Replies

It was a great evening to spend with my son.

I’m a believer in Christ and while I don’t know that Jordan is a believer, he is certainly close. He referred to Scripture many times in a supportive way - as a point of reference of truth..

As I raised my son (he’s now 30), I taught him about God and all it meant to live a life that honors Him. Some of this he rejected.

I think what surprised me is that Jordan comes out in largely the same place in regards to living life, but by a different pathway. I think this surprised my son.

Now, that is different than knowing the Savior and having eternal life...

... but for a generation of young men who have little in the way of moral bearings or knowing what a man is, it is a positive thing.

And it certainly never hurts to take a step closer to truth.

I’m a believer in Christ and while I don’t know that Jordan is a believer, he is certainly close. He referred to Scripture many times in a supportive way - as a point of reference of truth

Peterson scrupulously avoids talking about the divinity of Jesus Christ. He often talks about Jungian Archetypes and how they are hard-wired into the human brain. He believes these synch with Christian Morality and spirituality that have developed in the West over the last 2000 years. Is the Bible true? Peterson would say yes, in that it represents lessons, behavior and morality that are part of man's DNA, which will move you towards Truth, fulfillment and avoidance of problems.

I’m a believer in Christ and while I don’t know that Jordan is a believer, he is certainly close.

Best I can tell, he's a bit of a syncretist, but an honest one. He is big an allegorical meaning, which is certainly in Scripture and the Parables of Our Lord, but pretty much to the exclusion of the miracles really happening. He had on an rationalist Enlightenment type recently, and when the fellow said that "Miracles don't happen", Peterson had no interest in taking exception. He has also stated that Hinduism and some of the other world religions have plenty in Commonin Christianity, suggesting that he is looking at the accidentals and not the essentials from the believer's point of view.

He may just be a polite Canadian. Canadians are remarkable that way, being in some cases quite principled, but never wanting to cause a scene or others discomfort unless really, really necessary. I find him utterly honest, willing to revisit his opinions, extremely well-read and intelligent, able to listen to others. He just is coming from it from the Evolutionary Bioloist/Psychologist end so he's going to get to things in a different order, but with a set of tools very few of us have. I wouldn't have him as my theologian or philosopher.

His reading list is also WAY too heavily weighted with German and Russian literature. He needs some nice, light Chesterton ("The Everlasting Man") to smooth things out a bit.

His approach to religion has prompted me to take another look, perhaps similarly to your son.

I bought into the ‘fairy tale’ view of our ancestors and their reverence for the Bible in college. The doubt and inability to reconcile Biblical truth with the reasoning of our philosophical forebears has crippled me spiritually. It’s great to hear Peterson’s arguments. They’re not necessarily in favor of Biblical truths, but more that our modern proclivity to toss them off as fairy tales is perhaps in error. That strikes me as wise.

Anyways, I’m glad you got to see him live. Youtube is replete with Peterson videos, thankfully. He’s furthered Christianity and brought many back to religion. A great man.

He referred to Scripture many times in a supportive way - as a point of reference of truth..

I think he believes there is great truth in the Bible but he just doesn't seem to think God or Jesus actually exist, except in our imagination.