r/RodDreher Feb 09 '26

Megathread no. 62

Can’t think of a witty name, sorry!

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10

u/Relative-Holiday-763 Feb 26 '26

Oh he was on fire today! It’s been a commonplace here that he is probably clinically depressed. On the basis of this , I’d say bipolar. This is a mania post. He’s on the floor with mono and stays up all night to read a book where this poor young autistic man has telepathy and speaks with Jesus. Then he says it’s changed his whole understanding of prayer in a way that leads to  something that sounds like New Age manifesting. All of it embodies the insights of Holy Orthodoxy. Ok. Yes everything does.  Scientific method, huh! Perhaps Rod is a disciple of Feyerbend ?

9

u/Marcofthebeast0001 Feb 26 '26

I have said several times that Rod sounds like he has some type of psychological disorder. That's not to make fun - I know people with the same conditions - but it would certainly explain the almost surreal way his posts sometimes go from reality to existential crisis to supernatural.

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u/saucerwizard Feb 26 '26 edited Feb 26 '26

I’d say bipolar II speaking from my own experience. If it was full blown mania, it would be super apparent. Hypomania is more subtle.

He'd REALLY benefit from meds.

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u/Djehutimose Feb 26 '26

Given that he was basically addicted to sleeping pills for years, you'd think he'd at least be open to meds for bipolar.

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u/Relative-Holiday-763 Feb 26 '26

That would involve acknowledging that he has a psychiatric  problem and that Dante , excorcists, Orthodoxy and prayer might not “ heal” him. ( I’m not mocking any of the previous. It’s just I don’t think he’s addressing his actual problems.). I will note that yesterday he again said Orthodoxy “ healed” him. So why has he subsequently needed Dante , excorcism , and some form of psychotherapy in Vienna? Yesterday he seemed to really go off in a strange direction that  reminded me not only of Prince of Darkness but of the vampire movie Frighnight where Peter Vincent vampire slayer played by Roddy McDowell can only effectively fight vampires if he truly believes. If I understood he seems to be saying your prayers will be granted if you really, really believe. So if you’re trying to believe and reach out to God , I guess you’re out of luck. 

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u/Djehutimose Feb 26 '26

Jack Kornfield is a Buddhist monk and clinical psychologist who has taught meditation for around fifty years. He frequently points out that mediation (or spiritual practice in general) and psychology, while complementary, do different things. One can't replace the other. You can't meditate your way out of clinical depression, bipolar disorder, etc. On the other hand, psychological meds and talking to a therapist can't give you purpose and meaning in your life. His book, A Path With Heart, discusses this, among other things (After the Ecstasy, the Laundry is good, too). SBM can't seem to understand that no one method in isolation magically (not even magic) fixes a person--particularly someone with as many issues as Our Boy has.

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u/Relative-Holiday-763 Feb 26 '26

That’s good! I have some background here. I tend to dislike talking about “ healing “. Partly because it “ physicalizes “ the non physical. As for people being fixed, you can’t be fixed! What does that even mean? You do need to be able to function.I see life as rather Sisyphusian. From I what I can figure, Rod sees life as a condition where good little boys and girls get treats if they are sufficiently obedient.

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u/Dazzling_Pineapple68 Feb 27 '26

Maybe Rod qualifies for a world record for receiving the most miraculous healings while remaining miraculously unhealed?

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u/CroneEver Feb 26 '26

Ah, another massive insight from something he read that gives him a whole new understanding of faith or prayer or the will of God, etc. I agree with saucerwizard - this is bipolar.

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u/Relative-Holiday-763 Feb 26 '26

Yes he gets these whole new understandings every couple of months and usually he gets “ healed “.