[Boltzmann]

After the Kansas School Board decided that science curricula should include “intelligent design (ID)” as an alternative to evolutionary theory, a lot of debates have ensued about their action. In the middle of all these fights (which eerily reminds me of the Scopes trials of the 1920s), this letter manages to capture well the essence of the “intelligent design” argument:

I am writing you with much concern after I read of your hearing to decide whether the alternative theory of Intelligent Design to be taught along with the theory of Evolution. I think we can all agree that it is important for students to hear multiple viewpoints so they can choose for themselves the theory that makes the most sense to them. I am concerned, however, that students will only hear one theory of Intelligent Design..

Let us remember that there are multiple theories of Intelligent Design. I and many others around the world are of the strong belief that the universe was created by a Flying Spaghetti Monster. It was He who created all that we see and all that we feel. We feel strongly that the overwhelming scientific evidence pointing towards evolutionary processes is nothing but a coincidence, put in place by Him.

It is for this reason that I’m writing you today, to formally request that this alternative theory be taught in your schools, along with the other two theories. In fact, I will go so far as to say, if you do not agree to do this, we will be forced to proceed with legal action. I’m sure you see where we are coming from. If the Intelligent Design theory is not based on faith, but instead another scientific theory, as is claimed, then you must also allow our theory to be taught, as it is also based on science, not on faith.

Some find that hard to believe, so it may be helpful to tell you a little more about our beliefs. We have evidence that a Flying Spaghetti Monster created the universe. None of us, of course, were around to see it, but we have written accounts of it. We have several lengthy volumes explaining all details of His power. Also, you may be surprised to hear that there are over 10 million of us, and growing. We tend to be very secretive, as many people claim our beliefs are not substantiated by observable evidence. What these people don’t understand is that He built the world to make us think the earth is older than it really is. For example, a scientist may perform a carbon-dating process on an artifact. He finds that approximately 75% of the Carbon-14 has decayed by electron emission to Nitrogen-14, and infers that this artifact is approximately 10,000 years old, as the half-life of Carbon-14 appears to be 5,730 years. But what our scientist does not realize is that every time he makes a measurement, the Flying Spaghetti Monster is there changing the results with His Noodly Appendage. We have numerous texts that describe in detail how this can be possible and the reasons why He does this. He is of course invisible and can pass through normal matter with ease.

There’s more to this letter, and it can be found here: http://www.venganza.org/

I laughed a lot while reading this. Hope you enjoy it

 

[Dark Watcher]

After the Kansas School Board decided that science curricula should include “intelligent design (ID)” as an alternative to evolutionary theory, a lot of debates have ensued about their action. In the middle of all these fights (which eerily reminds me of the Scopes trials of the 1920s), this letter manages to capture well the essence of the “intelligent design” argument:



There’s more to this letter, and it can be found here: http://www.venganza.org/

I laughed a lot while reading this. Hope you enjoy it

here we go again

 

[cooliscool]

here we go again

Honestly.

 

[Boltzmann]

Here we go again with another of Cooliscool’s useless posts that only contribute to degrade a thread.

 

[Cloud Strife 7]

Well, I can say that all the evidence leads to the fact that he is a nutcase (the author of the letter), and I think no Flying Spaghetti Monster changed this evidence. I wonder what would hapen when the number of pirates reaches 0 (I don`t even think that the are pirates today)?
And I`m just curios: if they say that they wear pirate clothes to not upset the Flying Spaghetti Monster, and their number is over 10 million, then why are there only 17 pirates in the year 2000?
Ah well...just another wacko...
Very documenting picture of how the Flying Spaghetti Monster creates mountains and trees.
P.S.: Sorry if I had offended any Flying Spaghetti Monster worshipers.:lol:
Cool name they got for their god.Makes me wanna eat him.:evil:

 

[Boltzmann]

It’s a sarcastic letter, in case you didn’t get it

(I don’t know whether you’re being sarcastic or not. If your post is just sarcasm then ignore the statement above.)

Now let us wait for another of Cooliscool’s trademarked useless complaints that are entirely off-topic.

I think that a mod should know better than to post this kind of crap, but maybe it’s just me

 

[Cid Highwind]

Perhaps I should translate it to dutch for gramps

 

[Dark Watcher]

We didn't mean to contribute to the degragation of your topic Boltz (although the topic itself will degrade)

We are just growing weary of of the current stream of religion debates this will just inspire more

 

[Boltzmann]

We didn't mean to contribute to the degragation of your topic Boltz (although the topic itself will degrade)

Not you DW, but Cooliscool. He has this annoying tendency to make one-word posts or mere complaints about subjects he personally dislikes.

It would be better for everyone if he just refrained from posting in such topics, instead. But I don't think I should have to tell this to a mod like him (but judiging from his immature posts in the Ckemu's threads, it should be no surprise).

We are just growing weary of of the current stream of religion debates this will just inspire more

Well, I didn't even think about religion when I read this. I only laughed because of the Spaghetti and intelligent design.

Only creationists will bother to debate about this.

 

[Rhombus]

We didn't mean to contribute to the degragation of your topic Boltz (although the topic itself will degrade)

We are just growing weary of of the current stream of religion debates this will just inspire more

I think Boltzmann's point isn't necessarily about religion itself, but is about the ridiculous way that bible-thumping policy makers use double-talk and rhetoric to breach the rules about separation of church and state in an attempt to forcibly instill christian thought in America's youth.

Indeed if a completely science-free notion like "Intelligent Design" is being taught (with an obvious bent towards the judeo-christian biblical creation stories), then any equally complex belief system (ridiculous as it may be... Spaghetti God... hehe) deserves the right to teach its own version as well. Not to mention the fact that "Intelligent Design" in and of itself implies a "Designer", which, regardless of the fact that technically no specific god or god-figure is named, implies an intelligent creator. This is an undeniably theist viewpoint (and like I said, the way its being taught and worded, specifically Christian) and should have no place in schools, least of all in a science class.

 

[Seta-San]

actually i like it but i agree it needs to be closed before the politics and religion get in the way

 

[cooliscool]

It's funny boltz.. my view on the subject is the exact same as DW's, yet it's my problem only? Quite the double standard, I'd say.

I don't dislike the subject, I just am "growing weary of the current stream of religous threads" (as DW put it), and fear it'll only strike up more. DW said everything I would have.

Enough boltz vs. cooliscool, please..

 

[Player-X]

I would probably post news about the "Flying Spaghetti Monster cult" doing wierd things

 

[Proto]

Ok... this is going from bad to worse. First people start making random comments that have nothing to do with the topic at hand, they are told so and in turn they get offended . Then even normal members suggest closing threads before "anything happens" (sorry, that is pure censorship in my dictionary).

Aw well, returning to the point, there isn't really much to discuss The world would be such a better place if we had more cynics than lambs ^_^

 

[Boltzmann]

It's funny boltz.. my view on the subject is the exact same as DW's, yet it's my problem only? Quite the double standard, I'd say.

Don't compare yourself to DW. The day I see DW making useless/offensive posts like someone did in Ckemu's threads I'll treat him the same way.

@Proto: I hope at least you've smiled with the text. I know that it I've laughed quite a bit with it (even if the laughter has a sadness undertone to it, because the problem is so real).

 

[Proto]

Yeah I smiled at it, albeit it was quite a sore smile. The problems cause by our social evolution being so much slower than our technological one are about to explode in our faces, and the answer from most people is either to do nothing or to "return to out roots" -.-

 

[TastEPlasma]

Greetings,

Beyond everything else contained in this thread, the real point of the letter is simply this: If they teach one religion, in order to be fair in a country which at the very least claims religious freedom, they need to teach ALL religions. That means Judism, Buddism, Christianity, Muslim, Islam, Arapaho tribal beliefs, etc etc etc. I dont understand why schools are involved at all, if the parents really want thier kids to have faith in thier religion they need to get thier fat asses off the couches and out from in front of the TV and teach them exactly that.

From what I have seen in my own school expierences, kids have already decided what they believe in by the time they hit the high school classes. You see religious kids huff in science class during the evolution portions much in the same way that non religious kids huff during Sunday church. I think of utmost importance is also the fact that there was a course available for study in my High School aptly named "Bible Study". If a teenagers wishes to strengthen thier faith they have the opportunity to do so without craming thier own beliefs down anothers throat. Perhaps evolution should be taught in a seperate class? Maybe the evolution class can wear blue rags and the bible study class can wear red ones, we can pass out guns (hey, this is kansas) and when the smoke clears out whoever standing will be right (clearly choosen by god/evolution) and at last peace will reign.

What should be understood right from the get go though is that American schools, and Kansas schools in particular have always taught whatever they felt was the 'truth' (a most absurd concept anyway), as defined by thier personal beliefs.

Though it is not normally my style to interject in these lovely intellectual masterbation jizz throwing fests, this topic hits close to home, as Kansas is where I have been born, raised, and currently reside.

As for the letter itself, the true heart of this topic I suppose, I really didn't find it that funny. I think it illustrated a point, but it did so in a manner which would be uncondusive to change in this particular social enviroment. A more direct approach, which did not use intentionally fictional characters but instead used a real, viable, and currently popular non-christian religion would have gone a lot further to convincing those in power. IF they can be convinced to change thier minds.

Alright, Im done, Im gonna go drink beer now.

Sincerely,
TastEPlasma

PS Harp and St. Pauli Girl, not that budweiser and coors ****! And President Bush II is dumber than a monkey! I love windows XP! Athlon processors are the ****! Final Fantasy <7 is better than FF >7! Crunchy cheetos are way better than puffy cheetos! :dance:

 

[Boltzmann]

A more direct approach, which did not use intentionally fictional characters but instead used a real, viable, and currently popular non-christian religion would have gone a lot further to convincing those in power. IF they can be convinced to change thier minds.

Scientists have been trying these direct approaches for years, only to be thwarted by dumb board members who don't know **** of biology. The letter is just an exhasperated joke. There's nothing left to be done - the creationists got their way.

 

[Seta-San]

well. the point of it is that when you replace the word "god" with "flying spaghetti monster" you can begin to understand exactly how stupid the whole thing is.

 

[cooliscool]

Don't compare yourself to DW. The day I see DW making useless/offensive posts like someone did in Ckemu's threads I'll treat him the same way.

@Proto: I hope at least you've smiled with the text. I know that it I've laughed quite a bit with it (even if the laughter has a sadness undertone to it, because the problem is so real).

Who cares about that? This is a whole different thread, different issue, subject.. DW and I's point of view are the same here, regardless of what I've done or said in the past. How can someone with such a (high intellegence level, almighty and supreme mental capability) such as yourself not understand that?

Your whole purpose, other than posting your views about/against religion (Christianity in particular? Radical christians piss me off just as much, but I wouldn't see starting a fuss over it), seems to be to analyze me and over-analyze what I say.

On the subject of the letter: yeah, it's pretty funny.. in a dramatically ironic kind of way. My problem lies in the heart of such threads.. people get completely riled up, and it turns into a mess. If we can't squash this issue between us with this post, don't bother replying to it.. I've got no quarrel with you, and thus, I'm finished trying to explain my intentions.