The sacred colander
by digby
I gotcher religious liberty for ya, right heeah:
In Austria one of the strangest fights for religious freedom has come to an end: Niko Alm, a self-described "Pastafarian," fought for three years for the right to wear a pasta strainer on his head in his driver's license photo.
His argument? Alm claimed he belonged to the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster and wearing the strainer was part of his religion.
The BBC reports:
Mr Alm's pastafarian-style application for a driving licence was a response to the Austrian recognition of confessional headgear in official photographs.
The licence took three years to come through and, according to Mr. Alm, he was asked to submit to a medical interview to check on his mental fitness to drive but - straining credulity - his efforts have finally paid off.
It is the police who issue driving licences in Austria, and they have duly issued a laminated card showing Mr. Alm in his unorthodox item of religious headgear.
The AFP reports that Alm now wants to apply for "Pastafarianism to become an officially recognised faith in Austria."
For real:
Here's an interview with the Pastafarian Pastor.
Why do I have the sneaking suspicion that here in the US that the wingnuts wouldn't have any problem ignoring the obvious illogic in not allowing this person to practice his "religious liberty."
In fact:
Yesterday, within the span of 24 hours, the Florida House passed a bill to allow prayer in public schools and another to crack down on the supposed threat of Sharia law.
Retiring the concept of hypocrisy has its advantages, you have to admit.
h/t to jbf
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