It was actually started because of a Kansas Board of Ed. ruling to make Intellegent design curriculum mandatory in public schools.??Someone opposed this and made up the FSM, demanding it just as legitimate as a "science" and that it should be just as required to be taught in the classroom.
Since, it has spiraled into a hillarious fad where people make drawings, "scripture", and even tattoo the FSM on their bodies.
haha.??South park just picked up the hillarity and used it a bit themselves.
Edit: See wiki for more "objective" views on the FSM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_Spaghetti_Monster
retired except for..
the Herman Zeny Sink event of 2011.. 3.5b drained and
counting..