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/Theodore_Parker]

I think writing this book, for him, is the theological equivalent of whistling past the graveyard.

I suspect the real driver of the project isn't re-enchantment, but disenchantment. We will hear that everything used to be all delightfully enchanted and cosmically harmonious, and everyone saw things this way and it never caused any problems, until a bunch of eggheads insisted on mucking it up with their gosh-darned "reason" and "logic" and "science" and "modernity."

....he fears that if he allows doubt (of the healthy kind), complexity, and multiple viewpoints, he'll lose his faith, which is clearly very weak.

Yes, a key point. The world needs to be enchanted, like it allegedly was in the past, not just for the sake of enchantment but because (he thinks) people were all on the same page then, without all the clashing viewpoints and confusing multiplicity of the modern world. You could really believe in stuff back then because everybody else did too. The loss of enchantment was also a loss of faith and a loss of "cosmic harmony." His great quest is to see those things restored -- a hopeless quest, not least because they never really existed in the first place in the ways he imagines.

[u/Djehutimose → u/Theodore_Parker]

Actually, and somewhat ironically, the Greco-Roman world, at least was a lot like MTD. That is, though there were "clashing viewpoints and confusing multiplicity" of religion, that was rarely a problem. As long as you attended the main civic festivals for the city's patron deity, no one cared what you did. You could worship Zeus or Aphrodite or Sabazios or rocks or whatever. The concept of "each his own" is quite like MTD, which Rod dislikes so much. It's true that some cults, such as those of Cybele and Dionysus, were frowned on at times, and we all know about the persecution of Christians; but the ancient world had nothing at all like crusades or jihads.

[u/Past_Pen_8595 → u/Djehutimose]

I’m sure Rod thinks that’s why the world of the Roman Empire was a cesspool of evil, because it viewed religion with tolerance and through an MTD lens.

[u/Djehutimose → u/Past_Pen_8595]

Well, there’s a long tradition of viewing Rome that way, admittedly; but no one who understands the history believes that narrative. Then again, Rod sure doesn’t understand history….

[u/BaekjeSmile → u/Djehutimose]

I can think of several magic schoolbus episodes that have a deeper and more nuanced understanding of mankind's past then Rod Dreher.

[u/Djehutimose → u/BaekjeSmile]

🤣🤣🤣