A Texas Pastafarian was able to wear a spaghetti strainer on his head for his driver’s license photo despite the protests of motor vehicle workers, thanks to his religious beliefs.
Eddie Castillo, a Texas Tech student and practicing Pastafarian, admitted that after being granted permission to take the picture in this manner he simply mustered “the biggest, cheesiest” grin he could create.
Castillo has been recanting his story, telling KLBK that he was only allowed to wear the kitchen appliance on his head after a lengthy dispute with Texas’ Department of Public Safety.
He was adamant that the unusual hat is actually part of his religious beliefs. Castillo worships the Flying Spaghetti Monster, which is a God that was created in 2005 by an atheist. Their founding principles include, “the only dogma allowed in the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster is the rejection of dogma.”
This peculiar deity was manifested to protest the teaching of intelligent design at a Kansas school, after officials had defended these classes.
Castillo has become the first American to wear a spaghetti strainer on his head for a government-issued photo. Earlier this year a New Jersey man unsuccessfully attempted to wear one on his noggin, but was eventually forced to take one without it.
Discussing the incident, Castillo admitted that he was surprised by his success and called it a “political and religious milestone for all atheists everywhere.”
He then added, “Especially in Lubbock County where we are kind of looked at as one of the most conservative cities in the country. I’ve heard of the stories happening of the guy getting arrested for attempting to do the same thing that I was doing so when I walked in there I had to mentally prepare myself to probably gather bond or something to get out of jail.”
Do you think Eddie Castillo should have been allowed to wear a spaghetti strainer for his photo?
[Image via skyfish /Shutterstock]
