A Pasta Religion Triumphs Over The Czech Government

One European man has taken his love of pasta to the next level.

Lucas Novy, of the Czech Republic, insisted on wearing a pasta strainer on his head for his official government ID photo on the grounds that it was part of his religious liberty to do so.  Novy is a proclaimed member of the "Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster," — a faith that believes that a creature made of pasta and meatballs created the world.

Novy and his fellow "pastafarians," as they call themselves also believe that pirates are peaceful explorers and that beer is good for you.  Unsurprisingly, the church's main followers are concentrated on college campuses in North America and Europe.

The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster's growing popularity has caused religious scholars around the world to begin questioning the essence and role of religion in individuals' daily lives.

The most astonishing part about Novy's mission may be that he succeeded in getting his way. The Czech government officials ruled that the nation's religious liberty laws had to allow "headgear [worn] for religious or medical reasons."

Even if you don't subscribe to the idea of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, you can still enjoy the wonders of pasta in the kitchen. In honor of Novy's triumph over his government's restrictions, try making this Spaghetti with Swiss Chard, Parmesan and Lemon Zest Recipe.