Biblical Dudeism

[roystonlodge]

Sorry for the double-post, but this is just something I'm cutting-and-pasting from a post I made in the Greate Dudes in History forum:

Jesus isn't the only place where one can find Dude influences in the Bible. 

Long before Dudeism was established formally, many Christians have tried to take a proto-Dudist approach to their own faith.  I can't help but think about those monks who life out in the mountains and make some of the best darned beer in the world.  Think about it.  Clean mountain air.  Quiet contemplation, not botherin' anybody.  Freakin' good beer.  Very Dude.

There are two Books in the Bible that tend to be the faves for Christian Dudes/Dudeist Christians, IMHO:

1) Saint Paul's Epistle to the Galatians:  Jesus' followers in Galatia were very unDude.  They had all these hang ups about following rules and stuff.  Paul wrote to them suggesting that they, like, mellow the heck out, man.  If yer a righteous Dude, the rules aren't what's really important, man!  Too much focus on all those rules totally distracts us from hearing what Jesus was trying to tell us about being a righteous Dude in the first place.  http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=55&chapter=1&version=31

2) Ecclesiastes: According to this Book's author, it doesn't matter if you're a wise man or a foolish man - either way life ends in death.  So, you might as well enjoy the simple pleasures of daily life, such as eating, drinking, and taking enjoyment in one's wife and work.  My personal favourite parts are when he warns about the pointlessness of argument and debate, since they never really settle matters anyway.  Instead, just walk away, man.  Very Dude.  http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=25&chapter=1&version=31

Plus, they're two of the Bible's shorter Books.  UnDudes like to go on-and-on-and-on, but The Dude doesn't need a lot of words to get his point across, man.

[Dude1967]

 That's fucking interesting man, that's fucking interesting...

[DigitalBuddha]

John the Baptist; a very dude person.

[Rev. River Archduder of the Southeastern Diocese]

I think God and the bible are very Dude if not brought to you by fascist's and reactionaries.

[Rev. Dudeski]

I agree,  it's not the bible that's undude it's the asshole paraquats that make it that way. 

[Abideist]

Well dude, as long as were not dealing with Nihilists here. Say what you will about the tenets of Christianity, at least it's a fucking ethos.

[DigitalBuddha]

TV evangelists, man, VERY undude................................



...and what the fuck is up with that hair shit going on?!

[therighteousdude]

That's what I've been saying all last year, man! Finally, I'm not the only one who sees it.

As the Bible says, God abides in us.

[DigitalBuddha]

God, who would be the ultimate dude, IMHO, has a special place for these nihilist strumpet religious con artists (this is what happens when you fuck a stranger in the ass) ....................

[Quaker Dude]

I remember the first time I read the passage "Be still, and know that I am God."  For years before that, I had been struggling with trying to reconcile my Dudeish philosophical leanings with Christianity while in a pretty doctrinally unDude Christian school (of my own choosing, believe it or not; my parents never ever forced religion on me). 

The passage was a real epiphany for me at the time, because it seemed to say, "God is God (or Tao is Tao, or Dude is Dude) and all else is unimportant.  Be cool/chill out and just rejoice in the knowledge that God is God."  It seems like a relatively small point to focus on, but it was just what my soul needed to hear.  From then on, I stopped arguing doctrine, stopped focusing on denominations, and basically quit thinking about organized religion altogether, and just thought about God.

[Rev. Gary (revgms)]

Yeah, I am a pretty big anti-Bible antagonist, but I leave room for the Bible as you Dudes find it. So if ya' happen to catch me somewhere else raking Biblical philosophies through the mud, remember that there are a lot of ins an outs, and I just can't cover them all.

If confronted by one of those reactionary religious types, my Sam Harris version of Walter tends to come out. But if asked nicely I will affirm, there is much wisdom in the Bible, especially the NT, but not under certain contexts. I don't think any Dude would consider stoning his new bride to death on her parents door step if he discovers she is not a virgin on their wedding night, yet that is what the Bible says one should do. So there are things in there a Dude clearly can not agree with, but there are many things a Dude absolutely can agree with. It takes some investigation to see the whole story.

Braces for the inevitable rebuttal.

[meekon5]

Yeah, I am a pretty big anti-Bible antagonist, but I leave room for the Bible as you Dudes find it. So if ya' happen to catch me somewhere else raking Biblical philosophies through the mud, remember that there are a lot of ins an outs, and I just can't cover them all...

Rev I do have to agree with you.

I find it incredible to think that a text has existed for so long, through centuries of hand copying, numerous translations, from hebrew, greek, to latin, to many other tongue, that so many people rely so heavily on it as a primary text to their life, but refuse to see (in the face of much academic evidence, a good source of which is "A Staff Report from the Straight Dope Science Advisory Board") any doubt of it being the full unabridged text. That is of course their opinion.

You will find myself (and possibly Cakebelly) being some of the first here to appose the "Christianisation" of Dudeism. Dudeism stands by itself, if you choose to mix it with other flavours that is your business.

I personally have no problem with Dudeist Christians, or Christians per say. I have been known to look toward certain christians and their writings myself (particularity Brother Lawrence).

I like "The Tao is Tao."

I remember the first time I read the passage "Be still, and know that I am God."...The passage was a real epiphany for me at the time, because it seemed to say, "God is God (or Tao is Tao, or Dude is Dude) and all else is unimportant.  Be cool/chill out and just rejoice in the knowledge that God is God."  It seems like a relatively small point to focus on, but it was just what my soul needed to hear....

I am a great believer that when there is a need for a teacher one will appear.

The Tao is Tao. I personally would not go as far as to say God is god because I have a particularly complex relationship with my Gods (fucking Pagans).

There is much need for a spirituality (philosophy) at the moment to try to appose the thundering Juggernaut that is the capitalist ethic. Usury and greed have proliferated through society too far, it is time for someone to stand up and show a different way.

It pleases me that Christians find something in Dudeism, it pleases me that other groups do so also (have yet to hear from jewish members, and muslim members etc). But I will continue to appose the christianisation of the religion.

I think this is a good place to air ideas and opinions.

The way you test your ideas is to present them and see if you can continue to hold them in the face of opposition. Through debate and discussion you come to understand the limits of your own ideas (if you are open to examine them). Not through shouting them through a megaphone, or barking down an opponent with unrelenting dogma.

I think what I'm saying to Rev's comment is that the bible works for some people and thats fine because they are entitled to their opinion, it just doesn't work for me.

[DigitalBuddha]

Yeah, I am a pretty big anti-Bible antagonist, but I leave room for the Bible as you Dudes find it. So if ya' happen to catch me somewhere else raking Biblical philosophies through the mud, remember that there are a lot of ins an outs, and I just can't cover them all.

If confronted by one of those reactionary religious types, my Sam Harris version of Walter tends to come out. But if asked nicely I will affirm, there is much wisdom in the Bible, especially the NT, but not under certain contexts. I don't think any Dude would consider stoning his new bride to death on her parents door step if he discovers she is not a virgin on their wedding night, yet that is what the Bible says one should do. So there are things in there a Dude clearly can not agree with, but there are many things a Dude absolutely can agree with. It takes some investigation to see the whole story.

Braces for the inevitable rebuttal.

Are you sure it doesn't say "get stoned with his new bride on her parents door step if he discovers she is not a virgin on their wedding night?"

That would be the Revised Dudeist Version of the good book.

[Benny]

I did for one moment, just a short moment, think that God may be a dude, what was the basis of this thought?  Well, he seemed to have done a bit of work (in the beginning, maybe?) and then he didn't show his face at work again for at least 2000 fucking years man!!  

[meekon5]

Your God Dude.

Mine have been around much longer.