Jordan Peterson: Advocate for Spiritual Freedom

[Steve Petermann]

St John is speaking of concrete events, beings, and people in the world then and in times to come.

Surely, you are not suggesting John is just doing straight reporting with no theological content. And even if there is theological content, according to your prior statement, it shouldn't be taken seriously.

[AshvinP]

St John is speaking of concrete events, beings, and people in the world then and in times to come.

Surely, you are not suggesting John is just doing straight reporting with no theological content. And even if there is theological content, according to your prior statement, it shouldn't be taken seriously.

No I am suggesting the concrete details provided by St. John are not other than the "theological content". That should really be the core maxim of metaphysical idealism in general - even what we perceive as "physical objects" in the world around us are manifestations of inner experiential states of being, i.e. ideal content, which is immanent and yet transcends all spatial and temporal 'boundaries'. The Word (Logos) of God is a real 'idea-being' who exists independently of our limited ego-consciousness, yet He is also present within all of our spiritual activity. Only through orienting ourselves with these proper conceptual foundations can we begin meaningfully to address the deeper problems, of which "the problem of evil" is as deep as they come. We should start conceiving everything we desire, feel, and think as immanent living forces which direct the course of spiritual evolution.

When Peterson speaks of "taking personal responsibility" he does not only mean cleaning up one's room, foregoing the piece of cake, starting a family, working hard in one's career, etc. Those things all have their significant place as well, but he also speaks of attaining the conviction that one is quite literally responsible for all the sins of the world, and we must feel the heavy weight of that on our shoulders as we bear our Cross. He has a lecture called "Who Dares Say He Believes in God?", and that is the thrust of the message he conveys in it. To say one "believes in God" is to also accept one's immanent role in becoming God, not just in abstract theory, but in every desire, feeling, thought, and deed. So it is no wonder why such things will be resisted with all of our intellectual might.