Thread: Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster

Originally Posted by rmp

Funniest thread for ages!

Might be funnier if we discussed the role of religion in politics though. I read somewhere that most Americans would vote for a black politician (well, they just did), most vote for a woman, and even a gay pollie could get in.

But an atheist pollie in the US of A? Not a hope in hell. Not that the atheist would believe there was a hell ;-)

Could Australia vote in an atheist pollie?

I would certainly hope so. It is an interesting question.

Anyone with an interest in this whole debate (and no-one should be getting offended here - there should be nothing wrong with discussing this stuff openly) owes it to themselves to read:
"God is not Great. How Religion Poisons Everything", by Christopher Hitchens.
"The God Delusion", by Richard Dawkins.
and perhaps "The End of Faith" by Sam Harris.
Interestingly, I had a visit by a Jehova's Witness whilst I was in the middle of reading "The God Delusion". He wanted me to read the latest copy of "The Watchtower" (a publication that seeks to systematically contradict and undermine science), and I said I would if he reads "The God Delusion". I even offered to loan him my copy but he flatly refused. I read his stuff anyway.
Even if you are religious there's no harm in delving into the reasons why other people aren't. It may change your mind or it may not. It may even strengthen your faith. However if maintaining one's faith comes at the expense of reason, logical conjecture, an open mind and a genuine quest for knowledge it can be very dangerous.

Originally Posted by JohnF

I am a Christian, and perhaps a little bit radical. However I believe the Bible teaches freedom of conscience, hence if someone wants to mock God, and worship Dawkin's Evolutionary ideas or worship the non-existant flying spaggetti monster it is their right, as the True God does not force religion [any religion that is forced is not the worship of the True God of the Bible.] I actually have written a self published booklet "Freedom of Conscience under threat" that argues that a person has a right to believe how their conscience dictates, even if they are an Athiest or Buddhist, or Hindu or Catholic or Protestant.
So I believe the originator of this thread has the right to think this way even if he is wrong and offends some people. But I know his thinking is wrong, but say he has a right to think this way.

Mate if you are a true Christian ( in the true sense being a follower of the teaching of Christ and not of some dogma that has its roots in roman law and Greek mythology) then you would know that there is no heaven or hell. Then there would be no offence taken by the above witty (and quite good) joke.

As for "freedom of conscience" you are correct but nothing new, this being the one of the 3 points of the reformation.

Anyway - to get this thread back on topic, the FSM has recently revealed him/her-self yet again. All hail the FSM!



And here is and FSM-ish looking shipwreck - with a Land-Rover! Maybe I was wrong and Land-Rovers are somehow related to god (the FSM)!

(note that I am willing to reevaluate my position when new evidence becomes available!)

EDIT!!!
Yet more Landrover content!!!
The eye-stalks are somewhat downward looking, but you can definitely see his noodly (wiry) appendages!!!
Perhaps the dreaded "escaping smoke" actually occurs when you have displieased the FSM!