Advertisement Judge dismisses Flying Spaghetti Monster religion as parody Share Shares Copy Link Copy

A judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by a Nebraska prison inmate who said he believes in the divine Flying Spaghetti Monster.The Lincoln Journal Star reports that Stephen Cavanaugh's lawsuit was dismissed Tuesday as the judge granted a motion from the state's attorneys.U.S. District Judge John Gerrard said in his ruling that "FSMism" is not a religion as outlined by federal law. Gerrard says it is a parody intended to advance an argument about science, the evolution of life and the place of religion in public education.Cavanaugh filed the lawsuit in 2014, seeking $5 million and a court order mandating that inmates who practice FSMism receive the same rights and privileges as inmates who practice other religions.