It was a major win for religious freedom in Russia when a 37-year-old man who identified himself as a follower of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster was allowed to wear a colander on his head for the photo of an official government I.D. – his driver's license.
In a feature on BBC, Andrey Filin showed off his pale yellow colander to reporters, one which resembles the knitted replica he wore when he was photographed. He even tweeted an actual photo of him wearing the replica and holding his official I.D.
Торжество Пастафарианства в РФ! Раминь, братья и сёстры!!! Первые права с дуршлагом в России! Великий день! #Раминь pic.twitter.com/ixu6Rz8Y4Y
— Андрей Филин (@Barsyaka1) January 9, 2016
Pastafarians, for those still unfamiliar with the term, identify themselves as religious followers of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. It's a legitimate religion that was born in the United States in 2005 after Bobby Henderson, the religion's first Prophet, wrote an open letter to the Kansas School Board over the issue of teaching the alternate theory of intelligent design along with Darwin's theory of evolution in schools.
Although most would consider the religion more of a satirical commentary on organized religion and in particular the teachings of Creationism, the group claims on its website that they do not merely exist to “mock religion.”
According to Pastafarians, their deity, the Flying Spaghetti Monster (FSM) watches over mankind and has been present throughout history. Members send photos and videos of alleged sightings of the FSM whom they pray will bless them with his noodly appendage. Wearing a colander on their head is an essential part of their religion.
In the U.S., many self-declared Pastafarians have won cases against their state's DMV to be allowed to wear the pasta-strainer as headgear in their photos. Many of the individuals have stated that the idea came to them after reading that hats and headgear would be allowed in government I.D's as long as they are worn for religious purposes.
Apparently, Filin is not the only non-American Pastafarian to win the right to wear a colander on his head for an official photo. Reports say that in July 2011, a man in Austria named Niko Alm was also granted the right on the grounds of religious freedom after a 3-year fight to prove that he was mentally fit to drive.
Pastafarians all over the world are probably thanking the FSM for this latest victory with a collective prayer of "RAmen."
