If Christians can say Yahweh exists, Muslims can say Allah exists, Hindus can say Vishnu exists etc. etc., then people sure as hell claim a Flying Spaghetti Monster exists.
Many pious people (i.e. Muslims, Jews, etc.) demand respect and acknowledgement for their religion. It would therefore be extremely hypocritical for those same people to deny respect to any other faith, including Pastafarianism.
Society is not needed to handle religious groups that are trying to mock it the same way as serious religions. The status to be a religion is a freedom that has a large impact as it brings benefits (eg. Tax exemption or limited prosecution). That is why requirements are set to ensure serious intent.
The 'practitioners' of the religion willfully attest to the fact that they do not actually believe in any of its theological principles. It was devised as a social movement. It should be 'respected' about as much as any other social movement.
If the Existence of this religion is to Corrupt other religions. then it should not be legalised.
side note: if the aim of the scientific revolution was for people to think, people can better start corrupting the beach gal life style. then people with an basis of ''higher knowledge''.
The Church of the FSM is not a religion, it's a social movement. It should be protected under freedom of expression laws, but not recognized as an actual faith.
People don't really believe a flying spaghetti monster is real but people do believe their gods are real. They only pretend to believe to show how stupid religion is.