Jordan Peterson on Trump's Resilience, God, and Losing His Parents

In a wide-ranging interview, renowned psychologist and author Dr. Jordan Peterson shared his thoughts on the upcoming U.S. presidential election, his new book on the Bible, and dealing with the recent loss of both his parents.

Trump's Resilience and the 2024 Election

Peterson expressed admiration for Donald Trump's resilience in the face of assassination attempts during the 2024 campaign:

"Trump's response to being shot was like this - 'Go to hell, you're not stopping me no matter what.' As Elon Musk pointed out, that's not staged. It was so interesting watching the victimized Democrat response to that because their response was open-mouthed amazement that anything like that could even be possible."

He suggested this display of strength likely resonated with many voters:

"I don't think it's an overestimate to presume that that won him the election. You can see the immense literary drama there."

Peterson also commented on Trump's unconventional cabinet picks, including Elon Musk, RFK Jr., and Vivek Ramaswamy:

"These remarkable people that have aggregated themselves around Trump understand very thoroughly that we're in a time of unprecedented rate of change and that there are immense opportunities awaiting us and immense perils."

He added: "These aren't people who need the political power. They already have lives, they already have immense influence. I mean, for Musk to involve himself in the department of governmental efficiency is obviously something that's taking him away from many other things that he's highly concerned about, but he obviously believes that the time demands that kind of response."

New Book on the Bible

Peterson discussed his latest book, which examines stories from the Bible:

"Writing this book was ridiculously useful. I learned so much. I'm still adjusting to the things that I've learned."

He explained his approach: "One of the rules I had with this book was that I tried not to offer any explanations of the biblical text that weren't also fully justifiable from a scientific perspective."

Peterson emphasized the enduring relevance of biblical themes:

"I certainly do believe that it's by no means chance that the most functional societies in the world are predicated upon the biblical text."

Losing Both Parents

Peterson opened up about recently losing both his parents within a 6-month period:

"My brother and my sister were there with me when my father died and we've drawn more closely together in consequence of that shared loss. I saw that happen with my wife Tammy when her mom and dad died, that her family drew together."

He expressed gratitude for how his parents passed:

"We were also fortunate in some ways. My mother was very vital right literally till the day she died. She had a heart attack and then two days later another, but she was a young and vivacious person despite being in her 80s and then bowed out with no fuss and very suddenly. And my father as well."

Peterson shared a poignant memory of reading with his father as a child, becoming visibly emotional.

Views on God and Faith

When asked about his personal beliefs, Peterson gave a nuanced response:

"I leave the things that are beyond my comprehension outside the realm of my comprehension and I try to understand what I can understand. I certainly believe that we can produce hell on Earth and we have in many ways. I've certainly had experiences that indicated to me that the reestablishment of the Garden of Eden on Earth is a possibility and that you can live like that."

He added: "I believe that with sufficient faith that you walk with God through the valley of the shadow of death. I think that's true. I think that if you're courageous and you confront the worst life has to offer, that the spirit of your ancestors walks with you."

Peterson distinguished his view of religious belief from a purely propositional stance:

"I don't believe that belief means what most people think when they say belief. For me, religious belief isn't propositional, it's existential. I think that religious faith in the most fundamental sense is the willingness to hoist your cross joyfully as you trudge uphill."

Debate with Richard Dawkins

Peterson reflected on his debate with atheist Richard Dawkins:

"Part of the problem is there's a whole literature that Richard Dawkins knows nothing about. For example, he doesn't know anything about the work of a man named Mircea Eliade, who was the preeminent historian of religion for years."

He noted some common ground they found: "Near the end of that discussion, we did have a meeting of minds because we started to talk about how the evolution of narrative in the manner that he represented as memes could have a long-term effect on the genetic evolution of humanity."

Closing Thoughts

As the interview concluded, it was revealed that Peterson's new book had reached #1 on the Amazon bestseller list. Peterson expressed gratitude for the conversation and the chance to honor his late father's memory.

Throughout the discussion, Peterson demonstrated his characteristic blend of psychological insight, cultural commentary, and personal reflection. His thoughts on resilience, faith, and family resonated deeply, offering a glimpse into the mind of one of today's most influential public intellectuals.

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