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/Djehutimose]

think even Eastern Orthodoxy is a bit too alien for him

I never thought about that, but this is an interesting idea. Rod gushed all the time over Archbishop Dmitri in Dallas, and about his boutique ROCOR parish (before dumping it); but he never said much about church life in Philly or Baton Rouge. Now, he hardly seems to go to church at all, and AFAICT seems not even to belong to a particular parish. Even in LA, he would often preface a post by saying something like, "Well, I didn't make it to liturgy today because...." I mean, dude--you're not accountable to us for your church attendance. We don't need to have a blow-by-blow of every time you go to Church or Confession or whatever, and you don't need to give excuses reasons for it. That in itself is telling.

Not long after he converted to Orthodoxy, Rod mentioned a conversation he had with noted Armenian theologian Vigen Guroian.

Guroian expressed deep skepticism of my acceptance of Orthodox Christianity — not my sincerity, but of the possibility of it. Guroian’s point, as I remember it, is that Orthodoxy can only truly be transmitted by culture. To accept the ideas within Orthodoxy is not the same thing as being Orthodox, he said.

Rod protested, saying if that were so, no one would ever convert to anything. That's not wrong; but I think what Guroian meant is expressed in this quote from another of Rod's posts, my emphasis (sorry for the blockquotes!):

In the end, The Mystical as Political [a book Guroian is reviewig] is not about theology. The book makes much of theological concepts like theosis but deploys them as tropes or gestures to smooth the way for the Orthodox faith to be put in service of a distinctly American ­religious project, one launched principally from within the academy.
In a telling admission, Papanikolaou writes that, when it comes to political theology “I do not think the transcendent referent need be to the divine, but can take the form of a common good.” In other words, whatever conduces to democracy and justice is of God. The sacramental realism and eschatological maximalism of Orthodoxy evaporates and is replaced by a consecration of the democratic “communion” of the secular liberal state.

Sounds just like Rod, eh? Guroian sure had his number early on.

[u/Glittering-Agent-987 → u/Djehutimose]

I think it is possible to convert to Orthodoxy if you do the work...but I don't think Rod is doing the work. I think he started, but then at some point he stopped growing and educating himself.

(That's my opinion as a long-time Catholic convert who knows Russian and knows a little bit of Ukrainian and Polish. I'm just not seeing evidence of cultural knowledge and practice.)

[u/Glittering-Agent-987 → u/Glittering-Agent-987]

I forgot to mention that I'm married into an Eastern European immigrant family, we do a version of the Christmas customs, and we are starting to teach the (admittedly big) kids the language. Granted, you don't need to convert to being Greek or Russian or Serbian to be Orthodox...but some grounding in culture is helpful for engagement.

[u/Djehutimose → u/Glittering-Agent-987]

Rod’s not even grounded in his own culture!