New Zealand

Have you ever heard of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster? It may sound like something out of a comic book, but it’s a real church. While the idea behind the church may be a joke, and it’s really made to poke fun at religion, they are recognized as a church by most people, even those who are a part of churches the religion is making fun of. Now, the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster will be allowed to officiate same-sex marriages in New Zealand.

Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster Origins 

The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster originated in response to a protest over the Kansas Board of Education’s proposal to include intelligent design as part of the curriculum. While evolution was primarily the only theory taught in biology class, the Board of Education wanted to start including other theories as well. Bobby Henderson, the church’s founder, sent a letter to the Board of Education, asking them to consider the possibility that the Flying Spaghetti Monster created the world. He argued it was just as likely that a spaghetti monster created the world than any other god did. After the Board of Education did not reply, Henderson posted the note on a public website, where he received a lot of support and eventually became an internet sensation. Some people converted to the religion, calling themselves Pastafarians. Henderson said while most of the responses he received during that time were positive, he also received hate mail, with some saying he was going to hell, as well as the occasional death threat.

Members of the Kansas Board of Education did eventually respond, and he added those responses to his website. Three of the four members responded positively, as they opposed the adding of creationism to the curriculum. However, a fourth member, who wanted intelligent design to be taught, said, “It is a serious offense to mock God.” In response to whether or not he opposed religion, Henderson stated, “I don’t have a problem with religion. What I have a problem with is religion posing as science. If there is a god and he’s intelligent, then I would guess he has a sense of humor.”

Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster Beliefs

The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, of course, revolves around a flying spaghetti monster who the religion claims created the world while he was very drunk, which is supposedly why the earth has its flaws. The religion has some interesting thoughts about the afterlife:

• Heaven is full of beer which flows from a beer volcano, and a stripper or prostitute factory.
• Hell has the same, only the beer that flows from the beer volcano is stale, and the strippers (or prostitutes) have sexually transmitted infections.

The church also states pirates are divine beings, who love spreading peace while they explore the land. According to the religion, pirates even hand out candy to children. Holidays are celebrated by Pastafarians, though they are not celebrated on specific days or in a specific way. They believe saying “Happy Holidays” is a way of showing support for the religion, as they call their holidays “Holiday,” and let people celebrate in any way they please.

Role in Officiating Marriages

At first, leaders of the church were not allowed to officiate marriages. Over time, they have been given this right, and now the right to officiate same-sex marriages, in New Zealand. Same-sex marriage has been legal in New Zealand since 2013, and the church celebrated the news with a post to its Facebook page. How many same-sex couples will get married through the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster? There’s no way to know for sure, but if they want to have a good time, they will likely choose the church with members who wear pasta strainers on their head and end their prayers with “R’amen.”