Two-fer Tuesday

Two-fer Tuesday: Get Ordained as a Dudeist Priest or Spiritual Humanist

You know you’ve always secretly wanted to be ordained as some sort of clergy, just so you can say “I can perform your wedding – I’m ordained.” The problem is, most organizations (read churches) that can give you the proper authorization to join two people together in marriage have at least a couple of hoops to jump through before they do so, such as actually attending their church and learning some basic theology.

But there are other ways to get ordained in a jiffy:

You can become a Dudeist Priest of the Church of the Latter Day Dude:

“Show the world that you’ve got what it takes to take it easy. As an ordained Dudeist Priest, you can minister over religious ceremonies in most U.S. States (laws vary, so check with your local County Clerk first), and assorted other countries. Preside over a wedding, funeral, or any kind of celebration with pride and authority.

Or just kick back and enjoy the knowledge that you’re an ordained minister at one of the most easygoing religions in the world. There are currently over 80,000 Dudeist Priests world-wide. Help spread the Dude word!

Ordaining is totally free and there are no obligations.”

If you’re willing to be a bit more committed to actual ideas, get ordained as a member of the Spiritual Humanist Clergy:

“A religion based on the ability of human beings to solve the problems of society using logic and science.

Most people need a religion to help guide them through life’s challenges and difficult moral decisions. Recognizing how the power of religious rituals, methods, and communication can impact human behavior, Spiritual Humanism fuses traditional religious behaviors onto the foundation of scientific humanist inquiry.

While it is impossible to remove age old traditions from human culture, we can redirect them by redefining their underlying significance and meanings. Spiritual Humanism is natural, not supernatural. By using a method of scientific inquiry we can define the inspirational, singular spark inherent in all living creatures.”

If you’re considering getting married, you may not even need someone to perform the ceremony. When my wife and I got married, we were in Colorado, which had a provision that you could marry yourselves – sign your own marriage certificate – so we did just that. Check with your state’s laws to see if it’s possible in your state.

Derek Markham

Things I dig include: simple living, natural fatherhood, attachment parenting, natural building, unassisted childbirth (homebirth), bicycles, permaculture, organic and biodynamic gardening, vegan peanut butter cookies with chocolate chips, bouldering, and the blues. Find me elsewhere at @NaturalPapa, @DerekMarkham, Google+, or RebelMouse.

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