so why are you a dudeist?

[Maria]

Why am I a Dudeist?

Well, I am new Dudeist who was introduce to Dudeism by my daughter and her dad.  A laid back lifestyle is something I feel that more people should enjoy, I do believe it'd make the world a much happier home to abide on.  The rat race has never been my cup of tea, and I really have never felt like I fit in well with normal society.  Nor their ways of creating rules that must be followed by all, or if not followed, then you could not be part of the "club" - "church" - "party" etc, whatever.  When I saw the rule of Dudeism, I was like YEA! That's one rule I can Abide by!  I love it!  So I guess one can say I became a Dudeist so that I could live a more laid back, leisure lifestyle while enjoying more of this beautiful planet we live on.

[Reverend Thomo]

Greetings & Love

perhaps the secret to being human is unlearning & realizing Dudeism is the source within us all, once we let go of our Ego.

 Being a Dudeist is a reminder to stay calm & dude on.

 "Free from desire, you realize the mystery. Caught in desire, you only see the manifestations" Tao Te Ching

Thanks man, nice points.  And I agree about the Daoist things you say.  Once the ego is seen through we become much more Dude.

[Reverend Thomo]

Why am I a Dudeist?

Well, I am new Dudeist who was introduce to Dudeism by my daughter and her dad.  A laid back lifestyle is something I feel that more people should enjoy, I do believe it'd make the world a much happier home to abide on.  The rat race has never been my cup of tea, and I really have never felt like I fit in well with normal society.  Nor their ways of creating rules that must be followed by all, or if not followed, then you could not be part of the "club" - "church" - "party" etc, whatever.  When I saw the rule of Dudeism, I was like YEA! That's one rule I can Abide by!  I love it!  So I guess one can say I became a Dudeist so that I could live a more laid back, leisure lifestyle while enjoying more of this beautiful planet we live on.

Yes, fitting in is a biggie.  Feeling right about what we practice, and particularly where it's not so uptight with dozens of things one must do, or not do, is one thing I like about Dudeism.

[RevBobB]

I've looked into a lot of spiritual belief systems and bona fide religions (if that's at all possible) and there's three I truly gravitate towards: Dudeism, Judaism, and Jediism. I was raised Catholic, but not by any hardcore zealots or even Good Christians™ so I was pretty checked out pretty early on. In all my searches, Dudeism is what I keep coming back to. Jediism is more of a Star Wars fan draw and I can definitely dig their ethos, but there's also a lot of pomp and circumstance to it that I just kinda don't jive with. Not big on ceremony. Probably why the more occult practices didn't work out with me either. As far as Judaism, well dudes I just don't know. I guess it just kinda feels fitting to me. Then again I'm Jersey born and raised with half my family coming from New York, but as far as I've seen up the family tree there haven't been any Jewish members at all. Mainly German, Ditch, and Irish folk with a splash of English and Swiss in there somewhere. And apparently at least one Indian dude. Don't know how that got there, but maybe that explains why I'm so nice all the time. Aw hell, I'm rambling.

I really dig the Dudeist style. I didn't even see The Big Lebowski until after I was ordained and read the Take It Easy Manifesto and the Dude Testament, so a lot of the references were lost on me for a while, haha. I feel like if Dudeism wasn't around, I'd probably convert to Judaism and end up not really practicing. That or continue to be a Discordian and just be fucking nuts. I will say though, that TBL has easily become one of my favorite movies, religious biases aside.

I really take it seriously, or seriously enough at least, and I like to think of myself as more of a philosopher than an officiant. Like I said, ceremony isn't really my bag, but I do like to study and learn and share my thoughts.

Take it easy man

[BikerDude]

I was born a Dudeist.
It just took the Coen Brothers to illustrate a frame of reference that so many out there (the Dudes) occupy.
We all fit right in there--and that's the Dudes.
IMO there are unlikely to be any heavy duty, life altering reasons.
Unless it's the common tendency to not be driven by heavy duty life altering reasons.
Just rolling along like the tumbling tumble weeds.

Actually this gets me thinking.
Maybe everybody or most are born Dudes and gradually poisoned by the world out there that insists on foisting beliefs onto us.
We are all born Dudes. And all born Nihilists.
We just need to hold onto both frames of reference.
(IMO the nihilists are not nihilists. They believe in money. Which is the tip of the entire paraquat iceberg)
Everybody digs money. That's not so undude.
But threatening castration?
Very undude.

[iAbide81]

I initially went through the ordination process in 2014 for fun. I've always been a Christian and even now I still believe in the holy trinity, but I've found over the years that organized religion is too corrupt. Not to mention hateful, despite the teachings of Christ.
Since my ordination, I've been diagnosed with depression, anxiety, and PTSD (of course, I've always known about that but I have an official diagnosis). Now I look at Dudeism as a philosophy that helps me to keep calm. It's one of many tools at my disposal to help with my anxiety. Since really looking into Dudeism and the teachings of Taoism, Epicureanism, and Buddhism, I've started meditating more and working on staying calm in the face of stress. It's been working well. Since it's helped me, I've been more vocal about the value of Dudeism in my life in the hopes that it can help others.

[BikerDude]

I'd like to make clear that I don't think Dudeism is a religion.
Not meaning to fly in the face of the church leaders here.
It is after all based on a comedy Movie.
It's fun but IMO it is not a religion except in the service of "the Joke".
It stands as more of a lampooning of religion in the nature of the flying spaghetti monster albeit a lot more intellectual and a lot more clever and less juvenile.
I'd almost say that it is an "anti religion".
Not meaning that it's not anti religion exactly but that it is a belief system that doesn't believe in belief systems.
IMO that very reality is the most freeing and therapeutic thing that it provides.
The ability to say "fuck it" to the heavy duty crap that is drummed into us from birth (which eventually leads to a crisis when we lose the ability to deny that it's mostly bull shit)
The tricks of these "cults" (whether it be religion or nationalism or whateverthefuckism) instill guilt in us all at the very thought of "leaving the fold".
They drill into us that anyone who does that is "evil" or "a traitor" or whatever.
And as the shine goes off the apple over the years we end up spiritually (and sometimes literally) stranded.
The ability to say "fuck it all" is the cure.
Dudeism/Nihilism to the rescue.
In my experience a lot of people seem to come here looking for something to fit into the "slot" that something else occupied in their spirit.
I think the answer lies in closing the slot. Or as the Christians would say the "God shaped hole".
There is not a hole. It's a gapping wound.
Dudeism or Fuckitism or Letsgobowlingism or passmethejointism is the salve to heal it.

The only way out is in.
And the only way to get there is to face the seething darkness in your own heart.
Have you ever looked at yourself in the mirror and gesticulated like a madman?
Until you do you are nothing.
And until you embrace the eternal nothingness of your existence you will not be free.
Do you follow my lead.

Well yeah Virgil I think that I do ah...
I'm nothin till I'm nothin

Right on!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XA_kMz-0TP8

[Reverend Thomo]

I blathered on too long in this original reply and could have just said... It doesn't matter whether Dudeism is a religion or philosophy or what have you, it's how you live it that counts. And in a world that appears to be getting more tense, taking it easy and having a limber mind is much needed.

[DigitalBuddha]

Why? Well, for one thing, at least it's an ethos! And, because it's a great religion for fuckin' lazy people such as me.