The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast 215. The Problem with Atheism
Jan 6, 2022
This discussion dives into the ramifications of sidelining religious beliefs, especially within Abrahamic traditions. Nietzsche's notion of 'God is dead' raises existential questions about meaning. It also explores how new atheism paradoxically revives secular religious impulses, while emphasizing the clash between rationalism and the arts. Key topics include the necessity of integrating religious instincts to combat societal fragmentation, alongside a critique of materialism and a deep look at panpsychism's fascinating implications on consciousness.
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The Death of God
- The death of God leads to the collapse of the highest unifying value in society.
- This creates a void that competing ideologies fight to fill.
Empty Replacements
- Jordan Peterson's friend, raised communist and atheist, complained about religious weddings.
- Later, he realized he had nothing meaningful to replace the traditions with.
The Inevitable Return of Religion
- The religious impulse is inevitable and will manifest in some form.
- Suppressing it can lead to its return in strange, even pathological ways.
