Rev. Ed C: yes, you were included. You react too quickly.
Meekon: Thanks for the backup
Andrea: you're the voice of reason. But - I still say that separating TBL from dudeism is a moot point, simply because of the outcome: who cares? We'll still be laughed at when asked about the roots of our faith.

I challenge everyone to cut their posts down to no more than 50 words.

I just woke up with a hangover, so go easy on me...

Well, Rev.Ed wasn't disappointed, he's usually the calmer guy around the residence, together with meekon probably.

Anyway I think no one is going to separate TBL from Dudeism, as Rev. Ed said we don't and we won't, and also what we want has "little" importance given that DL has the final word on everything about Dudeism. Our British compeer has just raised an important point about Dudeism and that is what is Dudeism beyond TBL. He's talking about the inner core of Dudeism, what was there before the movie took place, our thousands year of history so to speak. Also, as he correctly pointed out, what would you tell about Dudeism to someone, let's say from Africa, who has never seen the movie? Which is a very interesting and important question.

What some of us are debating is: let's imagine for a moment that TBL had never been made, what would Dudeism be? Or something like that. Some people join us through the movie, others through appreciating our philosophy that's why it's good to debate about Dudeism beyond TBL, to benefit all those who are not much into the movie but a lot into our philosophy. Rev. Ed just want to understand well what this philosophy is. Which is cool. And The Dude would have approved. Maybe just saying "that's interesting".

As for the laugh thing, well, better than being surrounded by uptight people right? I mean, the wise men and women will anyway get the message even if they laugh first, and if not, well, that's their problem.

As for the 50 words, well, it's pretty difficult but sometimes it happens, not often in philosophical reasoning, even if almost all of philosophy I know I got from Dudeism. Oh well.

There is no need to go easy on you, you haven't offended anyone I guess and dudely participated in the debate, this is an open discussion, not a private party between three or four of us. So thanks for your words dude.

One of those opinions (though not directly touched on in this thread) is that Dudeism shouldn't be spread by proselytizing - handing out fliers, you know - evangelizing in general. Or start off by telling people about where dudism came from in the first place. I truly think less people will take us seriously. Again, it's akin to sayin' you're a Jedi. I'm certainly not pointin' fingers at anyone here, but if we're true dudeists and livin' it, people will be drawn to our inner peace and will begin askin' questions.  You know, livin' by example. Then we tell'm the background of our philosophy/ethos/faith, what have you. If they laugh, it's like whatever...

I'm not sayin' that applies to this here forum though, so don't take it that way. I think you dudes get my gist...

I can only really speak for myself here, but I think we all know exactly what you mean, and we're definitely on the same track as you on this one

I for one never tell people unless they're interested, which, over this side of the pond (the dingy side, as I call it) most people don't.  Some people notice, and respect my way, some people just think "he's a bit odd" and move on.  But, even if no one notices, that's fine.  I mean, no one notices oxygen, but it works a treat

Evangelising a quite undudely.  And although I've told this story many times in the past month... I refused to profer flyers at the Dudeist "thing" in Edinburgh for that very reason.  I kept them in hand and available, and if someone asked for one they got one, and if someone asked a question they got an answer.  Talking is good, forcing flyers at people and shouting out the message is a bit of a preachy thing.  In fact, the guy who was evangelising got asked to quieten down as he was disturbing something else that was going on.  He just got carried away in the moment, was a good laugh, but... I prepfer the silent and contented look to make me more approachable

Not going around telling people is at the cornerstone of what Dudeism is about.  I mean, don't go out of your way not to tell people, obviously, but unnecessarily thrusting it in people's faces is not cool, indeed.

Abiding is going with the flow, not forcing the flow towards other people.  Someone people want to come and stand in our stream, others get pee'd off if you get their ankles wet.  I mean, just look at how the JWs get up people's noses 

I don't think I intended for us *not* to talk about it, just that actions speak louder than words.  And our words have to be backed up by our actions, that's all. What's more annoying than those Jehovah Witnesses and other cults that shove their religion down our throat, right?  And that religion which shall remain nameless, whose leader wears a funny cardboard hat, and whose priests are known pedophiles. Extreme examples of not walkin' the talk...

If someone feels good sitting on a road with something saying "Dudeist Priest on duty: have a question? I can get you an answer!" then, why not? 

Or wonder round with sandwich boards on with "The Dude is Nigh!" on then.

Rev.Ed and meekon, far out, F****ng good ideas.

Given that 20 12 2012 is near why not sandwich boards with: THE FUCKING PLANE IS CRASHING INTO THE MOUNTAIN!!!!!!!!!!     

First off, I don't agree that Dudeism needs THE Dude.

Totally agree; Dudeism is not about any one person, neither is it a "cult of personality." I think we all know where that leads. It's about being dude-like and seeking to understand what it personally means to be a dude.

I say "personally means to be a dude" because it will never be the same for each dude. Dudeism is exploring what it means to be dude like within the parlance of a dude's personal understanding. To me, "tenets of Dudeism " are at best a starting point of the journey and should always be open to discussion.

Perhaps the one and only "tenet" of Dudeism should "To be a dude; pull up a rug and join the ongoing discussion and exploration as to what it means to be dude-like."

If Dudeism clings to The Dude as this figure to encompass all that is Dudeism it might as well have become a branch of Christianity or another banal, spiteful little cult like the Pastafarians. 

Totally agree. It must be independent of any central authority, personality or so-called "leader." It must stand on its on two feet apart from any single person or persons.

The Dude is one of us, like another other Great Dude (in history or otherwise), and we learn from each other.

Learning from each other should also be a basic principle of Dudeism . And, I like the term "principle" over tenet. As long as the principles are subject to dude-like peer review. Perhaps Dudeism should be approached like the pure sciences; hypothesis, experimentation, peer review, revision, theory, etc. The scientific process.

Maybe this could be called "scientific Dudeism ." "Scientific" because of the process used to develop and expand dude like philosophy and thinking.

i fear people standing around corners in bathrobes spouting eastern philosopy to passers by would soon be wearing the white coats with zips at the back

I'm a noob on this forum and I know I necroing this thread but I really felt the need to comment.

I thing the way to look at this is to take a page from the Church of Foster (Stranger in a Strange Land for the unknowing) and look at TBL and Lebowski-ism as the party to get the marks in the door.  Some will stay, some will go.  Life goes on.  But, some of those that stay will look around, see beyond the party and begin to wonder about the deeper parts of Dudeism.  They will have the desire to look behind the curtain.

Their attitudes will change.  They will grow from playing being a Dudeist to actually being a Dudeist.  And thus will the world's slowest growing religion continue to build it's ranks.  As they say in Al-Anon, attraction not promotion.

Your friend,