The Church of the Latter-Day Dude vs The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster

[DirtDude]

I was just thinking about the online medium and the potential for Internet churches like Dudeism.

If the Internet was around during Buddha's time, I'm sure he would have had quite a presence on the net, and being the dude he was, his message would have caught on quickly. Dudeism is like the Buddhism of the 21st century. They share a lot of the same elements, Dudeism makes just as much, if not more, sense to modern people as Buddha's message did to the people of his time, and the source of the wisdom for Dudeism is a contemporary culture classic film--which is a far superior way to spread a story of wisdom, insight, and enlightenment. 

Another popular Internet church is the church of the flying spaghetti monster. They are pretty large scale, and if you judge by the number of members in their forums, their church has about 10x as many followers as the Dude's church. Their followers are called Pastafarians and the site is basically an aggressive protest movement against trying to pass off Intelligent Design Theory as science. I don't know if this site is very dude or undude, but they are being pretty reactionary about the whole IDT move by Christian fundamentalists who seem to have no frame of reference.

I know that Dudeism makes a lot more sense and has more potential to actually help people and make the world a better place, so it is our dudely duty to achieve the modest task of delivering the message.

Wikipedia has a pretty extensive entry for FSM, but Dudeism just redirects to the page for the film. There don't seem to be many nihilists for us to fight, so maybe we can at least compete with some pastaists. I'm certainly not advocating any aggression against the FSM Church, but I think we can definitely be conscientious objectors about it.

To abide is to spread the word of the Dude, and we can go out and achieve that by telling a friend about Dudeism, or by randomly quoting the holy film. "If you will it, it is no dream" and I believe that the philosophy of Dudeism has a much brighter future than a church that promotes literary aggression against another church and worships a deity that has two meatballs for eyes.

"This aggression will not stand man!"       

[Lone dude]

Agreed,

While I don't condone the spread of Dudeism ( or any religion for that matter) through aggressive means like leaf letting tent revivals and the like.  There is at least a link to the Dudeism site from Wikipedia, thats cool.
I think that TBL is a parable in an all together larger vision of what Dudeism is.  Dudeism has been called a religion of slackers, well aren't we?  So Just take er' easy, these Flying Spaghetti Monster types have a message that is in stark contrast to some strongly held belief that otheres have.  What they may not realize is that, and what may happen is nobody changes their mind about it and it just tuns into energy wasted.  You see it ends with them when everyone or at least a large majority acknowledges their view as legitimate.  It never ends with Dudeism if I understand all the elements correctly, its better than a swiss fucking watch.  We will still be dudes if/when Dudeism is widely recognized even if it does'nt fall under the banner of Dudeism.  However don't hold your breath man because as the parable states "The Bums will always lose!" and thats cool.  Enjoy that you have found your inner dude and by enjoying it you will spread the word.  You know its like uh I belive Freud said Uh, Uh, You can change uh, but you have to want to change first. 

Perhaps we should consult the Dudley Llama and get his take on it.

[brandt]

Agreed,

While I don't condone the spread of Dudeism ( or any religion for that matter) through aggressive means like leaf letting tent revivals and the like.  There is at least a link to the Dudeism site from Wikipedia, thats cool.
I think that TBL is a parable in an all together larger vision of what Dudeism is.  Dudeism has been called a religion of slackers, well aren't we?  So Just take er' easy, these Flying Spaghetti Monster types have a message that is in stark contrast to some strongly held belief that otheres have.  What they may not realize is that, and what may happen is nobody changes their mind about it and it just tuns into energy wasted.  You see it ends with them when everyone or at least a large majority acknowledges their view as legitimate.  It never ends with Dudeism if I understand all the elements correctly, its better than a swiss fucking watch.  We will still be dudes if/when Dudeism is widely recognized even if it does'nt fall under the banner of Dudeism.  However don't hold your breath man because as the parable states "The Bums will always lose!" and thats cool.  Enjoy that you have found your inner dude and by enjoying it you will spread the word.  You know its like uh I belive Freud said Uh, Uh, You can change uh, but you have to want to change first. 

Perhaps we should consult the Dudley Llama and get his take on it.

I was just thinking about the online medium and the potential for Internet churches like Dudeism.

If the Internet was around during Buddha's time, I'm sure he would have had quite a presence on the net, and being the dude he was, his message would have caught on quickly. Dudeism is like the Buddhism of the 21st century. They share a lot of the same elements, Dudeism makes just as much, if not more, sense to modern people as Buddha's message did to the people of his time, and the source of the wisdom for Dudeism is a contemporary culture classic film--which is a far superior way to spread a story of wisdom, insight, and enlightenment. 

Another popular Internet church is the church of the flying spaghetti monster. They are pretty large scale, and if you judge by the number of members in their forums, their church has about 10x as many followers as the Dude's church. Their followers are called Pastafarians and the site is basically an aggressive protest movement against trying to pass off Intelligent Design Theory as science. I don't know if this site is very dude or undude, but they are being pretty reactionary about the whole IDT move by Christian fundamentalists who seem to have no frame of reference.

I know that Dudeism makes a lot more sense and has more potential to actually help people and make the world a better place, so it is our dudely duty to achieve the modest task of delivering the message.

Wikipedia has a pretty extensive entry for FSM, but Dudeism just redirects to the page for the film. There don't seem to be many nihilists for us to fight, so maybe we can at least compete with some pastaists. I'm certainly not advocating any aggression against the FSM Church, but I think we can definitely be conscientious objectors about it.

To abide is to spread the word of the Dude, and we can go out and achieve that by telling a friend about Dudeism, or by randomly quoting the holy film. "If you will it, it is no dream" and I believe that the philosophy of Dudeism has a much brighter future than a church that promotes literary aggression against another church and worships a deity that has two meatballs for eyes.

"This aggression will not stand man!"       

Uh, let me take another look, I'm sure it's down there somewhere....lotta ins lotta outs, lotta what-have-yous.
Fuck it, can't be worried about that shit...life goes on, man, sir..has that ever occurred to you? Okay then...and you will advance to the next round robin

[SmokeytheBuddha]

Well, there is an effort to unite the two on Facebook anyway:

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1079901406&ref=profile#/group.php?gid=2249712764

This group is for all who ascribe to the principles of The Church of the Latter-Day Dude or the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, or both. We of these faiths are welcoming, kind, laid-back, peaceful seekers of truth who are followers of benevolent creators and leaders.
We, the priests of Pastafarianism and of Dudeism have determined that these two faiths live in ultimate harmony with each other; we share goals, we share ideas, and through detailed research, have discovered that the Holy Beverage goes well with the Holy Foods. And the holy writ, "Well, thats just your opinion, man", has certainly been uttered by The Heavenly Dude, and is most possible that our creator, the FSM, has uttered it as well.
Please, feel welcome in our sanctuary, and may the members of these two faiths join together and create Great Things! Or at least awsome parties. Enjoy!

The Holy Beverage must be made carefully and with love. And only cream, please - those who use skim milk will be looked upon with sadness.

[always abides]

The FSM is a form of protest, somewhat similar to the way The Dude would have protested way back in the 60s.  Non-violent resistance.  The Church of Dudeism should ally with the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

[Lone dude]

Exactly my point Brandt,  thinking about this can be exhausting.  If you find yourself happy in dudeism there is no reason, there is no fucking reason why you should go out and justify yourself all over town. Look the FSM type have their own thing that makes them happy and we have ours and thats cool.  We should not use them to send out our message to those who don't share a connection with TBL nor should we be used as well to send out their message, this would be very undude.

However just like Buddhism, there are as many sects of Dudeism as there are Dudes, so fuck it man lets go bowling.

[DirtDude]

Huh.  I did not know that.  Well, it's water under the bridge.  And we do enter the next round-robin, am I wrong?

Look, I don't wanna be a hard-on about this, and I know they're just trying to be funny, but I just thought the FSM church is being a little reactionary to the whole Intelligent Design Theory, and I wanted to submit this to the Dude clergy.

I'm perfectly calm, but I suppose I should just take 't easy, man and maybe allow that these two online churches help each other.

Calmer than you are...

[SmokeytheBuddha]

Huh.  I did not know that.  Well, it's water under the bridge.  And we do enter the next round-robin, am I wrong?

Look, I don't wanna be a hard-on about this, and I know they're just trying to be funny, but I just thought the FSM church is being a little reactionary to the whole Intelligent Design Theory, and I wanted to submit this to the Dude clergy.

I'm perfectly calm, but I suppose I should just take 't easy, man and maybe allow that these two online churches help each other.

Calmer than you are...

That's cool. Just remember that a yin yang balance and harmony between opposites (The Dude and Walter) is at the heart of Dudeism. That's just, like, you know, my opinion, man. Besides those Pastafarians are fragile, man. Very fragile.

[DirtDude]

So they have emotional problems?

You mean--beyond pacifism?

[SmokeytheBuddha]

So they have emotional problems?

You mean--beyond pacifism?

You mean, pastaism?

[Lone dude]

Yeah he was a couscous objector?
I did not dough that?
I myself once dabbled in pastaism.  Not during Nam. Of course.
Walter what the Pho are you talking about?!
Look at our present situation with that alfredo fucker in the rags.
Would you just take it Ziti man!

[digbys kid]

So they have emotional problems?

You mean--beyond pacifism?

You mean, pastaism?

Pastaism is not something to hide behind!

[DirtDude]

So they have emotional problems?

You mean--beyond pacifism?

You mean, pastaism?

Pastaism is not something to hide behind!

I'm perfectly calm Dude

Yeah?  Wavin' a gun around?

Calmer than you are

[ozzy85]

I don't see dudeism as versus anything.  Dudeism is by nature non-competitive.  It just is.  The FSM seems to be basically about one concept, but that's fine.  Maybe there's more to it and I need to look it up.

I've met folks who are Wiccans, Discordians, Zen Buddists and the like.  I've learned a few things about people and life.  Cool.  I'd share an oat soda with them any day and talk.

Dudeism doesn't recruit.  We are sought or just stumbled upon by somebody taking a dude's approach to life.  there are folks put there who don't know their dudeness.  They just ARE it.

Cheers.

[Dude1967]

Fuck it, let's get a lane