by Bobby Henderson

Here’s a nice article about the growth of the Church of the FSM in Australia. An interesting dynamic there is the every-five-year census that includes religious preference. The results of the census influence funding and social programs. Australia does not currently recognize the Church of the FSM as an “official” religion so Pastafarians are at a disadvantage. Still, it sounds like the situation is improving.

When Census night 2021 rolled around, Pirate Priestess Angela Carter and her husband Captain Colin “Cupcakes” Carter followed an instruction from their leader and selected the “no religion” option where the nationwide survey asked respondents about their religious affiliations.

Yet the Carters are actually among a growing number of Australians who consider themselves to be Pastafarians, or members of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

They are also ministers and owners of the only recognised church of their faith in the country, but they checked the “no religion” box because they didn’t want to be counted as Christians in the census.

abc.net.au

Here is the article.