Church Of The Flying Spaghetti Monster Driver's License
The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, also known as Pastafarianism, is a satirical religion that was created to protest the teaching of intelligent design in schools. It was founded by Bobby Henderson in 2005, and its followers are known for their love of pasta, pirate attire, and their belief in a deity made of spaghetti and meatballs. While the religion is not recognized by any government, the Church has been successful in gaining legal recognition in some countries, including the United States.
The Church Of The Flying Spaghetti Monster Driver's License
One of the ways that the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster has gained recognition is through its campaign for the right to wear religious headgear in driver's license photos. In many states, it is required to show one's full face in driver's license photos, which can be a problem for members of certain religions who wear headgear such as hijabs, turbans, or yarmulkes. The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster argues that their religious headgear, which is a colander worn on the head, should be allowed in driver's license photos just like other religious headgear.
In 2013, the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster was successful in getting a Pastafarian member's driver's license photo with a colander on her head approved in New Jersey. Since then, members of the Church have been fighting for the right to wear colanders in driver's license photos in other states as well. Some states, such as Utah, have allowed Pastafarians to wear colanders in driver's license photos while others, such as Massachusetts, have denied their requests.
The Legal Battle
The legal battle for the right to wear a colander in driver's license photos has been ongoing in many states. The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster argues that their colander is a religious headgear and should be allowed just like any other religious headgear. However, many states have denied their request, stating that the colander is not a traditional religious headgear and allowing it would open the door to allowing any type of headgear in driver's license photos.
Some states have even gone as far as to pass laws specifically prohibiting the wearing of colanders in driver's license photos. In Oklahoma, for example, a law was passed in 2015 that prohibits the wearing of headgear in driver's license photos except for traditional religious headgear. The law defines traditional religious headgear as headgear that is part of a "recognized religion" and has been "customarily or traditionally worn" by members of that religion for at least 100 years.
The Future Of The Church Of The Flying Spaghetti Monster
The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster has come a long way since its creation in 2005. While it started as a satirical religion, it has become a symbol of religious freedom and has gained legal recognition in some countries. The fight for the right to wear colanders in driver's license photos is just one example of the Church's ongoing battle for recognition.
As the Church continues to grow, it will be interesting to see how it evolves and what other battles it will face in the future. Whether or not the colander will ever be officially recognized as a religious headgear remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure: the followers of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster will not give up their fight for recognition anytime soon.