That’s not a spelling mistake. I really do mean Pastafarian. For want of something better to do (my concentration has been off recently), I was wandering about on the internet and stumbled upon the U.S. State Department web site, and out of curiosity, looked up what that esteemed department had to say about Aotearoa New Zealand.
Most was kind of boring but some snippets did stand out. This one into their 2018 report on religious freedom in NZ made me smile:
In March an Auckland secondary school student stated that his school did not allow him to wear a spaghetti colander for his school identity photograph, contrary to his religious beliefs. The student is a member of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, otherwise known as Pastafarianism, which is a legally recognized religion in the country. The student stated that he contacted the HRC over the incident but had accepted the school’s decision for the time being.
HRC is an abbreviation for Human Rights Commission, an independent authority that reports to Parliament, not the government. So all you Flying Spaghetti Monster worshipers, if you are looking for somewhere where your religion is recognised (one school excepted) then this is possibly an ideal spot.
By the way, did you realise that in 2001, approximately 1.5% of the New Zealand population claimed their religion as Jedi? That’s the highest per capita population of Jedi in the world. It’s been falling steadily ever since. Which is a shame. I much prefer “May the force be with you” than “God bless”. It has a more dramatic ring to it, don’t you think?
Another Spectrum 
30 Aug, 2019 at 2:50 am
I like “May the force be with you.” And I’d much rather carry a light saber than spaghetti. Not that I’m planning to convert to either “recognized” religion.
30 Aug, 2019 at 3:03 am
In all honesty the State Department’s use of “officially recognized” is rather misleading. In order for any organisation to be permitted to ask for donations, it must be registered as a charitable trust. This applies to religions just as it does for Amnesty International or an LGBT group. Hence the recognition is not really the religion per se, but its charitable status.
And you’re right. A fistful of damp limp spaghetti doesn’t doesn’t quite have the appeal of a light sabre.
30 Aug, 2019 at 3:57 pm
May the force be with you is almost poetic
31 Aug, 2019 at 9:05 am
Salaam Aleikum.
31 Aug, 2019 at 11:33 am
Tēnā koe e hoa
31 Aug, 2019 at 5:17 pm
Aleikum Salaam, Clare.
Hope you are keeping well.
31 Aug, 2019 at 11:32 am
Kia ora is fast gaining popularity here. It’s a Māori expression meaning, among others, hello! cheers! good luck! best wishes!
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