The Dudeism Forum

I am finally getting around to telling my Brother about my Dudeist beliefs and am having trouble getting it out...  He is VERY Christian but I feel like he is listening, maybe to hear how he can convert or sway me though! -  lol  (I laugh only because it may be true and that's all you can do sometimes is laugh in life - particularly in a distressing situation)  I really respect my older brother and want him to understand and really get the gist of this and the validity behind what I feel!  I really feel strongly about Dudeism and I hope I am explaining it well enough so that he will understand how serious I am...  I kinda touched on its Taoist similarities but haven't really told him the name of this religion yet...  Any comments/advice on how best to approach this and be taken seriously!?  (That is IF anyone is online right now...  I know that's a BIG if)...  Any serious and truly Dudely advice would be helpful and is DEFINITELY welcome and much APPRECIATED!  (Either at present time or retroactively - I know this isn't the most active time on this forum!)

Some people I know who might qualify as very Christian are pretty cool with the whole Dudeism thing. They don't take it seriously in any way but they get that it's at the very least an interesting ethos. That's the thing though, if you're looking to have you brother take Dudeism seriously then you're probably going to be disappointed. Speaking as a religious studies major I can tell you that historically Christians (Roman Catholics, Protestants, and the like.) have had a hard time taking any other religion seriously (Although one could argue that today there are many Christians who are more comfortable reaching across the table to try and understand other religious views), so you'd be in good company.

Before I give my own advice I'd like to point out that you are in no way obligated to tell anyone what your religion is, for example I've no intention of telling any of my relatives that I am a Dude, they are all very Christian and it would just cause them worry about my eternal soul, so I just let them believe what they want, heck, I'll even pray over the meal when I come to visit just to give them piece of mind it's really not a big deal to me. For me it is a personal thing and I show my Dudeism through my actions rather than through how well I can articulate what I believe.

So given that background my own personal opinion would be that if you are hellbent on telling your brother that you are a Dude just tell him what Dudeism means to you, and don't let his reaction bother you, if it does, go bowling...beers...ect.

For myself I don't really find anybody takes dudism seriously. I'm actually pretty sure most dudiests don't take it that seriously. Its kind if the point of the religion to not take stuff to seriously we are all just abiding here. If your worried about it just tell him you follow a branch of taoism and give him a general idea of what it's about. If he wants to know more then go with it. I don't think there is anything in dudism that directly conflicts with Christianity is more of a life philosophy than a religion. Good luck though I hope everything works out for you.

Quote from: The_Sleevez on September 19, 2014, 10:33:45 AM...I don't think there is anything in dudism that directly conflicts with Christianity...

There are a number of Dudeists who are either atheists or agnostics, so their lack of belief in a God (or Gods, in deference to Meekon5's beliefs) is something most Christians would have a problem with.  Other than that, I can't think of any direct conflicts.

My experiences are probably about the same as everyone else's--you mention Dudeism, and people roll their eyes and shrug it off.  If they're still listening after that, they might be receptive to the concept that it actually has it's roots in Taoism, but most people (at least here in southwestern part of the U.S.) don't even know what that is until/unless you explain it to them.  Even then, most of the Christians I've known over the years have been so deeply rooted in their beliefs that their minds were completely closed to anything that conflicts with, contradicts, or questions those beliefs, so you may as well tell them you drank the Kool Aid while you were waiting for the mothership to take you back to your home planet. 

That being said, I've also known a lot of Christians that practiced "Churchianity", i.e. they go to church on Sunday but otherwise smoke and drink and swear and cheat and fuck up just like the rest of us.  So, in my opinion, the best thing you can do is to be an example--show people how Dudeism has changed your life for the better rather than tell them.  As I wrote in another thread here, you can attract more people with a smile, laughter, and happiness, than you can by beating them over the head with your message, whatever that message might be.  The cool thing about Dudeism is that it generally creates more smiles, laughter, and happiness, without pulling the rug that ties the whole thing together out from under you. 

Quote from: Jefftos on September 19, 2014, 10:00:20 AM
Some people I know who might qualify as very Christian are pretty cool with the whole Dudeism thing. They don't take it seriously in any way but they get that it's at the very least an interesting ethos. That's the thing though, if you're looking to have you brother take Dudeism seriously then you're probably going to be disappointed. Speaking as a religious studies major I can tell you that historically Christians (Roman Catholics, Protestants, and the like.) have had a hard time taking any other religion seriously (Although one could argue that today there are many Christians who are more comfortable reaching across the table to try and understand other religious views), so you'd be in good company.

Before I give my own advice I'd like to point out that you are in no way obligated to tell anyone what your religion is, for example I've no intention of telling any of my relatives that I am a Dude, they are all very Christian and it would just cause them worry about my eternal soul, so I just let them believe what they want, heck, I'll even pray over the meal when I come to visit just to give them piece of mind it's really not a big deal to me. For me it is a personal thing and I show my Dudeism through my actions rather than through how well I can articulate what I believe.

So given that background my own personal opinion would be that if you are hellbent on telling your brother that you are a Dude just tell him what Dudeism means to you, and don't let his reaction bother you, if it does, go bowling...beers...ect.

You make several good points!  Thank you for replying!  I want to tell him because I am fairly close to my brother and don't wanna have to pretend that I still identify strongly as a Christian.  I really felt like if he realize that I feel strongly about this he would at least try to understand it and discuss it with me in a rational and interested manner.  I feel like my parents, on the other hand, are a totally different story!  I don't really plan on discussing it with them because I don't feel they will EVER be accepting about it and will just tell me I am going to go to hell without ever accepting or acknowledging my choice.

Quote from: The_Sleevez on September 19, 2014, 10:33:45 AM
For myself I don't really find anybody takes dudism seriously. I'm actually pretty sure most dudiests don't take it that seriously. Its kind if the point of the religion to not take stuff to seriously we are all just abiding here. If your worried about it just tell him you follow a branch of taoism and give him a general idea of what it's about. If he wants to know more then go with it. I don't think there is anything in dudism that directly conflicts with Christianity is more of a life philosophy than a religion. Good luck though I hope everything works out for you.

Some Dudely advice indeed!  And it actually ended up going much better than I thought by the end of our conversation!  And I did start out with its Taoist similarities/roots and just kind of elaborated from there.   And I think it is an important point, that to me,  it is both serious and not at all serious at the same time and I made that point to him...  Thanks for the reply!


Thanks a lot Dudes!

The best approach I've found is to simply be who I am, think before I speak, and then tell the truth as I see it. If others jive with my flow, then we'll eventually get around to talking about the Dudeism thing in further detail. If not, then we'll move on to other subjects. Pressing the matter, trying to convert the unwashed masses, or holding a mirror up to fallacy just seem to make things worse.

Good luck, mang. Your brother doesn't sound like someone who would, uh, keep wildlife...an amphibious rodent...for uh, domestic...you know, within the city. You should be fine.

Well I guess for me the big question is "Would the Dude be a dudeist" or would he just be the Dude?
Subtle difference for sure but all the difference in the world IMO.
For me it's not about being something but finding your inner Dude.
I know we traffic in membership cards but so does Ralphs.
I'm not a Ralphist.

Dudeism isn't a religion in its classic meaning. You can be a dudeist christian, muslim, buddhist (especially buddhist) without breaking any of the canons. just as long as its your thing, you don't let anyone break your inner flow and don't impose it on others.

Oh and don't expect to be taken seriously. You don't need that. You don't need approval. He may laugh and say it's ridiculous, but if it's your thing - you abide and go with it. I understand a brother's approval is an important thing, but don't expect him to understand if he's not into it. That's just, like, his opinion, man.

I'm actually a rather conservative Christian but my motto is still "Fuck it, lets go bowling"  lol...

People don't have to ditch what they believe in to aspire after dudeness.

At least thats, like, my opinion man.

Quote from: El Dudeness on October 26, 2014, 04:39:15 AM
I'm actually a rather conservative Christian but my motto is still "Fuck it, lets go bowling"  lol...

People don't have to ditch what they believe in to aspire after dudeness.

At least thats, like, my opinion man.

Welcome to dudetopia, El Dudeness. Nice to have you in our beach community. Feel free to jump on the trampoline and abide! Bars' over yonder.

Where's the trampoline, DB, man? Don't hold out

Quote from: The Daryl on October 26, 2014, 09:26:09 AM
Where's the trampoline, DB, man? Don't hold out

Time to party!

Quote from: DigitalBuddha on October 26, 2014, 09:10:22 AM

Quote from: El Dudeness on October 26, 2014, 04:39:15 AM
I'm actually a rather conservative Christian but my motto is still "Fuck it, lets go bowling"  lol...

People don't have to ditch what they believe in to aspire after dudeness.

At least thats, like, my opinion man.

Welcome to dudetopia, El Dudeness. Nice to have you in our beach community. Feel free to jump on the trampoline and abide! Bars' over yonder.

Don't mind if I do.