Mr Alm said the sieve was a requirement of his religion, pastafarianism. The Austrian authorities required him to obtain a doctor's certificate that he was "psychologically fit" to drive.
A self-confessed atheist, Mr Alm says he belongs to the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, a light-hearted faith whose members call themselves pastafarians. The licence took three years to come through and, according to Mr Alm, he was asked to submit to a medical interview to check on his mental fitness to drive but his efforts have finally paid off.
It is the police who issue driving licences in Austria, and they have duly issued a laminated card showing Mr Alm in his unorthodox item of religious headgear. The next step, Mr Alm said, is to apply to the Austrian authorities for pastafarianism to become an officially recognised faith.
8 comments:
Who says Austrians have no sense of humour?
I love this guy.
The only thing objectionable in this is the fact he had to have his sanity evaluated. I doubt that happens to the Jews, Muslims and Sikhs who wear religious headgear.
I do hope more Austrians will start to insist wearing something as silly (but confessional) on these photos, just to make the point.
How do I convert? I'm a minister (Mail Order) and I've done weddings wearing a catcher's mask, etc. will I go to hell if I wear a colander?
LOOK AT ME! LOOK AT ME! I'M AN ATTENTION WHORE! LOOK AT ME!
Yes, yes, Anonymous, you certainly are.
i have a couple of fsm-t's
that's more than enough
(though i do have to say : spaghetti monster is not that well known here in belgium, i never got kicked around for wearing 'em)
I don't know about you but if a stranger came up to me wearing a pasta strainer on his head I would tend to think he was a bit mental. So, the 'objectionable' mental health evaluation seems ok with me
Sure, it's just a jibe at religion. Although I'm not a fan of religion it does seem like a lot of effort to make fun or/piss someone off, which I can assume was his motive.
My protest against organized religion is just not having anything to do with it. To each their own.
@SteveC: Many regions in Austria are Catholic to a radical point. I can understand his societal and social concern, albeit I would never take it to such an extreme if I found myself in a similar situation. I agree, the mental assessment is quite in order, I'd also do a double-take if someone came up to me with colander headgear. Upon explanation (and I figure that's what the evaluator ended up deciding as well) I would, however, find the idea and the resolve behind the action not only sane but commendable.
Post a Comment