Pastafarianism, also known as the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, is a satirical religion created to criticize the teaching of intelligent design and creationism in public schools. Followers, known as Pastafarians, believe that a deity made of spaghetti and meatballs created the universe, and they advocate for the separation of church and state. The movement began in 2005 when Bobby Henderson wrote an open letter to the Kansas School Board, arguing that if they allowed the teaching of creationism, they should also teach Pastafarianism. This humorous approach has gained a following, promoting critical thinking and skepticism towards dogma.