Who invented Pastafarianism?

The story behind the answer

Bobby Henderson invented Pastafarianism in 2005 by sending a satirical open letter to the Kansas State Board of Education as it weighed teaching intelligent design alongside evolution. He proposed that a Flying Spaghetti Monster created the universe, arguing that if untestable claims enter science class, any made-up belief could—thereby defending evidence-based education and church–state separation.

Pastafarian lore—“noodly appendage,” pirates as holy figures, and colanders as headwear—made it an internet-age symbol of skepticism. Some countries have even debated colander-wearing in official IDs. Memory tip: Bobby “cooked up” the pasta—Bobby Henderson served Pastafarianism to challenge pseudoscience with humor.