| The State of Kansas ultimately failed in its planned | | | | Rupe was not alone among her peers in decrying the |
| implementation of intelligent design theory as a counter | | | | planned standards. |
| to evolutionary thought. This change occurred when | | | | The growth of The Church of the Flying Spaghetti |
| new state education officials came to power and | | | | Monster now has its own 'gospel' for which Henderson |
| reversed the potential for the two primary origin | | | | received an $80,000 advance. Board games and a line |
| theories to be discussed in state run schools. | | | | of apparel is also available through Henderson's |
| It was during the nationwide discussion over the | | | | website. [1] |
| potential use of intelligent design being used as a | | | | Henderson has amassed a following that has become |
| theory in a science classroom that Bobby Henderson, | | | | synonymous with all things anti-intelligent design. |
| a physics graduate from Oregon State University sent | | | | I can find no reports that Henderson evaluated any |
| a letter to Kansas State Board of Education officials | | | | real evidence related to intelligent design, yet his |
| describing what has been termed a 'parody religion'. | | | | followers are content to make intelligent design a |
| Henderson's new 'religion' was based on a levitating | | | | whipping post. In most circles this is called bigotry. |
| monster comprised of pasta and meatballs. The 'Flying | | | | Intelligent design theory can sure cause an unusual |
| Spaghetti Monster' (FSM) concept poked fun at | | | | amount of anger. An Associated Press Report states, |
| organized religion and insisted that this religious parody | | | | " A theory is defined as a well-tested explanation that |
| be considered a third valid argument for earth's origins. | | | | unifies a broad range of observations." [2] |
| Today this satire organization has embraced what are | | | | Since this is the generally accepted definition of theory |
| called ' Pastafarians' who use the platform of the FSM | | | | why are Darwinian evolutionists and Pastafarians |
| to criticize organized religion as a meaningless | | | | unwilling to allow intelligent design proponents the |
| component in any discussion of science. | | | | opportunity to demonstrate their findings? |
| This movement may have been devised to amuse | | | | There is a growing body of evidence to suggest the |
| Kansas school board officials. Apparently Henderson's | | | | theory of evolution is a theory that is heading toward |
| suggestion of a new theory did catch attention. | | | | obsolescence. Is it possible evolutionists are more |
| Henderson's website delivers this quote from Carol | | | | interested in defending a personally held ideology and |
| Rupe who represents District 8 in the Kansas State | | | | are less interested in exploring scientific discovery? |
| Board of Education (as of 2007), "In the midst of the | | | | Perhaps this is why The Church of the Flying Spaghetti |
| sad circumstances of having our science standards | | | | Monster was so easy to promote - it successfully |
| lowered, you and your legion of fellow FSM followers | | | | deflected the real issues. |
| have offered wonderful comic relief." | | | | |