Pastafarian? Church of the Flying Spaghetti monster?

Perhaps the clerk at a Texas driver’s license office wasn’t paying close attention when Eddie Castillo asked to have his driver’s license photo taken while wearing a pasta strainer on his head. Or maybe she figured it wasn’t her place to judge the Texas Tech University student’s religion when he said he practiced Pastafarianism.

Either way, Castillo was awarded the license after claiming to belong to the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, according to a report in The Daily Caller.

Castillo said he told DMV officials the silver pasta strainer he wore was a religious symbol, according to the website. “Once she allowed me to put the pasta strainer on my head, I took the biggest, cheesiest smile I probably ever took,” he said.

Pastafarianism actually is a satirical take on religion that was originated in 2005, Castillo told the website. “It… should be looked at as a political symbol for the separation between church and state,” he said.

It’s not clear if Castillo will be able to keep and use his new driver’s license. The website said DMV attorneys are planning to “to rectify the situation.”

About the Author

Keep Reading

Rivian announced it will establish an East Coast headquarters at Junction Krog District in Atlanta. (Courtesy of Rivian)

Credit: Courtesy of Rivian

Featured

“Our members cannot be bought off,” General President Sean O’Brien said in a social media statement, calling UPS' offers “illegal and haphazard.” (Hyosub Shin/AJC 2023)

Credit: Hyosub Shin/AJC