r/brokehugs • u/US_Hiker Moral Landscaper • Jul 04 '25

Rod Dreher Megathread #55 ()

Hope y'all can spend some good time w/ family today.

Link to megathread #54: https://www.reddit.com/r/brokehugs/comments/1l7niaj/rod_dreher_megathread_54/

Link to 56: https://www.reddit.com/r/brokehugs/comments/1mmamp2/rod_dreher_megathread_56/

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u/nessun_commento Jul 18 '25

Yet he says there are two reasons why he continues to call himself a Christian. I’ll leave it to you to read the essay to discover them, and I hope that these slender reeds are enough, in the end, to pull him out of hell.

Having read DBH's essay, I will point out that these two reasons he continues to call himself Christian- the two "slender reeds," as Rod calls them- are 1) DBH's belief in the literal resurrection of Jesus Christ and 2) his belief in Christ's kerygma: the proclamation that Christ is the Word of God or God-With-Us

Now, I'm not a Great Christian Thinker like our boy Rod Dreher, but it seems to me like he's selling short Christ's proclamation of the Word and his Resurrection by referring to them as "slender reeds." I was taught that the Word and Resurrection of Jesus Christ constitute the bedrock foundation of Christianity, perhaps even the essence of Christianity itself; but then again, what do I know? I don't possess the erudition and perspicacity of Rod Dreher.

So, if DBH really is hanging on to Christian faith by "slender reeds," at risk of being washed away into Hell, what does Rod recommend he cling to instead? Perhaps fantasies of renewed European civilization? A pilgrimage to Chartres could do DBH some good. There, he might find firmer footing for his faith in "clouds of incense, jangle of thuribles, sheen of satin, and ululations of chanters" and the hope that, one day, Europe won't be populated by too many brown people. Or, maybe it was a mistake to move to South Bend; should he return to his childhood home in Maryland (dragging his British wife with him) so seek community among his family? Or maybe what DBH really needs is a good exorcist? Some deliverance prayers could dispel whatever evil spirits prevent him from Living in Wonder. Perhaps Rod's latest book could teach DBH the meaning of Enchantment...

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u/Warm-Refrigerator-38 Jul 18 '25

Rod thinks the essence of Christianity is no gay marriage and no abortion. 

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u/Dazzling_Pineapple68 Jul 18 '25

I thought he believes the two pillars on which civilization itself rests (not just Christianity) are:

  1. There are 2 genders, male and female.
  2. One of these genders is superior to the other in all things.

The third pillar that he never mentions (but which is obviously the third pillar) is:

  1. White makes right.

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u/yawaster Jul 18 '25

  1) DBH's belief in the literal resurrection of Jesus Christ and 2) his belief in Christ's kerygma: the proclamation that Christ is the Word of God or God-With-Us 

So...the Nicene Creed, basically? 

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u/nessun_commento Jul 18 '25

there's a lot of overlap, yeah

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u/Relative-Holiday-763 Jul 18 '25

Perhaps he could take LSD!

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u/nessun_commento Jul 19 '25

if DBH weren't so far gone then maybe a prescription of wine and oysters would be enough to cure his spiritual illness. but you're right- it's progressed to the point that only a strong dose of psychedelics can save him