Detournement

church of the flying spaghetti monster

Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, 2005
The idea for the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, or Pastafarianism, first appeared in an open letter by Bobby Henderson in 2005, protesting the decision by the Kansas State Board of Education to permit the teaching of “intelligent design” as an alternative to evolution in public school science classes. Henderson claimed to believe in an all-powerful creator, “The Flying Spaghetti Monster,” and demanded his theory of creation be allotted equal time to be taught alongside intelligent design and evolution. Pastafarianism has since evolved a number of absurd theologies some of which are in response to attacks on the science of global warming. This satirical faith has attracted the attention of many followers who openly profess their commitment to the absurd Spaghetti Monster doctrine while many more supporters applaud the humorous refutation of intelligent design.