Court disappoints dozens of atheists

Spaghetti, apparently, might be the food of the gods, but is not God itself, a federal court in Nebraska has ruled:

(RNS) A federal court has ruled that the Flying Spaghetti Monster, referred to as “His Flying Noodliness” by fans and followers, is not, alas, the object of a real religion.
In a 16-page decision, the U.S. District Court of Nebraska ruled on April 12 that Pastafarianism is satire, not sacred, and that anyone who thinks it is a religion has made an error “of basic reading comprehension.”
“This is not a question of theology,” the ruling reads in part. “The FSM Gospel is plainly a work of satire, meant to entertain while making a pointed political statement. To read it as religious doctrine would be little different from grounding a ‘religious exercise’ on any other work of fiction.”
The Flying Spaghetti Monster was born in Kansas.
The Tuesday (April 12) ruling came in response to a prisoner’s request to have Pastafarianism recognized as his religion, which would entitle him to Pastafarian literature and trappings. For example, Pastafarians sometimes wear colanders on their heads.

Pastafarians actually are atheists mocking actual religions and religious beliefs. Their "gospel" is mildly amusing, but is in no danger of being mistaken for religious doctrine. I have no objections to FSM followers doing their thing, but I think the court properly ruled that they deserve no protections under the Constitution. Thank God this case wasn't heard in California.

Hat tip to Legal Insurrection.