Why as a Catholic I Outgrew Jordan Peterson

In this personal reflection, I share why I deeply admired Jordan Peterson for how he helped me understand and deepen my faith—so much so that I named him my modern hero in a leadership program and even met him during his 12 Rules for Life tour in Brussels. His teachings on responsibility, meaning, and biblical symbolism were a stepping stone for me to dive deeper into my faith.

But over time, something shifted. This shift doesn't mean I don't respect him or appreciate how he has helped me along my path, it simply means I am ready to move on from his teachings.

Using the metaphor of learning to play the piano, I explain how I moved from admiring the idea of faith to living it—experiencing the beauty of Christianity from the inside, rather than standing at the edge intellectualising it. And that’s when I realised: Peterson never really sat down to “play.” He never dared to enter the mystery he so often described.

I also explore why his visual choices—like wearing suits covered in Christian icons while at the same time dodging any question about his belief in God—leaving us with a feeling of contradiction and even performance.

This isn’t a video to cancel or criticise him. It’s a thank you—and a goodbye. A call to seek truth not just in theory, but in accepting Christ in our hearts. To sit at the piano. To play the music. And also
to learn from those who live the faith, not just analyse it.

And if that resonates with you, maybe it’s time to subscribe 😉

00:00 – Jordan Peterson as a Modern Hero
03:35 – Analogy: Learning How To Play The Piano
07:00 – Troublesome Outfits
09:26 – Taking The Lead Of Your Own Faith
10:02 – Jordan Peterson as a Christian Personality
11:16 – The Bells Are Calling!

[thebellsarecalling]

Welcome! Please remember to keep the conversation respectful! ✨
And, don't forget to subscribe! 😊
Thanks!!

[danielnyambi-tsex]

I would like to inform you that Jordan Peterson has for some time now (at least since Tammy, his wife, was received into the Catholic Church last Easter), has been attending Sunday Mass with her.

He definitely needs our prayers to help him see and receive the gift of faith.

[SlowBluesInc]

I had the same realization. I heard him talk about Orthodox Christianity a lot several years back. I didn’t know much about Orthodox Christianity other than what he was saying about it, but it definitely intrigued me, so I “researched” it from an intellectual level, then eventually got baptized. Over time as I experienced more of the Church and learned more in a real, personal way, I realized precisely what you did. As an analogy similar to yours that I often thought of. It’s like if you take an Uber to church. Once your driver brings you to the church, you don’t stay in the car with them and hang out. You get out of the car, go into the church, and the driver drives away. They served their purpose. Thanks for the lift, Jordan, but I gotta go to church.

[jbrown]

Perhaps Jordan Peterson is best appreciated as a stepping stone within one’s endeavor of finding one’s Catholic Faith.

[Noe]

As someone that’s listened to Jordon for years and was a huge fan of him, I think he describes his own biggest problem without realizing it: “Jesus Christ is too terrifying a reality to believe.”

[Mike-bnkr]

I totally agree with your points in this video. As a Catholic myself, I say we need to pray for His conversion into the Catholic Church. That he will finally win this wrestling match with God that he’s having. And allow the submission to the Lord to take place. I hope He will one day be catholic like his wife. Many blessings be with you and Jordan…

[randyfredrix]

I am a very devout practicing Catholic and I am encouraged by the courage and honesty of Jordan Peterson. I pray for him and his wife.

[Grammamellow]

As a protestant, I pray for him and those following him. The way to true Peace is Narrow.

[winskypinsky]

I too went through this years ago about JBP. What you are saying was recognizable to my own feeling and words about Jordan. Then I realized ‘It’s not that Peterson has changed, it’s my wanting of what he was and is to what I required in my life when I came across him.’ I’m the one with the demands on him—not him. He never said he was a politician or a guru or a saint or a priest or a man for all seasons. First and foremost he is a psychologist. A psychologist. That’s it. And views the world through the always curious perspective of psychology. It is WE who have put the weight of the worlds troubles onto him. He recognizes this. Has never said no. He bears the weight. And, the criticisms. As a Catholic, this requires reflection of yourself, not a singular individual you decided to hold high and then let fall. He is just one man.

[marknelson]

We really should pray for his true conversion.

[joweijaeger-mvgo]

I too was a huge admirer and fan of JP, back in 2021. It was the time when he gave his great biblical series lectures and when he got so ill for a year and recovered and finally startet ARC.
But meanwhile he developed an interview style where he is talking most of the time, often with long monologues, also frequently interrupting his counterpart. For me as a listener it is not that breathtaking experience to follow two very smart persons on their struggle to seek the truth any more. Back then it was no problem to hear a talk for over an hour, but now I have to quit after a couple of minutes already.
But I owe him so much good and inspiring, and also my meanwhile adult children, he is still a giant for me!

[vhyl]

What a great analogy with the piano! I’ve been listening to Jordan Peterson and reading his books for quite a few years now, and couldn’t figure out why he just didn’t resonate with me anymore. I think you hit the nail on the head! You are a very well spoken young woman, and I enjoy listening to you!

[Johnnychuffchuff]

I agree with you Very well said. He has been stuck in analytic mode for a very long time. I believe he is about to make the great leap of faith. We should pray for that to happen.

[bergmanvideoproductions]

As a fellow Catholic, I’ve been thinking the same thing for a while. Thank you for confirming my thoughts. God bless!

[StefanieMerino-ij]

I thank God for Jordan Peterson, and bless him and his family. If he has been a stepping stone into finding my faith in Jesus then I’ll take it. To help improve the lives of others is an act of God. That’s what he has done and I’m sure will continue to do, and I pray for it to continue, and for him to see that he is a child of God, Amen x

[robertholtz]

I completely understand what you are saying about outgrowing Peterson.

As a dogmatic Catholic because of him, I feel somewhat the same way. However, I just now take his teachings in a different way.

I am currently reading his book 'We Who Wrestle with God'. I still find his analysis to be in line with the Catholic faith. What brought me back so deeply into The Faith and The Church is the undeniable logic and history of it.

That is an important part, by my observation, of believing in Jesus Christ. The fact he is not just a nice feeling that you have or that he was theoretically a good teacher. That may be enough to get someone to "believe." However, some people may need a lot more than that.

Peterson once said "If you truly believe that Jesus Christ is your Savior, why would you not do everything he says." That harkens to the reality of Jesus Christ. If you recognize that He is real and He is God, then what are you doing not following Him?

I want to believe that Peterson has a role in evangelizing in this way. Beckoning to the logical and historical parts of the Catholic faith that some people need. I want to believe that it is a bit of a mask he needs to wear. His wife was confirmed in the Catholic Church Easter of 2024. I cannot imagine he is that far behind, if not already there.

[joselonguenda]

I truly feel you sister. I've been looking for the perfect words to explain why I simply stopped listening to him... You nailed it 🔥 🙏 God bless you!

[panzerreiter]

He is a starting point for young people to become Christian. He gives you reasons to "act as if God exists", but when time goes on it can develop into actual belief in God.

[wishIwuzskiing]

I have never expected Dr. Peterson to be a model for Catholic living, but a voice for common sense and helping a very sick culture crawl out of the very deep ditch we have fallen in to over the last 50 years plus. He respects faith and certainly supports his wife and her Catholic faith. I think of the words of Jesus "If they are not against us they are for us" and he is providing a voice for the value of faith to people who would not likely even consider faith, so as long as he does this without serious error, this has the potential to be a great benefit.

[jamesburton]

"Endlessly analyzing the entrance" was a phenomenal line. Very much agree. I feel similar to you on this topic, and you have outlined the "why" very well.