Jordan Peterson Doesn't Understand Christianity

Jordan Peterson: Christian Philosopher of False Prophet?

In recent years, psychologist and public intellectual Jordan Peterson has been talking more and more about religion. And while at one point religion was used as a metaphor for social and philosophical ideas, these days it seems like he's had a personal religious conversion. But what are the theological and philosophical implications of this turn? Does Peterson actually understand the stakes of his new faith? Or is this all an act to help build his brand? Let's find out in this Philosopher Reacts to Jordan Peterson on Religion.

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[CaptPeon]

"When i feed the poor they call me a saint. When i ask why the people are poor they call me a communist."

[boothefuzzyhamster]

Anyone who claims to be a good Christian while telling you society should not help the poor and disenfranchised is just an obvious liar.

[gubs_gubs_gubs]

I don't know if it's been said, but Peterson has become a parody of himself and a parody of Jungian psychology and mysticism. He's basically telling people they have to become literal versions of Jungian archetypes. Men must be fathers, husbands, and conquerors; women must be mothers, wives, and nurturers. In my opinion, he's gone off the deep end into quackery, and has probably been there for a while.

[me]

"Think again, Sunshine" is up there with "Up yours, woke moralists. We'll see who cancels who"

[CATboss]

People forget that you can't fit catholicism into a political ideology, left or right. That's why many people are confused about Francis lashing out against gender theory while also coming across as more liberal.

I study theology (am catholic too) and one problem I tend to see with converts (especially who watch Peterson) is that they attach themselves to politics first and then to their faith. They wear their religion as a political jacket.

[j.marshalcourneyea]

My new voicemail prompt - "You thought I was going to answer the phone? <insert JBP> THINK AGAIN, SUNSHINE"

[matthewlloyd]

Cody Johnson while on the behind the bastards episodes on Peterson described him as "he's always 20% right about something when he talks, but he'll always interpret that 20% completely incorrectly".

[ichthys]

Speak up for those who have no voice, for the justice of all who are dispossessed. -Proverbs 31:8

[archiebuchan]

As a Catholic myself it’s always been incredible to me that Peterson as well as the entire daily wire crowd talk so much about Catholicism whilst being seemingly diametrically opposed to the empathy of Christ

[HylianFox]

Dennis Prager's visceral disgust at the idea of the poor being "blessed" is all you need to know about him

[chrishaven]

Dennis Prager going 'ew, the poor' sounds remarkably on-brand for the guy

[arshiaarjomandi]

Peterson confusing God with Santa Claus is a perfect demonstration of this man's depth of knowledge about Christianity.

[HBBiscuits]

"The pope screwed me" is a wild quote out of context.

[ryanleone]

Though I'm not a christian I've read my bible backwards and forwards(save for some of the tedious Old Testament stuff, ) and, in the New Testament, the theme of social justice is one of its most prevalent and unique, especially as it pertains to the oppressed and needy.

[The_Infinite_Squirrel]

I think he lectured the tree until it splintered into logs.

[EricGranata]

Why can’t we tend souls while ALSO protecting the planet and seeking justice in the world? Seems pretty rad to me.

[CloudslnMyCoffee]

people claiming to be Christian but not believing Jesus rose from the dead is WILD to me. Its literally the whole thing

[Peachohyea]

Peterson claims that Christianity is being watered down to "cheap social justice" but I think adopting his hyper-HYPER-individualistic view of the gospel is already watering it down. Like we need more reasons to only focus on ourselves. The idea that God loves poor and marginalized people terrifies these guys.

[loganhurley]

As a proud member of what I believe is a pretty small segment of Wisecrack's audience (the portion that has an M.Div) this was a very fast click for me. Especially since I am one of those pesky folk that do believe a Judean carpenter and street preacher did raise from the dead a couple millennia back. I'm not a pastor, but I do work for a missions org, so I'll take it upon myself to say: No, I wasn't particularly interested in Peterson's take on Christian ministry.

It's interesting that for all his ability to synthetically merge a lot of varied nonsense together in most cases, Peterson here really doesn't say anything that hasn't been said by Doug Wilson or those Church Militant guys endlessly over the past few years. There's this whole proposition among some people adjacent to and even sometimes in Christian circles that the big value of the gospel is that it gives transcendence by which a society can anchor the necessary elements of work, family, life, order, etc. And a good theologian can squint and see some truth to that, but it's radically contrary to anything that Jesus himself or his apostles ever taught. The standard Christian interpretation of Genesis 1 is that humans are made as the collective co-rulers of the cosmos. It's difficult to squeeze much hierarchy into a creation that is so radically leveled out.

The question about what he's trying to do is interesting. It reminds me of Hirsan Ali's account of her conversion a couple months back. She wrote that she had converted to Christianity because she no longer believed that rationalism contained the resources the West needs to confront the challenges it needs. Based purely on what she wrote publicly, I didn't find much to suggest that she had become a disciple of Jesus. I think that Peterson's instinct of equating God to an individual's sense of right and wrong is part of him dong something similar. He has a way that he wants the world to be (young strapping men go out, wear ties, take various risks, and save the world) and doubts that he can get his world if people don't ground that world in metaphysics, which he mistakes faith in Jesus for.

[hongluzhang]

Peterson: post modern cultural marxist
Marxists: who? did what?
Also Peterson: Christianity is all about....
Christians: emmm...what?
Imagine the irony of having two vastly polarizing groups share the same confusion on Peterson's talk.