Austria: the “privilege” for religious believers that wasn’t one

By J.C. von Krempach, J.D. | July 14, 2011

Self-described “Secularists” can get very excited when they hear about real or imaginary “privileges” for religious believers.

Such is the case of Mr. Niko Alm, a brave but lonesome crusader for the just cause of separating State and Church in Austria and abroad. His special concern over an unholy alliance between public and eclesial powers was aroused when he heard that headgear was allowed in official pictures only for ”confessional” reasons. What an unheard-of discrimination of non-believers!!!

Obviously, Mr. Alm, whose personal believes apparently oblige him to wear a pasta strainer on his head at all times, wanted to enjoy the same privileges. When he needed a new driving licence, he told the public authorities that he was a follower of “Pastafarianism”, a new religion that obliges its believers to wear that unusual type of headgear.

According to news reports that first appeared in Austria and then went around the globe, it took the Viennese police authority not less than three years to decide on thematter. But finally, it was reported, they accepted “Pastafarianism” as a new religion that should be treated on a par with existing ones. And they gave Mr. Alm a new driving license:

I am not quite sure what point Mr. Alm was actually trying to make: does he really believe in the “Flying Spaghetti Monster”? Do all atheists? Or did he want to posture as a victim of “discrimination” who, as the only possible solution for not having to part from his beloved pasta strainer, was coerced to profess a religious faith that was not his own?

Whatever it may have been, for two days the international media excitedly reported that Austria had officialy recognised “Pastafarianism” as a new religion, and that this was (for some unclear reason) an important breakthrough for atheists.

Today came a dementi. A spokesperson of the Vienna police clarified that there had been neither an application nor a decision to officially recognise any new religion. There was no need for doing so. In actual fact, the law allows any person to wear any headgear as long as he or she remains recognisable. The “religious privilege” only existed in Mr. Alm’s imagination….

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