Hark, ye faithful! So ye devoted and ye interested, gather around because I will tell you a story about a really strange religious community. a group of people who worship the Flying Spaghetti Monster, or FSM, as they like to call it. Do not, however, laugh or roll your eyes, for this is not a story of blasphemy or heresy, but rather of amusement and open-mindedness.
Unlike any other group of people, the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster is unique. Individuality, skepticism, and a decent sense of humor are valued in this group. Because they don’t take themselves too seriously in this church, neither should you. We are all but meatballs in the Flying Spaghetti Monster’s big scheme, it is believed, because the world was made of spaghetti and meatballs.
But fear not, for this is not a sect based on tight orthodoxy or severe dogma. No, there is space for everyone in this community, regardless of your beliefs or lack thereof. Because everyone has the right to their own views and viewpoints as long as they do not damage others, according to the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. As a result, they accept everyone into their fold, including agnostics, atheists, and people who practice other religions.
They do have their doctrines and precepts, but with a touch of humor, so do not confuse their openness for a lack of conviction. Among other things, thou shalt not use thine noodly appendages for evil, thou shalt not take thyself too seriously, thou shalt wear a pirate cap on Fridays.
Nonetheless, this community is distinguished not only by its laws but also by its customs. So instead of attending a typical church service, they congregate for a “Spaghetti Dinner” where they eat pasta, drink beer, and converse animatedly. And instead of praying to a god during difficult times, they engage in a “Pasta Ritual” in which they prepare and consume pasta together as a sign of comfort and solidarity.
In light of this, I beg you, my dear readers, to consider this community’s open-mindedness and acceptance of everyone rather than its unconventional beliefs and customs. And perhaps we might all learn something from the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster in a world rife with bigotry and hatred. So let’s raise a bowl of pasta and pray for everyone’s well-being from the FSM’s noodly appendages.