Dudeism
Hugh Freaking Dillon
Posts: 14,010
I just came upon this accidentally. But it's awesome. Do people drink white russians instead of wine? 
Dudeism is a philosophy and lifestyle inspired by the modern-day fictional character Jeffrey "The Dude" Lebowski, as portrayed by Jeff Bridges in the Coen Brothers' 1998 film The Big Lebowski. Dudeism's stated primary objective is to promote a modern form of Chinese Taoism, outlined in Tao Te Ching and Laozi (6th century BC), blended with concepts by the Ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus (341-270 BC), and presented in a style as personified by the character of "The Dude".[1] Dudeism has sometimes been regarded as a mock religion,[2][3] though its founder and many adherents regard it seriously.[4][5][6][7]
Contents
Formation
Founded in 2005 by Oliver Benjamin, a journalist based in Chiang Mai, Thailand,[8] Dudeism's official organizational name is The Church of the Latter-Day Dude. At least 160,000 "Dudeist Priests" have been ordained as of August 2012.[9]
Although Dudeism primarily makes use of iconography and narrative from The Big Lebowski, adherents believe that the Dudeist worldview has existed since the beginnings of civilization, primarily to correct societal tendencies towards aggression and excess. They list individuals such as Laozi, Epicurus, Heraclitus, Buddha, and the pre-ecclesiastical Jesus Christ as examples of ancient Dudeist prophets.[10] More recent antecedents include pillars of American Transcendentalism such as Ralph Waldo Emerson and Walt Whitman and humanists such as Kurt Vonnegut and Mark Twain.[11][12]
Philosophy
The Dudeist belief system is essentially a modernized form of Taoism purged of all of its metaphysical and medical doctrines. Dudeism advocates and encourages the practice of "going with the flow", "being cool headed", and "taking it easy" in the face of life's difficulties, believing that this is the only way to live in harmony with our inner nature and the challenges of interacting with other people. It also aims to assuage feelings of inadequacy that arise in societies which place a heavy emphasis on achievement and personal fortune. Consequently, simple everyday pleasures like bathing, bowling, and hanging out with friends are seen as far preferable to the accumulation of wealth and the spending of money as a means to achieve happiness and spiritual fulfillment.[13]
The Church of the Latter-Day Dude launched its official publication, The Dudespaper, in the fall of 2008. A Dudeist holy book, The Tao Dude Ching went online in July 2009. It was renamed The Dude De Ching in December 2009 to avoid being confused with an upcoming book by Oliver Benjamin called The Tao of the Dude. The Dude De Ching is a reinterpretation of Peter Merel's translation of the Tao Te Ching using dialogue and story elements from The Big Lebowski.[14]
In August 2011, a "Dudeist self-help book" employing life lessons from The Big Lebowski and other sources, entitled The Abide Guide was published by Ulysses Press.[15] Written by Oliver Benjamin and the Arch Dudeship Dwayne Eutsey, it also contains material by other members of The Church of the Latter-Day Dude.
"The Dude and the Zen Master", a 2013 book by Jeff Bridges and Buddhist teacher Bernie Glassman, uses the character as a starting point for philosophical discussion. Asked at a promotional event what The Dude would think of Dudeism, Bridges replied that "He’d be flabbergasted. And he would dig it."[16]
Dudeism is a philosophy and lifestyle inspired by the modern-day fictional character Jeffrey "The Dude" Lebowski, as portrayed by Jeff Bridges in the Coen Brothers' 1998 film The Big Lebowski. Dudeism's stated primary objective is to promote a modern form of Chinese Taoism, outlined in Tao Te Ching and Laozi (6th century BC), blended with concepts by the Ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus (341-270 BC), and presented in a style as personified by the character of "The Dude".[1] Dudeism has sometimes been regarded as a mock religion,[2][3] though its founder and many adherents regard it seriously.[4][5][6][7]
Contents
Formation
Founded in 2005 by Oliver Benjamin, a journalist based in Chiang Mai, Thailand,[8] Dudeism's official organizational name is The Church of the Latter-Day Dude. At least 160,000 "Dudeist Priests" have been ordained as of August 2012.[9]
Although Dudeism primarily makes use of iconography and narrative from The Big Lebowski, adherents believe that the Dudeist worldview has existed since the beginnings of civilization, primarily to correct societal tendencies towards aggression and excess. They list individuals such as Laozi, Epicurus, Heraclitus, Buddha, and the pre-ecclesiastical Jesus Christ as examples of ancient Dudeist prophets.[10] More recent antecedents include pillars of American Transcendentalism such as Ralph Waldo Emerson and Walt Whitman and humanists such as Kurt Vonnegut and Mark Twain.[11][12]
Philosophy
The Dudeist belief system is essentially a modernized form of Taoism purged of all of its metaphysical and medical doctrines. Dudeism advocates and encourages the practice of "going with the flow", "being cool headed", and "taking it easy" in the face of life's difficulties, believing that this is the only way to live in harmony with our inner nature and the challenges of interacting with other people. It also aims to assuage feelings of inadequacy that arise in societies which place a heavy emphasis on achievement and personal fortune. Consequently, simple everyday pleasures like bathing, bowling, and hanging out with friends are seen as far preferable to the accumulation of wealth and the spending of money as a means to achieve happiness and spiritual fulfillment.[13]
The Church of the Latter-Day Dude launched its official publication, The Dudespaper, in the fall of 2008. A Dudeist holy book, The Tao Dude Ching went online in July 2009. It was renamed The Dude De Ching in December 2009 to avoid being confused with an upcoming book by Oliver Benjamin called The Tao of the Dude. The Dude De Ching is a reinterpretation of Peter Merel's translation of the Tao Te Ching using dialogue and story elements from The Big Lebowski.[14]
In August 2011, a "Dudeist self-help book" employing life lessons from The Big Lebowski and other sources, entitled The Abide Guide was published by Ulysses Press.[15] Written by Oliver Benjamin and the Arch Dudeship Dwayne Eutsey, it also contains material by other members of The Church of the Latter-Day Dude.
"The Dude and the Zen Master", a 2013 book by Jeff Bridges and Buddhist teacher Bernie Glassman, uses the character as a starting point for philosophical discussion. Asked at a promotional event what The Dude would think of Dudeism, Bridges replied that "He’d be flabbergasted. And he would dig it."[16]
Gimli 1993
Fargo 2003
Winnipeg 2005
Winnipeg 2011
St. Paul 2014
Fargo 2003
Winnipeg 2005
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St. Paul 2014
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Comments
Fargo 2003
Winnipeg 2005
Winnipeg 2011
St. Paul 2014
-Walter-
I live by the code.
I may not be a dude but I abide.
"...adherents believe that the Dudeist worldview has existed since the beginnings of civilization, primarily to correct societal tendencies towards aggression and excess."
The idea of reducing aggression is very appealing to me. Sometimes defenses are necessary but less aggression mean less need for defenses.
Excess is a little trickier. For example, it can be difficult to suppress the desire to have fun in excess or feel good in excess. Ya know?
Oh yeah. You betcha! There is a moose on my roof. I'm from Alaska...
Let me get my shot gun and my big gulp and I'll help you guys out.
I think excess in this context is meant in financial terms, like buying stuff you don't need, making more money and aspiring to things that don't matter, etc.
Fargo 2003
Winnipeg 2005
Winnipeg 2011
St. Paul 2014
Fargo 2003
Winnipeg 2005
Winnipeg 2011
St. Paul 2014
Dude!
How did you do that?
Can you send me a link?
http://dudeism.com/
Fargo 2003
Winnipeg 2005
Winnipeg 2011
St. Paul 2014
its the only religion i can handle.
want me to marry you?
EV Long Beach 7/6/11 , LA Wiltern (miracled in) 7/8/11, EV Benaroya Hall 10/24/23
In that case, I'm all for it!
Dude there is so much truth to that.
this is my golden rule. My selfish favorite quote. I abide by it
Walter Sobchak: You know, Dude, I myself dabbled in pacifism once. Not in 'Nam of course.
The Dude: And, you know, he's got emotional problems, man.
Walter Sobchak: You mean … beyond pacifism?
and
" I'll tell you what I'm blathering about... I've got information man! New shit has come to light! And shit... man, she kidnapped herself. Well sure, man. Look at it... a young trophy wife, in the parlance of our times, you know, and she, uh, uh, owes money all over town, including to known pornographers, and that's cool... that's, that's cool, I'm, I'm saying, she needs money, man. And of course they're going to say that they didn't get it, because... she wants more, man! She's got to feed the monkey, I mean uh... hasn't that ever occurred to you, man? Sir? "
and
" Saturday, Donny, is Shabbos, the Jewish day of rest. That means that I don't work, I don't drive a car, I don't fucking ride in a car, I don't handle money, I don't turn on the oven, and I sure as shit *don't fucking roll*!"
I get the first and third points above, but what is the issue with making more money? Can that so-called (and I'd assume rightfully-earned) excess income not do some good, whether via charity, or consumption of needed items?
Also, about the less aggression thing - that'd assume all are on the same page with it...if not (much more likely) is it better to just roll over and take it from another? Or stand up for whatever it is you believe in?
to put it simply, it's a more relaxed state of being in general, in all facets of life.
Fargo 2003
Winnipeg 2005
Winnipeg 2011
St. Paul 2014