Hello fellow compeers,
Sorry for the question if it has already been asked (yes, I'm a Canuck Dude, hence the apology), but I was wondering what everyone thought a Dudeist Church would look like, what it would do, and what should it accomplish? Just hop in the bath, throw on some whale song, and think of the ideal Dudeist space. Then roll on out your ideas between your next league game and your next trip to the In'n'Out burger.
Thanks in advance my fellow Dudes.
This subject does come up every now and then.
IMHDO there should be no "Dudeist Churches".
Personally I am very much against the "Christianization" of any part of Dudeism (with "churches of Dudeism"). We are not another branch of the Jesus club.
Don't get me wrong, if you are christian and finding parallels between Dudeism and christianity, good on you. But we are not all converts from christianity.
Now if you feel you need such things do please practice as you are comfortable. Just don't expect the rest of us to join in.
For me the bowling alley remains a sacred place but not one that should be over emphasised.
I remain an iconoclast.
have your own places where you meet the spirit of Dudeism, have your own ways, but lets not standardise and comodify.
My Dudeism is mine, yours is yours.
Have a look at the endless discussions about Leboskiism vs Abidism (Moving Dudeism Forward (http://dudeism.com/smf/dudeist-spiritualism/moving-dudeism-forwards/)), then also look for some of the threads about Pin Dudeism.
It is true, the word "church" has all sorts of associations with it. Formalized religion. Power structures and hierarchies. Hard to get vestments. Expensive crosses and the like... Really, I am about the farthest thing from a Christian convert to Dudeism as you can find, as for the longest time I would not step into one because of the associations I had with it.
But now I find, especially with my continued and increasing interest in all things Dudeism, and the spirituality that goes with it, that I am taking 'er easy and limbering up my thinking with words and their associations. When I wrote the question, I had more of a tongue-in-cheek understanding of a sacred Dudeist space. My initial reaction to the first reply in the stream was, this Dude is right! All my old associations came back, and I thought myself a bit of a Big Lebowski in my thinking. Could I be betraying my fellow Dudes with the use of the word "church?" As I thought about it more though, I still want to keep the word in the question. Is the word "church" flexible, and does it have to mean "Jesus," "standardize," and "commodify?" Or can it be something that is questioned? Imagine a "church" where everyone is the reverend, everybody has control, and should people feel bad about entering that space to have dialogues about their spirituality because it has the potential to be too formal. Can we reclaim the word? Ha!
So when I think "church," and maybe I will not use that word ultimately, I consider the community. Maybe the church will take place in a bowling alley at one point, in somebody's basement the next, or an In-N-Out Burger (or the equivalent). The important thing is that there would be the potential for coming together and abiding together. I think if we get too concerned with the space or the platform of worship, then we will debate ourselves right out of enjoying the Fest, the Dude University (which has its own associations), and the Dude site itself. But I am rambling, and apologize for the length of my rambling.
Dialogue is key, and I would love to hear any other responses from those interested. Abide and take' err' easy my compeers.
Thank the gods, someone who thinks. I was a bit worried you may have taken this the wrong way, but good on you.
Quote from: Rev Paddy Cakes on August 05, 2013, 11:13:18 AM
Dialogue is key, and I would love to hear any other responses from those interested. Abide and take' err' easy my compeers.
I completely agree.
Quote from: Rev Paddy Cakes on August 04, 2013, 02:49:58 PM
Hello fellow compeers,
Sorry for the question if it has already been asked (yes, I'm a Canuck Dude, hence the apology), but I was wondering what everyone thought a Dudeist Church would look like, what it would do, and what should it accomplish? Just hop in the bath, throw on some whale song, and think of the ideal Dudeist space. Then roll on out your ideas between your next league game and your next trip to the In'n'Out burger.
Thanks in advance my fellow Dudes.
Welcome to our beach community, fellow dude Rev Paddy Cakes, awesome to have you here. Grab an oat soda and abide dude.
As for what a Dudeist church should look like; I offer that verity is the key, here are some ideas;
A Dudeist fellowship hall.......
(http://www.txmike.com/Photos/USA/California/InAndOut.jpg)
A chapel, perfect for Dudeist marriages.......
(http://www.cleavelin.net/archives001/cardshof/museumnewlanes.jpg)
Small gatherings.......
(http://s.mcstatic.com/thumb/7569196/20669023/4/flash_player/0/1/the_big_lebowski_1998_the_germans_in_a_restaurant.jpg?v=4)
Church policy meetings.......
(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mPNcJDuQGtc/SSiEVKKjl_I/AAAAAAAAAmk/XVETV03gpqM/s400/lebowski_dream.jpg)
Larger gatherings of the faithful...........
(https://redrock.sclv.com/~/media/Images/Page%20Background%20Images/Red%20Rock/Entertainment/RR_Entertainment_Bowling_04-new.jpg)
As a lot here, my thoughts are that dudeism does not need special place to hear someone telling me what to think, or whatever looks like it.
I think that Dudeists are "nomads". Every bar, every place where we are comfortable, everywhere we can enjoy the things we like (gaming, bowling, fishing,...) is our personnal church.
One just takes it easy, and abides, dude.
But that's my opinion.
Definitely agree with nomad comment Hav. When someone mentions the subject of a Dudeist "church" I just of a place where Dudes can chill and discuss, which reminds me that this-a-here forum is about as close to a "church" as it will get, as we would never have a physical location where only dudes would be aloud to be.
And you're not allowed In n Out burger joints for anything remotely formal! Cos that's exclusivity that is!
We don't have em!
Nothing even similar!
Yes I'm insanely jealous! :(
Peace.
Quote from: Caesar dude on August 07, 2013, 01:39:42 AM
And you're not allowed In n Out burger joints for anything remotely formal! Cos that's exclusivity that is!
We don't have em!
Nothing even similar!
Yes I'm insanely jealous! :(
Peace.
Check out........
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1311.R1.TR4.TRC2.A0&_nkw=in+n+out+burger&_sacat=0&_from=R40 (http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1311.R1.TR4.TRC2.A0&_nkw=in+n+out+burger&_sacat=0&_from=R40)
Quote from: DigitalBuddha on August 05, 2013, 06:48:44 PM
Quote from: Rev Paddy Cakes on August 04, 2013, 02:49:58 PM
Hello fellow compeers,
Sorry for the question if it has already been asked (yes, I'm a Canuck Dude, hence the apology), but I was wondering what everyone thought a Dudeist Church would look like, what it would do, and what should it accomplish? Just hop in the bath, throw on some whale song, and think of the ideal Dudeist space. Then roll on out your ideas between your next league game and your next trip to the In'n'Out burger.
Thanks in advance my fellow Dudes.
Welcome to our beach community, fellow dude Rev Paddy Cakes, awesome to have you here. Grab an oat soda and abide dude.
As for what a Dudeist church should look like; I offer that verity is the key, here are some ideas;
A Dudeist fellowship hall.......
A chapel, perfect for Dudeist marriages.......
Small gatherings.......
Church policy meetings.......
Larger gatherings of the faithful...........
(images removed for brevity)
Personally I think we should secretly announce a location to meet then all descend like a flash mob on the place, have a service, then all disappear only to do it again to some other random place.
Thank you for the welcome. And I'm loving the discussion.
I definitely agree with the idea that when it comes to Dudes and physical spaces, the take'r easy nomadic lifestyle is the most appropriate. However, I am going to play the Big Lebowski's advocate and say this: I think if more than one follower of the Way of the Dude happened to meet with another follower of the Way of the Dude, and they happened to discuss some spirituality related to Dudeism, and they happened to occupy the same physical space (and more than once mind you!) that Dudeism as an ethos would not suddenly cease to exist, or become some sort of facist "-ism" with a Dudeican, in Dudeican City, with smoke billowing out the top and Big Lebowski-esque riches spilling out gold gilted doors and stained glass windows.
While we all seem to be in agreement that form, Judeo-Christian-esqe churches are not something representative of the take'r easy, Dudely lifestyle, I would never fault someone for trying to bring Dudes together, even if they do all self identify as Dudes, and celebrate / discuss Dudeism face to face in a physical space. Not for everyone, I know, but not un-Dude either. I would like to think that Dudeism would exist even without the internet. Anybody out there that has had some sort of gatherings or groups, specific to Dudeism?
I also wonder what this dialogue would have looked like if my original question had have asked something about a local Dudeist gathering, community, or even Little Lebowskifests...
And by the way, meekon5's flash mob idea is pretty brilliant. Although I can't see Dudeists moving that fast. Maybe a slow pulse mob...? Thanks for making me really think about the language of my question.
Take'r easy compeers.
Yeah, like a peacefull, chilling and goodtime.
I can't help but thinking that it would totally balance the Westboro undudes (out of context for you, but I've just seen a lot of their undudeness on a website).
Too bad there aren't no other dudes to abide the flashmobs you talk about in France (apparently).
I agree with flash/slow pulse mob. And I'd even be willing to bring a lawn chair and sit to protest the Westboro insides with a sign saying "Just abide, dudes."
My area doesn't get flash mobs, though. Bummer.
I stood on a corner of a street with a sign that said: "Take it easy" and on the other side: "Abide" on March 6 of this year. I got a lot of honks, thumbs up, shouts, and "Fuck you hippie!'s" that I am thinking about doing it again. This is my way of passing on the message. I come here to read, laugh and enjoy the dudism community. I really don't feel the need to gather in a building to enjoy this idea and way of life. My $.02... enjoy your day. 8)
Quote from: Masked Dude on August 07, 2013, 03:01:36 PM
I agree with flash/slow pulse mob. And I'd even be willing to bring a lawn chair and sit to protest the Westboro insides with a sign saying "Just abide, dudes."
My area doesn't get flash mobs, though. Bummer.
I can see the problem with the flash mob thing, possibly more a "Pause Mob".
Dudeist Pause Mob!
Announce a date and venue and see who turns up.
Just for myself I like to be a priest more in the mode of Kwai Chang Caine. I wander the countryside allowing others to see the peace that I have found in just takin' 'er easy. When I'm asked how I can be so calm in the face of horrible adversity I just sprinkle a bit of The Dude de Ching around. This is not done in the hopes of converting people, that happens on its own further on down the road. It's just the way the Dude has impacted my life and my outlook. When others see the magnificent calmness exhibited by one who is just takin' 'er easy they want some of that. At some point they'll ask me about it. That's when I know that another member of the fairy tale church has become a follower of the Dude.
Like the old saying goes, I don't have to sell this shit 'cuz this shit sells itself.
Amen - and amen again, brother Dude! Dudeism does indeed sell itself. I had the opportunity to explain it to somebody recently and made another recruit to our cause. It didn't hurt that I was in a bowling alley at the time.
Incidentally, greetings from Sasquatch country... Saw this picture on the Dudeist Facebook page and I hope the artist doesn't mind if I share our hairy buddy here. Would love to have this put on a t-shirt with his permission!
Like the squatch dude myself. I'd proudly wear him on a T shirt.
Good points above. The thing about the word church is it is added and goes in place of the word ecclesia which means assembly. The gatherings of fellow Dudeists is that a gathering or assembly in say bowling alley, In & Out (Which my cousin owns), pancake house, and what have yous. So I see no need to use church as many of you point above. Just my opinion.