NYC Rejects “Dudeism” As Religious Vax Exemption

The New York Daily News reports:

New York City does not abide. A city worker can’t use his belief in the religion of Dudeism — born of the movie “The Big Lebowski” — as a legitimate reason for exemption from the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for municipal employees, according to internal Law Department emails.

An unidentified staffer had their religious accommodation application rejected by a confused attorney with the Law Department, who emailed a boss about the bizarre request, emails released Wednesday in a lawsuit over the controversial mandate reveal.

“The Dudely Lama,” whose name is Oliver Benjamin, told The Daily News that “Dudeism” neither supports nor opposes vaccine mandates — and that he’s received so many inquiries about it that it’s now featured on the frequently asked questions section on the group’s site.

Surfer Today reports:



Although many people see Dudeism as a mock religion, a prank, parody, or even a suspicious scheme, the organization has a very clear purpose – to promote a better way of living. Oliver Benjamin is proud of leading “the slowest-growing religion” on the planet that preaches a laid-back lifestyle. Everyone can get ordained for free – men and women of all ages.

To become a fully certified Dudeist priest, all you need to do is fill a form and then wait for the official document. From that moment on, you are entitled to preside over weddings, funerals, and religious ceremonies. As of July 2020, The Church of the Latter-Day Dude had already ordained over 600,000 priests across the world.