A battle of, dare I say it, biblical proportions is taking place in schools as an unjustly derided religious minority fights to take its place beside the more established faiths taught to our children.

The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster (FSM) has millions of "Pastafarian" followers worldwide preaching peace, dressing as pirates and embracing the contradictions of their faith (though they're not Robinson Crusoe in that regard). Crusoe, by the way, was Pastafarian, a fact confirmed by his mode of dress.

Illustration: michaelmucci.com

In the hope of touching the hearts of kids with the FSM's "Noodly Appendage", the Reverend Dan Guenther of the 50-member strong Gordon Church of the FSM has applied to the NSW government to become an approved provider of Special Religious Eduction in the state's schools.

Under the Education Act of 1990, "time is to be allowed for the religious education of children of any religious persuasion", but Guenther's application is languishing in the office of NSW Education Minister, Adrian Piccoli.