Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster causing a stir in Australia

They claim the world was created by a monster made of noodles and that global warming is caused by pirates vanishing from the high seas. They call themselves Pastafarians, but just how seriously to take the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster is vexing officials Down Under.

New Zealand this month recognised the group as suitable to officiate weddings. Australian authorities, meanwhile, have so far rejected their efforts to register as a nonprofit religious organisation.

Adherents say there’s a beer volcano in heaven and wear upside-down colanders on their heads for religious purposes. Their only dogma? There is no dogma.