I spent all of thirty seconds online, punched in my name, today’s date, and my email address. Seconds later I printed out the certificate, and now I can legally marry people in most states of America. God bless freedom of religion and God bless Dudeism.
This Sunday a throng of fans adorned in bowling shoes and bathrobes will descend on the Randwick Ritz Cinema. The Ritz is playing host to the first annual ‘Lebowski Bash Australia’, an event intended to celebrate the 1998 Coen brothers’ film The Big Lebowski.
Despite slow box office takings, The Big Lebowski attracted a devout fan base post cinematic release. ‘Lebowski Bash’ event director Ronald Tucker said the movie’s perplexing absurdity fuelled its delayed popularity.
“At the time [of release] it was panned by the critics, but now the Boston Globe says it’s the number one American cult classic” Mr Tucker said.
The nearly unintelligible plot centres on layabout Jeffrey Lebowski (Jeff Bridges), known to his friends simply as ‘The Dude’. ‘The Dude’ spends most of his time smoking marijuana, lazing around in his bathrobe, and bowling with teammates Walter (John Goodman) and ‘Donny’ (Steve Buscemi). When mistaken for a millionaire who shares his name, Lebowski is drawn into an improbable detective mission to help retrieve his namesake’s kidnapped wife.
But the movie has spawned far more than a cult following. Dudeism is now an official religion in the United States, and has over 100 000 ordained priests of the Church of the Later-Day Dude. Followers of Dudeism preach the simple ethos of The Dude, it’s central tenant to an easy going life being the philosophical response – “Fuck it!”. Whilst many may mock it, the head Dudes take their vows very seriously, citing Chinese Taoism, Buddhism, and John Lennonism as earlier forms of Dudeism.
Stating that when religion gets too complicated that is when it goes wrong, Dudeism is the essence of simplicity. In response to the “To What/From What/By What Means” method of identifying a religion, Dudeism responds” Thinking too uptight/Just takin’ it easy man/Abiding.”
Mr Tucker said Lebowski resonates with many viewers because he rejects the stress and material values of modern life.“[Lebowski] teaches us how important it is just to slow down and take it easy… I really have taken The Dude’s philosophy and made sure its been my compass.”
Fuck it, let’s marry someone!
The Lebowski Bash – with a screening, trivia, band, after party and more – is on April 1. For more information on Dudeism, go to dudeism.com.
By Max Chalmers and Chris Peken
