Having followed Jordan Peterson from his early days on YouTube, where his lectures combined psychology, self-help, and philosophy in a compelling way. He's had this subtle hint of religious and spiritual thinking, but it was manageable and tolerable, specifically as he usually managed to balance his tone by infusing it with a broader intellectual scope.
Recently, however, there’s been a marked shift. He's no longer the "discreet" religious intellectual, but instead seems to immerse himself deeply and solely in Christian symbolism and narratives, so much so that whenever he speaks he has little left to say beyond this grandiose, overreaching interpretations of Christian themes.
This new obsession feels less like genuine insight and more like a desperate attempt to retrofit ancient religious ideas into modern self-help frameworks. It’s as if he’s reduced his once rich discourse to a repetitive cycle of symbolic excess, betraying the nuanced psychological analysis he once provided.
His recent appearance on Joe Rogan's podcast (Episode #2180, August 2024) was an enough impetus to write this.
While this episode reveals both Joe and Peterson stretching their ideas to fit their preferred narratives as keys to a profound life, for example, Joe's speculation that psychedelics shaped modern humanity is particularly far-fetched. It’s neither surprising nor a secret that he does not give up on any opportunity to preach about the profundity of psychedelics, or whatever currently piques his interest, but also neither does he portray himself as an intellectual, and for these reasons we will not comment on his views.
Moses’ Background: From Common Job to Spiritual Mastery?
If you have listened to or read Peterson, you probably know that he loves to romanticise historical roles, and his take on Moses as a shepherd who “mastered” a difficult job is a prime example. Shepherding was tough but also common and essential work in ancient times. It wasn’t some magical path to enlightenment. Peterson's idealisation strips away the historical and social complexities that actually shape a person's character. Moses’ life was way more complicated than just being a shepherd turned spiritual leader.
The Burning Bush: Symbolism Overload
Peterson’s interpretation of the burning bush as the Tree of Life is a glaring example of misguided idealism. His reading represents a desperate attempt to impose grandiose symbolism onto a narrative that, in its essence, is far simpler. While the allure of adding layers of meaning is tempting, such an approach is often nothing more than an overreach that distorts the story rather than illuminating it. It is a testament to the propensity of the weak-minded to inflate their fantasies, creating edifices of meaning where none truly exist.
Mystical Abstractions Galore
The notion that Moses hears the "Voice of Being Itself" and undergoes some grand transformation is another prime example of mystical abstraction run amok. More specifically, Peterson’s effort to infuse existential philosophy into biblical narrative comes across as a contrived exercise in self-aggrandisement. What he presents as profound insight is often nothing more than a projection of his own metaphysical preoccupations, masquerading as universal truth.
How far can we stretch symbolism? What are the boundaries?
The relentless expansion of symbolism often devolves into a ludicrous exercise in intellectual vanity. When one contorts every element of a narrative to fit a grand symbolic framework, it not only loses its original meaning but risks becoming a playground for subjective fantasies. The limit—if there is one—should be defined by the integrity of the narrative and the depth of genuine insight it can provide, rather than the ego-driven urge to impose ever more elaborate layers of meaning. Symbolism must serve understanding, not become a vehicle for unchecked and self-indulgent metaphysical anxieties projected onto ancient texts to arrive at a particular interpretation.