Jordan Peterson’s Christian cosplaying has come to an ignominious end. But some have been quick to forgive him

We Hunted the Mammoth won’t lie to you about its religious beliefs, or lack thereof. Please drop a few bucks here or here if you can!

And if you’re feeling stuck as a writer, I can help!

For several years now, Canadian fussbudget intellectual Jordan Peterson has been presenting himself as “a new kind of Christian,” as he once put it in an interview, talking endlessly about what he sees as the moral lessons of the Bible and writing a 576-page book taking readers through famous stories in the Old Testament. 

But there’s always been a question about whether or not he’s a “real” Christian, who believes in the divinity of Jesus and the resurrection and all that, or an opportunist who has seized on a number of Bible stories as useful narratives that seem to reinforce his reactionary judgements of the supposed moral failings of contemporary culture. 

Seems pretty clear to me that it’s that second one. Peterson basically answered this question by refusing to answer whether or not he was a Christian in an exceedingly embarrassing (for him) YouTube debate that you’ve probably already seen clips of. (If not, I’ve attached a few at the bottom of the post.) Peterson was prickly, defensive, and evasive about many topics related to the Christianity he was supposed to be defending, and crashed out entirely when he was asked to confirm his religious beliefs, to which he responded “I don’t have to tell you.” 

This is basically equivalent to admitting you don’t believe, because publicly professing your faith in Jesus is kind of a big deal for Christianity. Like, a “you’re going to go to hell if you don’t” sort of deal. As Romans 10 states, “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” And if you don’t, well, Jack Chick would tell you that you’re headed for the lake of fire.

Non-fans of Peterson have reacted to his debate implosion, and his revealing evasiveness on the whole Christian question, with a certain understandable glee. But what do Christians make of it? From a cursory investigation of the Christosphere, it seems that some are disappointed, and some are angry—but others are willing to cut the apparently hellbound Peterson some slack because despite his seeming lack of belief he’s been reportedly bringing people to Jesus. Let’s start with the forgivers. 

A headline in Christian Today after the debate declared that “Jordan Peterson is not a Christian, but he is our friend.” In the article itself, Robert Parr noted that “Peterson has a long history of giving vague, and seemingly evasive answers about whether he actually believes in God or is a Christian.” Even though Parr suggested that Peterson may be simply “conflicted” he went on to argue that

Jordan Peterson doesn’t appear to be a Christian in any conventional sense, however I believe him to be an ally to the faith who has probably done a lot over the last decade to open otherwise closed hearts to the Bible.

He’s a heart-opener!

Many young people, who twenty years ago would have been cheering on Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens, are instead looking towards Peterson. They are no longer looking at the Bible as a primitive book of superstitions, but as a treasure trove of wisdom and insight into the human condition.

This may not lead them into an explicit faith, but many times it does, and many of those who have yet to embrace Christ no longer hold militant atheist views but increasingly see something of value in the faith they may once have derided.

So, while we must always remember that Jordan Peterson isn’t really one of us, he has been and probably will be a valued friend and ally to Christianity.

Meanwhile, in his newsletter for Christianity Today (which is not the same as Christian Today), Russell Moore acknowledged Peterson’s “evasiveness,’ but suggested that this was because Peterson is still working through his beliefs. “[P]erhaps … Peterson is becoming broadly convinced that something or someone is out there beyond his sight, but he’s not yet sure what or who that is,” Moore speculated.

Of course, if that’s true Peterson probably shouldn’t have called himself any kind of Christian, huh, much less agreed to play the role of a Christian in a debate billed as one between a believer and a bunch of atheists. But never mind. Let’s let Moore continue. 

“[M]aybe behind Peterson’s hesitation, there’s something more than artful dodging,” Moore suggested. 

Peterson’s name is literally “Peter’s son.” And maybe he is. Perhaps he is following in the way of Simon Peter, still answering the question “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” but not yet ready to answer for himself (Matt. 16:13). …

“I don’t know” is not a final answer to the most important question posed on YouTube or in life. But sometimes it’s a good start.

Of course, Peterson didn’t say “I don’t know” to this “most important question.” He said “I don’t have to tell you,” which is really rather different. After all, in Mark 8:38 Jesus famously declared that “[i]f anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

Hey, if they’re going to quote scripture I can too. I may not know the Bible inside and out, or even just inside, but I’ve got the internet.

Anyhoo, not all Christians were quite so forgiving. In Not The Bee, the “serious” spinoff of the allegedly funny Babylon Bee, Joel Abbott wrote that while “Peterson has said a lot of things about cosmic order and human psychology that have been very helpful for people seeking moral grounding in their life,” his debate performance was simply “painful,” adding that 

Jesus did not leave us the option of Him being a wise man with insightful psychological insight that helps us clean our rooms.

He is either a lunatic, a liar, or Lord. You either believe Him, or you don’t. It’s all or nothing.

Over on the Christianity subreddit, meanwhile, the general consensus seemed to be that Peterson had proved himself to be a bit of an opportunist, Christianity-wise. 

Others were a bit blunter.

I’m no Christian, but based on what I know about the religion I would say that the reaction of these Redditors to Peterson’s Christian cosplaying is more appropriate, and I daresay more Christian, than the rather cynical “forgiveness” of people like Robert Parr from Christian Today.

It would be one thing if Peterson was saying publicly that he is sincerely grappling with his beliefs. Or, if this isn’t the case, that he’s an atheist who believes that the stories in the Bible nonetheless offer profound philosophical meditations on issues still acutely relevant today. But he hasn’t done this. He’s publicly stated that he is Christian, without (apparently) believing in the central tenets of the religion. By any standards, Christian or otherwise, that’s pretty bad.

As, er, Robert Moore put it in the very same newsletter in which he basically forgave Peterson, 

Much of what goes under the name of Christianity right now—a claim to Christian identity without personal faith in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob through the mediation of the crucified and risen Christ—is, in fact, worse than unbelief. …

To be a “Christian” because one is Western or because atheism has proven bad for nations and cultures is ancestor worship—not the gospel. To claim God because God is useful is to construct an idol. …

In that sense, the synthesis that Peterson now attempts of mining the Bible for Jungian archetypes is not a step on the way to Christianity but a step away from it … . 

I think the forgivers believe this, but they’re still willing to embrace Peterson because he’s useful for them. He makes some of their arguments for them, and helps to get the asses in the pews. In the end, this makes them just as sleazily opportunistic as Peterson himself. 

In any case, here are the debate clips I promised you. They’re pretty, pretty good.

Damn. That old dude got smoked.

—

Follow me on Bluesky or Mastodon.

Send tips to dfutrelle at gmail dot com.

We Hunted the Mammoth depends on support from you to survive. So please donate here if you can, or on Venmo!

An initial half-hour writing consultation is FREE. Click for details.