There is now a Wikipedia entry for the Flying Spaghetti Monster. One of the benefits of conversion is the promise of a stripper factory and a beer volcano in Heaven.

The Onion has a parody of the intelligent design assertion.

KANSAS CITY, KS—As the debate over the teaching of evolution in public schools continues, a new controversy over the science curriculum arose Monday in this embattled Midwestern state. Scientists from the Evangelical Center For Faith-Based Reasoning are now asserting that the long-held “theory of gravity” is flawed, and they have responded to it with a new theory of Intelligent Falling.

Things fall not because they are acted upon by some gravitational force, but because a higher intelligence, ‘God’ if you will, is pushing them down,” said Gabriel Burdett, who holds degrees in education, applied Scripture, and physics from Oral Roberts University…

Some evangelical physicists propose that Intelligent Falling provides an elegant solution to the central problem of modern physics.

Anti-falling physicists have been theorizing for decades about the ‘electromagnetic force,’ the ‘weak nuclear force,’ the ‘strong nuclear force,’ and so-called ‘force of gravity,'” Burdett said. “And they tilt their findings toward trying to unite them into one force. But readers of the Bible have already known for millennia what this one, unified force is: His name is Jesus.

From the WP:

Bush told Texas newspaper reporters in a group interview at the White House on Monday that he believes that intelligent design should be taught alongside evolution as competing theories.

Here’s the best bit, though:
Gary L. Bauer, a Christian conservative leader who ran for president against Bush in the 2000 Republican primaries said:

With the president endorsing it, at the very least it makes Americans who have that position more respectable, for lack of a better phrase.

This is just like the Reverend Wayne’s Pearly Gates burbclave in Snow Crash… but far lower-tech.

A group called Christian Exodus is calling out to conservative Christians across the country to move to South Carolina. There, they will concentrate their rectitude and political power and secede from the US.

I have only one question…

What can I do to help?

They call themselves conservative, but a little perspective is warranted here. The group has a:

distrust of President Bush — they believe he’s been soft on abortion and homosexuality

The Guardian has an article about an anti-hatred bill floating around the British Parliament.

The controversial bill against incitement to religious hatred would protect Satanists, pagans and atheists as well as followers of more mainstream religions, the Home Office said today.

Home Office minister Paul Goggins said the legislation, published today, would protect people against being victimised for “any religious belief or lack of belief”.

A conservative countered:

“Religion, unlike race, is a matter of personal choice and therefore appropriate for open debate,” he said. “Aggravated crimes against religious groups are already protected under existing law while this new law would technically prevent what many people may regard as reasonable criticism of devil worshippers and religious cults.”

“…as well as mainstream religions,” I would add. Comedian Rowan Atkinson warned that it would leave comedians open to prosecution for satirising religious beliefs. I have to agree with the conservatives (and Mr. Bean) on this one. This would have a chilling effect on free speech.

An article on CNN.com describes a judge in Kentucky who is offering “alternative sentencing,” to repeat drug and alcohol offenders: church. Apparently “worship services” are a good substitute for addictive, mind-numbing substances.

So there’s this protest over the Scouts’ policy to not include openly gay and atheist members. The policy has been in place since the organization was founded in 1910. For a private organization, that would be their prerogative, but they receive federal, state, and local funding and have preferential access to various resources, etc. The controversy has been going on for a long time. Anyway, the chosen venue for the Scouts’ annual meeting that’s being picketed… the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center.
Dahh-hah.

From the Citypages article:

In that case, filed earlier this spring, the foundation is suing the University of Minnesota for its participation in an entity called the Minnesota Faith Health Consortium. Among other things, the suit alleges that “religious indoctrination is an integral component” of MFHC and that “patently religious principles dominate [its] approach to public health.” According to its website, the MFHC seeks to “increase understanding of the links between faith and health, demonstrate the relevance of faith in wellness and disease prevention and initiate faith and health projects.”

The Astrology Health Consortium must feel slighted.