Statue of the Flying Spaghetti Monster on Courthouse Lawn

The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, Crossville has erected a statue of the Flying Spaghetti Monster on the Cumberland Courthouse lawn, between the statue of Lady Liberty and the memorial for our fallen soldiers in Iraq. On the legality of this move, they inform us that

I believe the finding about the display of religion on public property was this-- If you allow one belief, then you must equally allow all others who request. The door was opened last year when the County allowed Jesus sculptures to be placed on the Courthouse steps and the Courthouse lawn. Now Cumberland County must welcome all requests equally. I expect our Courthouse lawn to become an open forum for personal expression. Our county property now looks Cheesier than ever. Got any Parmesan?

The FSM blog chronicles the FSM statue's journey toward the courthouse lawn, including the revelation that started it all:

Tonight at dinner as I was staring down at my spaghetti and meatballs I was startled to discover that the remains of spaghetti sauce took the shape of It, the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

It came to me then, that in only a few short weeks, on March 21, is Day of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, followed by six weeks of spaghetti fasting. The six weeks ends with huge festivities on May 1, the Day of National Prayer. It occured to me looking at the holy image of It that stared up at me from my plate that this is indeed a Sign. I sense that I am supposed to build the image of the Flying Spaghetti Monster and display its holy appendages on the Courthouse lawn of my hometown, Crossville Tennessee. There its blessed presence can help all the world celebrate Day of the Flying Spaghetti Monster and the six week fast.

The Pastafarians have boldly defended our religious freedoms. They inform us,

The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster represents many things to many people and yet it is a faith that is often neglected by the general public. When Bobby Hendersen, a devoted Pastafarian, patriotic American, and concerned citizen of Kansas, realized that local students would never even learn about the Spaghedeity in public schools, he was gravely upset. Mr. Hendersen wrote to the school board immediately:

I am writing you with much concern after having read of your hearing to decide whether the alternative theory of Intelligent Design should 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.

This is a brilliant expose of the stupidity of the religious right's attempts to co-opt our government for the brazen promotion of their fundamentalism.