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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]From the NBC News link:

[quote]Between the lines, the point of the letter was this: There's no more scientific basis for intelligent design than there is for the idea an omniscient creature made of pasta created the universe. If intelligent design supporters could demand equal time in a science class, why not anyone else? The only reasonable solution is to put nothing into sciences classes but the best available science.

"I think we can all look forward to the time when these three theories are given equal time in our science classrooms across the country, and eventually the world; one third time for Intelligent Design, one third time for Flying Spaghetti Monsterism, and one third time for logical conjecture based on overwhelming observable evidence," Henderson sarcastically concluded.

Indeed, the tale of the Flying Spaghetti Monster and its followers cuts to the heart of the one of the thorniest questions in religious studies: What defines a religion? Does it require a genuine theological belief? Or simply a set of rituals and a community joining together as a way of signaling their cultural alliances to others?

Joining them on the panel will be David Chidester, a prominent and controversial academic at the University of Cape Town in South Africa who is interested in precisely such questions. He has urged scholars looking for insights into the place of religion in culture and psychology to explore a wider range of human activities. Examples include cheering for sports teams, joining Tupperware groups and the growing phenomenon of Internet-based religions. His 2005 book "Authentic Fakes: Religion and American Popular Culture," prompted wide debate about how far into popular culture religious studies scholars should venture.[/quote]

[url]http://www.nbcnews.com/id/21837499/#.Ud7kRvnVCSo[/url][/quote]

So back in 2007 one TV station gave air time to a guy from Australia who also talked about Tupperware? Well, that convinced me! I'm an atheist now!

Oh wait. Your point?

[/quote]

Incapable of understanding or simply trolling? I give you the DCUM fundamentalist!

:lol: [/quote]

And I give you - a wrong answer! Not a fundamentalist.

One TV show on a possibly crank professor certainly doesn't establish intellectual bona fides for the FSM.  Tell us why this TV show from 2007 is relevant to this thread. We're not going to do your work for you.[/quote]

Just to humor you, I'll respond. The point wasn't to "establish the intellectual bona fides for the FSM". (A classic phrase, btw). The point was to show the origin of the meme. And in turn to show that FSM isn't a pointless insult hurled at believers, but rather actually has a point to it.

At this point, by the way, I'm just wrapping up for any lurkers or readers who might follow. You've claimed that atheists unfairly charge that all "believers" believe literally in the Flying Spaghetti Monster. I pointed out that that was incorrect, and a basic misunderstanding of the argument. I then posted a link to the above story so that you could read it and try to understand the argument being made.

First, why privilege any particular god? Also, "What defines a religion? Does it require a genuine theological belief? Or simply a set of rituals and a community joining together as a way of signaling their cultural alliances to others?"

These are the sorts of questions that mature adults (believers and non-) talk to one another about.

You on the other hand appeared to glance briefly at the quoted piece, saw "2007", and "prominent and controversial academic" and immediately engaged your lizard brain. The FSM doesn't have any "intellectual bona fides". Demanding them is silly and pretentious.

Anyway, your passion for the subject is certainly lively (if a bit scattered) so no hard feelings! May the Flying Spaghetti Monster touch you with His noodly apendage!

:) [/quote]

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