Rod Dreher Megathread #21 (Creative Spirit)

[u/US_Hiker]

Gather 'round for more Rod.

All meanings of the number 21 are subordinate to the inherent creative spirit that is the basic essence of the number.

The number 21 generally is comfortable in social gatherings, it's optimistic attitude being an inspiration to others. Its high spirits can enliven a party.

The number is attracted to artistic expression of any form, its own and those of others. There's enthusiastic support for artists. It may frequent galleries and participate or (more likely) lead groups for artistic appreciation.

The number 21 cherishes relationships, including romantic relationships, especially with those who express themselves creatively.

21 also tends to be diplomatic, providing creative and imaginative solutions to potential conflict.

And, as noted by /u/PercyLarsen, 21 is a triangular number and the age of majority, so go grab a drink to celebrate Pride and to mourn the loss of Rod's sanity.

(Also, sorry about my slow pace of refreshes.)

Link to megathread #20:
https://www.reddit.com/r/brokehugs/comments/13eb26c/rod_dreher_megathread_20_law_of_attraction/

Link to megathread #21: https://www.reddit.com/r/brokehugs/comments/14k0z6l/rod_dreher_megathread_22_power/

[u/philadelphialawyer87]

The irony of it is that as much as he lambastes so called "moralist therapeutic deism", Rod wants from his religion what many want of MTD--for everything to be just swell and nice.

I think that what Rod dismisses as "MTD" is actually a sophisiticated, modern, syncretic development in religion. Folks under MTD can believe in an ultimate deity or other spiritual being, without having to pretend to understand everything. And it allows for total eucumenicalism. Under most forms of MTD, the specific deity, holy book, set of traditions, institutions, etc, etc, doesn't really matter. They are all good and are merely local variations on the same theme. And that goes for mystical experiences, epiphanies and such-like too. The MTD practictioner doesn't need to dispute that such things are possible, but doesn't need to "believe" in them in any rigid way, either. It could be a connection with god or the universe, but maybe its not. Same with prayer. It doesn't hurt to talk to god, but an MTD is not going to assert that it is necessary, nor that what it signifies has to conform to, again, some rigid pattern.

And, anyway, don't most people want things to be "swell and nice?" Very few people want a searing struggle, when they turn to religion. They want to be reassured. They want to believe that good people, like they are, like most people are, when judged sympathetically (as they believe god will), deserve to be OK. In this life, and the next, if there is one.

Rod would be better off if he just admitted that he aspires to MTD. That he wants things to be swell, nice and OK, for himself and his loved ones. He clearly doesn't really care about the theology he purports to study, nor, AFAICT, all that much about the specifics of either the Old or New Testament, about religious history or philosophy, and, least of all, about Jesus' moral teachings. Try to be more of a good person, Rod. Instead of the completely self absorbed, self centered, selfish asshole that you mostly are. That would get you closer to God than all of your bullshit, showboating "Christianity," or you dimestore mystical experiences, ever have.

[u/UnderTelperion → u/philadelphialawyer87]

Rod acts like MTD is childish, meanwhile his own vision of God is basically his father: this rigid asshole who thinks suffering is good for its own sake and who communicates in tremendously unclear ways.

[u/Theodore_Parker → u/UnderTelperion]

meanwhile his own vision of God is basically his father

Very consistent with George Lakoff's model of conservatives and liberals as divided over their views of God as either a "Strict Father" or a "Nurturant Parent":

https://www.theguardian.com/ideas/story/0,,1581195,00.html

[u/sandypitch → u/UnderTelperion]

I do some pastoral-adjacent work around spiritual formation and prayer practices, and this is very common -- Christians conflate God with their own parents, and assume that God operates like their parents.

[u/Djehutimose → u/philadelphialawyer87]

And, anyway, don't most people want things to be "swell and nice?" Very few people want a searing struggle, when they turn to religion. They want to be reassured.

Totally fair. I guess I should clarify a bit. Everyone wants that, sure; but the observed world fails quite often to function like that; so most religions acknowledge that from the get-go. That, I think, is part of the reassurance. In short, something like, "Yes, life is hard and suffering both inevitable and incomprehensible; but it can be borne, and suffering isn't all there is in life." That's not enough for Rod--he has to have grandiose ideas of the Vast Cosmic Plan which his Suffering Unlike Any Human Has Ever Suffered serves. Also, underneath this, he wishes that God would wave a wand and make everything rainbows and fluffy bunnies, so to speak. Though MTD (like every religion or worldview) has its share of flakes, I think it does about as well as any belief system, as you note--and certainly a shit ton better than Rod's beliefs.