What Should Christians Think of Jordan Peterson?

In my previous article, I explored the Jordan Peterson phenomenon, namely why millions of people (especially young men) are flocking to him.In this post I'll discuss some things Christians should take into account when thinking about Peterson. While there's much to like, there are also things we should be cautious of.

What Can We Affirm About Peterson?

There are a number of things Christians can affirm about Jordan Peterson's views:

1) Peterson gives a better vision for life than the self-centred consumerism of the modern western world: there is meaning.

Libertarian commentator John Roskam sums this up nicely when he writes:

Parents, universities and the elders of society have utterly failed to give many young men (and young women) realistic and demanding practical wisdom on how to live. Peterson has filled that gap.' (John Roskam, IPA).

There is much Proverbs-like wisdom in Peterson: Tell the truth, or at least don’t lie. Pursue what is meaningful, not what is expedient. Set your house in order before you criticise the world. These and many other chapters with pithy names are found in his book, not to mention amongst his online videos.And let’s face it: if someone takes this wisdom on board, chances are they’ll be wiser, healthier people, with less pathology attached. For that alone, we can be thankful. 

2) Peterson opens up meaningful conversation about the existence of God, and higher values

Peterson digs deeper than merely self-help as he discusses meaning. In fact, he openly engages with the Bible, and what he sees as the timeless wisdom that comes from it.Now, as we'll see in a moment, evangelical Christians will rightly be nervous about his ‘archetypal’ approach to the Bible. But let’s remember: Peterson is not self-identifying as a Christian pastor. He’s not claiming to be teaching Christianity, so much as looking at the Bible through a particular psychological lens. (Interestingly, though, he’s open to the possibility of the resurrection of Jesus).On the positive side, Peterson is opening up a conversation that we’re no longer allowed to have in western culture: the deeper conversation about meaning, the Bible, and God. And many of his listeners - most of whom are non-Christian - are loving it.Maybe I'm a little optimistic, but I think it unlikely that Bible-believing Christians will take on board his views to the point where they’ll reject the historical Jesus.Instead, it’s non-Christians who have had little exposure to the Bible – and let’s face it, wouldn’t engage with it on their own – who’ll be influenced by Peterson’s views. If they listen to Peterson, these people will probably move from a place of indifference or hostility to the Bible, to a place where they see the Bible as a book of wisdom (at the least). Moving someone from a point of indifference - or even hostility - to the Bible, to a point of seeing it as an important book of wisdom - surely that will open up opportunities for the gospel? (I can relate to that - my personal journey to Christianity took place through the New Age movement, much of which affirms the Bible as a 'spiritual' book - which is what got me reading it in the first place.) 

3) Peterson provides a helpful and accurate  analysis of identity politics, and other secular ideologies – critical theory, cultural Marxism, post-modernism.

Peterson does a good job of analysing many of the ideologies that are increasingly prevalent on university campuses, not to mention the left of politics. Many if not most of these ideologies have aspects that are antithetical to a Biblical worldview, and thus in Peterson we have an ally so far as understanding and critiquing such ideologies are concerned. (Again, this seems to be a common reason why many Christians are liking Peterson – he is an ally is the crucial debates around free speech, freedom of thought, and political correctness.)Whilst these are things are we affirm in Peterson, there are also things we should be cautious about.

What Should Christians Be Wary of In Peterson?

There are a number of things Christians should be wary of.

1) He has an 'archetypal' view of the Bible

In his view, the Bible is more a symbolic book, than a historical book.

Unfortunately Peterson doesn't read the Bible on it's own terms, as a book about real events and real people. Whether it's Creation or Salvation, Peterson reads these events through a psychological lens that robs them of their intended meaning.As Presbyterian minister Mark Powell points out:

[Peterson's] approach to religion raises some serious reservations and concerns...In keeping with the current zeitgeist, the spirituality he is presenting is that of 'therapeutic moral deism' rather than Biblical Christianity.'

2) Meaning in life is not found through a relationship with a transcendent God, but through our lives and experiences here on earth.

I think Peterson is tapping into what his fellow Canadian scholar Charles Taylor calls the ‘malaise of modernity’ – that sense of discomfort and emptiness that comes from believing this world is all there is. Modernity teaches us that there is no transcendent spiritual reality – that we’re just highly evolved accidental creatures in a meaningless universe. Unsurprisingly, this can easily lead to a loss of higher purpose and meaning.And yet, as Peterson himself points out, we seem to be hardwired to accept that there has to be real meaning to life. We don’t live as if life is meaningless – in fact, people who live as if life is meaningless risk developing all sorts of pathologies, from depression to suicidal ideations.And so it’s not surprising that his message of a meaningful life is resonating with millions of people.But as far as I can tell, he hasn’t yet gone so as far as saying there is a transcendent spiritual reality – namely God. His philosophy is still rooted in the ‘immanent frame’ – the material world alone.And so human flourishing seems to be the ultimate goal – ‘a meaningful life’ – rather than any higher spiritual value. Meaning is still found in the here and now.This of course is far short of the Biblical gospel – a gospel that gives meaning, security and hope, even in the face of death. Jordan Peterson: The Man of Our Cultural Moment. Jordan Peterson is a man of our cultural moment. His meteoric rise to fame is a strong signal that the felt needs of people – the need for purpose and meaning; and a way to deal with shame – are still there. And so Christians can learn from Peterson: we need to think of ways in which the gospel connects with these felt needs, if we’re to communicate in a way that connects with our modern secular world.On the flip side, we need to be cautious when engaging with what Peterson says. We need to listen to him critically - discerning what is good and what is not, what is wheat and what is chaff. 

How do you think Christians should respond to Jordan Peterson? Feel free to leave a comment below.