WEIRD NEWS: Dude Not Exempt from Vaccine Mandate
New York City has ruled that a municipal worker required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 cannot use his belief in "Dudeism" to get an exemption.
Dudeism is described as a philosophy or lifestyle inspired by the movie The Big Lebowski -- specifically Jeff Bridges' role of Jeffrey "The Dude" Lebowski. The city's Law Department rejected the worker's application for a religious exemption. A lawyer explained that the "request is based on personal preference rather than sincerely held religious belief." While Dudeism is considered by critics to be a "mock religion" comically followed by fans of the movie, some actually follow it like a legitimate religion, including its leader Oliver Benjamin, who calls himself “The Dudely Lama.” He explains, "We have a bunch of ethical and philosophical imperatives such as... 'just take it easy, man,’ but they are not mandatory, nor does transgressing against them invite punishment via excommunication or eternal damnation." (NY Daily News)
Scott's Thoughts:
- Not a real religion? Well that's like your opinion, man.
- In Dudeism, March 6th is the high holy day known as The Day of the Dude.
- It's estimated that the The Church of the Latter-Day Dude has about half-a-million followers. Me included. (kinda. only for fun.)