Gospel by pasta sticks it to religion's funny bone

[XNASA]

http://www.suntimes.com/output/falsani/cst-nws-fals24.html

----Maybe it's all the pedophile priest stories, or the Muslim factions methodically killing one another in Iraq, or the rabbi in Israel this week who said avian flu is God's wrath for efforts to legalize same-sex marriage.

(Heavy sigh.)

Organized religion's been having a rough month. Again.-----

[reichstag911]

1. I think I'm a minor deity...

...in the Pastafarian faith because my birthday falls on Talk Like a Pirate Day, the Pastafarian Easter according to Falsani. :silly:

[silverweb]

2. Ramen!

Great review.

[stellanoir]

3. Gotta love this guy

Here is an excerpt from some recent writing. . .

"Two faiths who seem to have the least judgement and appear to have the most fun collectively, of which I am aware, are the Buddhists and the UU's, but Pastafarians and their hysterical response to idiotic fundamentalism are on the rise. (http://www.venganza.org) Though I'm sure there are many others.

I bought my kid one of the flying spaghetti monster T shirts. He wears it happily, but had to repeatedly explain it a whole lot when he first wore it to school. This rampantly divisive fundamentalism is driving the world nuts. Let's pray that wanes ASAP.

Historically, approaches resembling so-called "intelligent design" " that stunt exploration and curiosity invariably cede leadership in innovation to other lands" It's not so intelligent really.

There are wonderfully inspiring creation myths aligned with all cultures on the planet. There have never been only two. Knuckleheaded dualistic simpletons are clueless. If we're gonna teach anything in schools, it could be perhaps, the works of Marie Louise von Franz. ( http://www.marie-louisevonfranz.com/b/cm1/ ) and/or the writings of Joseph Campbell. http://www.jcf.org/about_jc.php

Aaand uhhhh, I can't even believe I have to type this truism most obvious. Creation myths would be far better classified as Social Studies, World Cultures, or Religious Studies, rather than Science. ya know ?

I heard an interview on the radio recently, with a musician who was both classically and blues/rock oriented. When asked about live performances, he cracked me up entirely by saying "the state of mind is always a surprise." He suggested it always was so, even though he's been playing for many decades. He also related a quotation from his funny wife by saying something to the effect of "classical musicians only do cover tunes."

That verrry playful spontaneity of the muse is exactly what far too many faiths are far too often sorely lacking. Maybe most religions only do "cover tales." Perhaps consider that. . . The only structures which are capable of containing transformation are those which are ALIVE.

You see, there are simply, some truths and fallacies within all faiths. The best are the most playful, least dogmatic, and really often humorous, and often divinely vague and subject to incessant change, constant revision, reinterpretations. Though all truths are simple: like, basic human kindness and great humors are the the elixirs for all disputes and conflicts.. . ."

May his noodly appendages be and abide with you and yours on this day and from this day forward. Ramen.