This episode was recorded on September 30, 2021.Congressman Dan Crenshaw and I discuss the fallout of withdrawing from Afghanistan and the details of the 20-plus-year conflict. We talk about life as a US congressman and his experience as a US Navy SEAL. About social media and politics–especially in relation to modern conservatism. And about climate change. On that note, we also examined Dan’s recently-published ”Fortitude: American Resilience in the Era of Outrage.”Dan is a retired Navy SEAL with five deployments overseas during the Afghan and Iraq wars. While in Afghanistan, an IED blast led to Dan losing his right eye. Crenshaw was elected to Congress in 2018, where he serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee (broadest jurisdiction out of all legislative committees). Dan also serves on the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis. Find more Dan Crenshaw: @DanCrenshawTXhttps://twitter.com/DanCrenshawTXOr on his website: https://crenshaw.house.gov/Check out "Fortitude: American Resilience in the Era of Outrage":https://www.amazon.com/Fortitude-American-Resilience-Era-Outrage/dp/1538733307

Over the past few weeks, we have been looking at the reality of the state of the world; not what the corporate media says, not what the politicians are saying, but a new voice - the voice of data. In the previous two episodes, we looked at the Progress of the Human Race. Today, we are tackling the topic of Climate Change. Are we experiencing an increasingly worsening climate? Is it possible that rising temperatures and tides will kill us all?Thankfully, there are a growing number of reputable scientists and authors that are presenting a much more optimistic story than the narrative we typically hear. Using the same data sets as many of the climate alarmists, people like Bjorn Lomborg, Michael Shellenberger, Marian Tupy, and Matt Ridley have been speaking to the idea that climate change is real, it’s just not the apocalyptic threat that we’ve been told it is.

This episode was recorded on September 6, 2021.Dr. Christopher Kaczor, Dr. Matthew Petrusek, and I discuss their new book “Jordan Peterson, God, and Christianity”—the first systematic analysis of 12 Rules for Life and my biblical series from a Christian perspective. We also cover—just to name a few—truth in fiction, time before consciousness, faith, evolution, love, and acting as if God exists.Dr. Christopher Kaczor is a Professor of Philosophy at Loyola Marymount University. He was appointed a Corresponding Member of the Pontifical Academy for Life of Vatican City, is a fellow of the Word on Fire Institute, and won a Templeton Grant for his work. He has written many scholarly articles and books.Dr. Matthew R. Petrusek is an associate professor at Loyola Marymount University in LA. He holds an MA from Yale and a PhD from the University of Chicago. Dr. Petrusek specializes in Christian ethics and moral theology and lectures on a range of topics surrounding philosophy, theology, and Catholicism.Find more Dr. Christopher Kaczor on Twitter @Prof_Kaczor:https://twitter.com/prof_kaczorAnd more Dr. Matthew Petrusek @MattPetrusek:https://twitter.com/MattPetrusekGet their book athttps://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B095J3SB9M/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i0[00:00] Intro[02:26] The motivation behind "Jordan Peterson, God, and Christianity"[09:34] Genesis, the literal sense in scripture and the truth in fiction[10:21] "The Atheist types miss that fiction isn't false" Jordan Peterson[11:45] "A story that can change your life has a power that is best described as religious" JP[12:23] Truth in fiction and religious text[14:00] "I think truth is broader [than the empirically verifiable]"[18:44] The problem with the empirical approach and replacing God[22:07] "[When] Ceasar becomes inflated to God, all hell breaks loose" JP[22:35] "If we don't segregate off the religious instinct and give it its proper attention, [everything] starts becoming inappropriately contaminated with religious longing. That's why you see [division and] the rise in powerful political ideologies" JP[23:32] On the perversion of the religious instinct[25:41] The Bible's warning in Noah and the tower of Babel[30:43] Time before consciousness[36:43] "Matter at the quantum level makes it difficult to think of a universe without conscious observers" JP [40:45] Are science and religion at odds? [44:00] Dr. Petrusek on science/religion[46:31] On Faith[54:52] Imitating the spirit of the Father[54:56] "You can conceptualize Christ as the representation of all things admirable." JP[57:53] "Faith is the willingness to act that out in the world" JP[01:00:27] Why we must strive to be good[01:01:12] "I am loved and I wish to love, and I recognize that I will fail time and time again" Matthew Petrusek[01:05:26] Evolution and religion[01:11:09] The creation of the universe[01:11:36] The church and Dr. Peterson's popularity[01:15:41] "Faith cannot oppose reason" MP[01:16:48] The challenge of drawing younger people to church[01:33:31] Acting as if God exists[01:36:37] "Your life isn’t about you and your own thoughts" MP[01:39::46] "When people fall in love with one another, they see the perfection that could conceivably exist. It's like the curtains of illusion pull apart momentarily, and you see the paradisal state that could be there" JP[01:40:10] God's love and the love between a parent and a child[01:43:07] How to treat those we love[01:43:29] "The more love you view other people with, the higher the moral demand that’s placed on you" JP[01:44:25] “I think there’s too much moral authority in the church" JP[01:43:39] The ten commandments; the moral load of sin[01:49:25] Understanding hell[01:55:22] More on Word on Fire[01:58:04] The Exodus lectures#Christianity #Evolution #Meaning #God #Faith

Preston Manning and I discuss populist movements in the west, history building and storytelling, the power of reading audiences, the new tenets of conservatism, communication in politics, the Chinese Communist Party, and much more.Manning (often called the “father of modern Canadian Conservatism") recounts the history of Canada’s Reform Party, which he founded, and his takeaways from a long career in politics–much of which he includes in books like “Faith, Leadership, and Public Life: Leadership Lessons from Moses to Jesus” and “Think Big: Adventures in Life and Democracy.” Upon his retirement, he founded the Manning Foundation for Democratic Education and the Manning Centre for Building Democracy, not-for-profit organizations dedicated to strengthening Canadian democracy in line with conservative principles.Find Manning’s latest book, “Do Something!: 365 Ways You Can Strengthen Canada,” at:https://www.amazon.com/Do-Something-Ways-Strengthen-Canada-ebook/dp/B086 XL6CVC/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=PRESTON+MANNING&qid=1631540649&s =books&sr=1-1

This is part two of our investigation into the Progress of the Human Race, and we would like to restate our goal here. All the mainstream media ever talk about is how the world’s in dire straits, how we’re going in an irreversible direction, and how it’s all our fault. We explored this narrative in depth in season 4 of the podcast. And we’d like to promote an alternative narrative–one where, in almost every direction you look, you find progress at a rate that, for most of history, would sound like sci-fi.This episode, part two, once again heavily features Marian Tupy, dad’s guest on episode 14 of the current podcast season. Marian is a senior fellow at Cato Institute’s Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity and co-authored the incredible book “Ten Global Trends Every Smart Person Should Know,” which I’m sure many of you will know.Also featured in this episode are Michael Shellenberger, Dr. Saifedean Ammous, Viscount Matt Ridley, Steven Pinker, and Bjorn Lomborg. 

This episode was recorded on November 10th, 2021.In this episode, philosopher Mohammed Hijab joined me to discuss a wide array of topics, such as the traditionalist interpretation of Islam, its metanarrative, the story of the prophet Muhammad, and some common ground among monotheistic Abrahamic religions.Mohammed Hijab is an author and philosopher whose main interests lie in political philosophy, philosophy of religion, and comparative religion. He seeks to spread a better understanding of traditionalist Islam while engaging with prominent thinkers and philosophers worldwide.Find more from Mohammed Hijab on Twitter:https://twitter.com/mohammed_hijab[00:00] Intro[01:48] What beliefs and practices are central to Islam?[04:12] Islam’s unmoved mover argument for God and the universe[07:30] “Things made of parts... must be contingent on being created by something else, a sorting mechanism [that] doesn’t necessitate [creation itself].” Mohammed Hijab[08:25] “It is problematic, through the lens of Islam... for there to be a god of a triune nature like [in] Christianity.” MH[08:58] “Islam does not believe that there’s an element of divinity... in human beings.” MH[10:09] “The word Islam does not mean peace; it means submission. Islam believes that everything in the universe submits to God.” MH[10:57] The metanarrative of Islam[12:12] Mohammed’s view of worship and belief[12:48] “We believe in... the inherent belief in God implanted in humans.” MH[15:20] What’s the purpose of belief?[17:00] The instinct for God arguments vs new atheists[18:27] The Muslim ideal for worship, compared[24:36] Muslims and Christians as followers of Jesus Christ[27:59] How does Dr. Peterson envision the spark of divinity?[28:25] “The divine spark is embodied virtue... reflective of the highest value, operating at a local scale.” JP[29:42] How are the attributes of God knowable to a Muslim? The importance of the original version of the Quran[35:07] “Islam is an evangelizing religion... we want everyone to embrace it.” MH[35:31] Bridges to Islam[38:50] “I’m speaking from the perspective of someone who’s a traditionalist Muslim and not a liberal or enlightened Muslim.” MH[40:47] An abridged story of the prophet Muhammad. The Mecca and Medina periods. Rationalizing the warrior emphasis of many Muslim teachings[44:10] Muhammad’s warrior traits and Hijab’s interpretation[49:20] Exploring the terms “warlord” and “defensive wars.”[50:54] In Hijab’s opinion, what’s the central driving force behind the expansion of Islam?[52:10] “Islam has the capability of being expansive through war... and of making peace treaties. It does and should do whatever’s in its best interest, just like every country.” MH[55:39] Against totalitarianism[58:46] “Evangelising isn’t the same as compelling.” MH[58:56] “Let the best story win. I would say that the proper mode of conversion is something like a shining example.” JP[01:00:28] M.Hijab on western misconceptions of Islam[01:03:20] Other seldom-discussed aspects of Islam[01:08:53] M.Hijab’s take on the war in Serbia[01:11:05] The economic output of Islamic countries[01:15:18] M.Hijab on why the traditionalist view is superior to a liberal one[01:21:34] The struggles of belief. How can we check our own views?[01:23:44] Wrapping up#Islam #Christianity #God #Quran #Jesus

All we ever hear about on the mainstream news is that the world is in dire straights, that we are going in an irreversible direction, and that it is all our fault. Throughout many conversations in Season 4 of this podcast, we have explored these narratives in depth. We would like to promote an alternative narrative...Did you know that in 1981, 42% of the world’s population was living in what is called “absolute poverty” and by 2018, that number had fallen to 8.1%? By 2030, we are on pace to have less than 5% of the world’s population living in poverty. Are you aware that alongside nearly eradicating poverty, we have also nearly ended world hunger? Over the last 50 years, we have added nearly 1,000 calories per day to the world food supply average. The world’s poorest region, Sub-Saharan Africa, has roughly the same access to food as Portugal did in the 1960s. As of the last survey in 2017, only 2 out of 173 nations in the world have food access averages under 2,000 calories per day. We have also drastically increased the supply of tree coverage across the globe, resources are being used more efficiently than ever before, and the global economy has grown by over 100x over the last 200 hundred years.There are legitimate reasons to be concerned about certain specific issues that we still need to improve; but overall, the data is undeniable. We are living in an age of seemingly-impossible progress in nearly every sector imaginable.

This episode was recorded on November 9th, 2021.Jordan Peterson, Gregg Hurwitz, and Rick Geddes meet to discuss the debate surrounding the multi-billion dollar infrastructure bill currently going through the US congress.Rick Geddes is a professor in the Department of Policy Analysis and Management at Cornell University and a well-recognized expert in American infrastructure policy and development. He has done extensive research on infrastructure, including but not limited to the funding, financing, operation, and maintenance of major projects with a focus on new technologies.Gregg Hurwitz was today’s co-host. Gregg is a former student of Jordan’s at Harvard. He is now a bestselling scriptwriter, producer, and novelist. In the years leading up to the presidential election, Gregg has been working with an independent team of Hollywood writers, producers, and directors to design a moderate, far-reaching political message for the democratic party.Find more Rick Geddes online here:https://aei.org/profile/r-richard-geddesFind More Gregg Hurwitz on Twitter:https://twitter.com/GreggHurwitzCheck out Gregg’s bestselling books:https://amazon.com/Gregg-Hurwitz/e/B001IXPXTG[00:00] Intro[00:30] Jordan introduces this week’s guests to discuss the newly-proposed infrastructure legislation (winter '21)—a crucial bill for the American people[03:28] Geddes gives an overview of infrastructure and his background therein[07:46] The monumental accomplishment of the US interstate highway system. Could it be built again today?[11:10] “You've heard the adage that time is money. [That's] certainly the case with infrastructure. When a project gets delayed by the NEPA process for say 5 years, the amount of extra money spent... is enormous, it can sometimes double" Rick Geddes[14:42] Gregg Hurwitz highlights the unsophisticated way the media and most politicians are currently handling the infrastructure bill[16:02] “It seems like we can get very little sane discussion in the media on the role that regulation plays in building a renewing infrastructure" GH[16:40] Extra delay and cost in federally funded projects is a regressive tax that hurts the poor and middle class[22:02] Pressure on the infrastructure bill from climate change. Looking at the evolution of new technologies to improve the efficiency of current infrastructure[25:49] “If infrastructure development means replacing inefficient use of resources with efficient use of resources, that should be a net gain on the economic side, so it helps poor people, and it should also have environmental benefits" Dr. Peterson[26:07] What are our current top infrastructure priorities? What needs to be addressed and fixed ASAP?[35:31] We need to capitalize more on the utility of combined public and private ventures in infrastructure projects[52:32] The importance of defining and communicating what a successful infrastructure project looks like[55:36] Given our systemic problems, how can we give politicians and private firms a positive incentive for meaningful participation?[01:03:14] You can only focus on so many projects before outsourcing becomes a necessity[01:12:19] You'd be extremely naive to believe that the people sustaining our infrastructure systems are only in it for personal gain[01:16:48] The extraordinary reliability of the societal infrastructure system[01:18:47] “The idea that it's just power that drives people to the top of organizations isn't true because, if it were, we would have many more psychopaths and they would be way more successful" JP[01:23:15] What about infrastructure projects that should be started immediately?[01:25:44] “This is the ultimate bipartisan thing because it will reduce greenhouse gases, diesel emissions, improve the efficiency of our infrastructure, and it's right there on the table" RG[01:26:21] Outro#InfrastructureBill #Bipartisan #PublicVentures #ClimateChange #Infrastructure

Our friend Jonathan Pageau gave a lecture on the conceptual structure of Genesis for an event that was orchestrated by the Montreal Jung Society. Jordan felt that this lecture would serve as a wonderful adjunct to his biblical series, also on Genesis, featured on this channel. Thank you to the Montreal Jung Society and Jonathan for letting us release this video on our channel. We hope that you find it useful. Visit sites.google.com/site/cgjungmontreal for more info on the Montreal Jung Society.Event Title: The Symbolic World - a lecture by Jonathan PageauEvent Description: “Meaning is showing itself to no longer be an overlay to an arbitrary world of phenomena, but rather the very pattern of reality. Through the questions of emergence, attention, and consciousness which have been permeating so many fields in the recent past, the reality of pattern, ritual and image have also come to the fore. Meaning is showing itself, in a burgeoning post-secular age, as no longer only a subjective overlay to an arbitrary world of phenomena, but rather the very pattern of reality itself. In this frame we come to realize that the archetypal truths are not mostly biological and mental constructs in humans; they are firstly the inescapable patterning of the indefinite potential of the world as it encounters intelligence.” 

This episode was recorded on September 7, 2021.Angus Fletcher and I discuss creativity, the link between literature and resilience, what makes for compelling narratives, the different kinds of stories, and much more.Angus Fletcher is a Professor of Story Science at Ohio State's Project Narrative, the world's leading academic think-tank for narrative theory. He is also the author of Wonderworks: The 25 Most Important Inventions in the History of Literature.Find more Angus Fletcher on his website: https://AngusFletcher.co[00:00] Intro[01:21] What is Project Narrative?[02:27] "Stories are the most powerful things ever invented. They're the most powerful tool we possess" Angus Fletcher[03:04] "When you realize stories have the power to change how our mind works, to troubleshoot it, to make it more resilient, more creative, more scientific—to do all these things... When you couple the power of stories with the human brain, you throw open the doors to anything" AF[03:53] The problem with literary studies. How stories empower us and improve performance[07:06] Wonderworks and the story of courage in Homer's Iliad[12:40] "Literature and scripture are synonyms. They mean 'that which is written.' So [something] more fundamental than any technology... Is simply that sense of spiritual experience" AF[13:18] The Neuropsychology of Anxiety by J. Grey[14:44] What are the 2 kinds of stories?[19:12] Story thinking[19:22] "Human cognition is largely narrative. We process the world narratively" AF[22:12] "The wonder of being on this earth... is to build stories and [empower people] to tell their own" AF "And to unite us in a collective story so we can work towards the same ends" JP[23:00] Why are certain stories so compelling?[24:48] The zone of proximal development[25:44] "Being enthralled is a manifestation of the instinct that specifies the zone of proximal development" JP[31:24] The ideal spirit transcending the individual; Jung's Pleroma[32:14] "The flip side of anxiety is creativity—they're both about restless energy" AF[33:31] What's the source of dreams?[33:55] "We have this vast knowledge in embodied action." A great storyteller takes "images that reflect a compelling pattern of behavior [and verbalizes them]” JP[34:56] Abstract representation of patterns as a dream-source[38:43] Computational power, stories, and the differences between the abstract and particular[38:48] "Much of what drives the demand for higher computational resources is... producing artificial realities for fantasy simulation" JP [45:51] Christianity and Star Wars[46:35] "Star Wars is Christianity for atheist nerds" JP[46:56] "We are most happy when we don't perceive ourselves as inheriting an archetypal story" AF[48:16] "We see in stories, and this is partly why our eyes are adapted... so that people can see [the white in] our eyes. It's really important because [our eyes point at] what they're interested in. We can see what they value [and] infer their motivation" JP[50:36] Literature and psychedelic experiences[51:27] "In psychotherapy... you're trying to hammer the person's narrative into a single... functional unit" JP[55:31] Trauma, unconscious mapping, and dream analysis[56:56] "Any territory you cannot perceive through the overlaid projection of a narrative map is traumatizing" JP [59:59] Jung, Joseph Campbell, and Erich Neumann[01:02:51] Jung vs Darwin on stories[01:10:18] "Literature can build emotional and intellectual resilience" AF[01:14:55] Being adaptive is “to be emotionally and intellectually resilient" AF[01:15:54] Creative training; measuring creativity#Creativity #Stories #Jung #Literature #Darwin