(PCM) An self-proclaimed “Pastafarian” from Oklahoma is making headlines after she was recently allowed to wear a spaghetti strainer on her head for her drivers license photo.
The woman, named Shawna Hammond, is a member of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster and says she is responsible for religious reasons to wear the colander on her head at all times.
The members of the church claim that the colanders are a symbol of their “Pastafarian” faith. The “Pastafarian” faith came into existence when an atheist and physics graduate by the name of Bobby Henderson composed a satirical letter to the Kansas Board of Education back in 2005. The letter was in protest of the school’s decision to teach intelligent design rather than evolution in science classes.
The letter and movement went viral and now there are thousands of individuals who claim to be members of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster and practicing “Pastafarians”.
In Hammond’s case, she claims that wearing the colander represents freedom to believe in any religion or no religion at all. The Oklahoma State Law does allow individuals to wear religious headgear for license photos so long as the face is still clearly visible, so it would appear that Hammond has not violated those policies.
