Well Read Christian A Christian Critique of Jordan Peterson
Jun 4, 2020
Jordan Peterson, a renowned psychology professor from the University of Toronto, dives deep into the interplay between Christianity and modern thought. He discusses how Christianity's metaphysical aspects ground meaning in contrast to his seemingly atheistic claims. The conversation touches on nihilism, the moral implications of rejecting God, and the challenges of navigating faith and philosophy. Peterson's views spark a critique of contemporary moral discourse, making listeners ponder whether he is a friend or foe of traditional Christianity.
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Death Of God Produces Nihilism
- Dostoevsky warned that abandoning God leads to nihilism or totalitarianism and social collapse.
- Jordan Peterson revives this warning for Western audiences who face cultural decay without Christian roots.
Atheism's Practical Contradiction
- Dostoevsky's characters show that atheism logically permits 'anything is permissible' and produces moral collapse.
- Peterson endorses that practical intuition: people cannot live as if God doesn't exist.
Admiration Without Metaphysical Commitment
- Peterson uses Dostoevsky's argument but resists its metaphysical conclusion that God literally exists.
- That leaves Peterson as a pragmatist who treats Christianity as life-guiding myth rather than literal truth.
