We Who Wrestle with God: Perceptions of the Divine Hardcover – November 19, 2024

I've just bought and finished Peterson's "We Who Wrestle with God," and I honestly think this might be his most important work yet. It's fascinating how he's managed to weave together psychological insights with Biblical wisdom in a way that feels both ancient and incredibly relevant to our modern struggles.What really struck me was how Peterson tackles these fundamental Biblical narratives with such depth and nuance. He's always been good at bridging complex ideas with practical meaning, but here he's really outdone himself. The way he unpacks stories about human suffering, moral development, and our eternal wrestling with the divine - it's like he's holding up a mirror to our own inner battles while offering a roadmap forward.I found myself completely absorbed by his analysis of how ancient wisdom speaks to our contemporary challenges. There's something profound about how he connects our biological reality with spiritual truths. Sure, some passages required careful reading - Peterson's never been one to dumb things down - but the intellectual reward is worth every minute spent engaging with his ideas.What makes this book particularly special is how it builds on his previous work while pushing into new territory. Where "12 Rules for Life" gave us practical guidance, this book dives deeper into the spiritual foundations that underpin human experience. Bishop Robert Barron's praise for the book really resonates with me - Peterson's managed to revitalize these ancient texts in a way that speaks powerfully to our modern condition.Whether you're a long-time Peterson reader or new to his work, this book offers something unique and valuable. It's ambitious in scope, rich in insight, and ultimately hopeful in its message. While some might find his writing style challenging at times, the depth of wisdom here is remarkable. In my view, this could well be the cornerstone text that ties together Peterson's entire philosophical project. It's definitely earned a permanent spot on my bookshelf, and I find myself returning to certain passages again and again, finding new layers of meaning each time.

We Who Wrestle With God by Dr. Jordan Peterson delves into the biblical narrative and explores how the stories we live by shape our understanding of the divine and our highest purpose. This book is rich in substance and depth, making its content a challenging yet rewarding exploration. Since the book discusses how stories influence human behavior, perhaps we can begin by reflecting on a story.Let’s start with the pen I hold in my hand. Its position is not just a physical reality but is connected to the potential actions I might take with it. In my mind, I envision various ways this pen could be used, none of which have yet occurred, but all of which are possible. These potential actions exist in the metaphysical realm of my imagination—abstract and untapped in the physical world. Now, let’s consider the hierarchy of these possibilities. At the top of this hierarchy lies the most noble and highest good. If I were to use this pen to write inspiring literature, for example, it could help bring myself and others closer to the divine—an all-loving and all-powerful Creator.Being made in God’s image, we are called to communicate with the divine, and in doing so, God reveals Himself to us. In such moments, we may be able to fulfill the righteous will of the Prime Mover, the ultimate cause of all effects in this world. When others who seek this same divine connection write, we may find common threads in our work. This shared pursuit often leads to stories that illustrate the consequences of failing to align with the divine, or highlight the call to adventure and the leadership required to pursue this higher purpose.Through the words of various authors, cultures across time and space might center around similar themes, despite differences in their languages and traditions. Stories that place the love of creation and the Creator at their core become a powerful means of connecting with others. These stories continue to inspire future generations to carry forth the creative endeavor. All of this emerges from the simple act of writing with a pen, illustrating how the pen can indeed be mightier than the sword.Throughout We Who Wrestle With God, Dr. Peterson emphasizes the biblical importance of maintaining a connection with God and aligning ourselves with His will. He highlights the inevitable strife faced by those who stray from this path. In Genesis, we see the fall of man, which exposes the Luciferian pride of both Adam and Eve. Adam’s pride stems from overestimating the capabilities of humanity, believing we can bend reality to our own will. This concept echoes Dr. Thomas Sowell’s work in A Conflict of Visions, where Sowell contrasts those with an unconstrained vision—who believe they are unbound by physical or metaphysical limitations—with those who hold a constrained vision, grounded in the righteousness of God’s will. For those with a constrained vision, freedom operates within a moral framework.Eve’s flaw, on the other hand, represents the consequences of excessive compassion and tolerance, particularly when that tolerance extends to things that should be cut off. This reminds me of the paradox of intolerance. In a society that embraces moral relativism, where truth and values are fluid, the definition of “intolerance” can become subjective and evolve with the preferences of the dominant group. This paradox risks fostering authoritarianism, as tolerance can be weaponized to suppress dissent or opposition. When enforced by the state or powerful institutions, such as universities, it can stifle diversity of thought, thereby undermining the very openness it was intended to protect. The more forced tolerance is, the more likely it is to lead to a totalitarian state, where dissent is labeled intolerant and suppressed.We then turn to the story of Abraham, who hears the call of God to embark on a higher purpose—leaving his comfort behind to fulfill a divine mission. This story reminds me of the innate intelligence within us. In a scientific sense, innate intelligence refers to the genetic code and neurophysiological processes that drive the development of an individual. Neurologically, an individual’s drives manifest externally through action, which in turn influences the brain’s physiology, leading to the formation of new neurological connections. The stress of pursuing a goal prompts the body’s adaptation to the challenge.Higher-order thinking, achieved through the development of the prefrontal cortex, is crucial when crafting visions of our future selves. Do we aim for the highest good, as Abraham did, responding to the divine call? Or, as Moses did, do we rise to leadership in the community, guiding the people through adversity? The Israelites' journey in the wilderness reveals the continual struggle to stay connected to the highest calling. This brings to mind Aristotle’s view on the importance of character, which is developed through practice and habit. Virtue, for Aristotle, isn’t just a matter of intellectual knowledge; it is cultivated through repeated action, becoming second nature. In a community, this constant alignment with the highest ideal is necessary to prevent individuals from straying and worshiping false idols.The story of Jonah also illustrates a crucial point. When Jonah is called by God to save a people, even those who may seem like enemies, he initially resists the call and falls into a sleep representing a state of unconsciousness, a withdrawal from the higher purpose. This resonates with a verse from Matthew 12:43-45:“When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.”This verse emphasizes the importance of staying connected to the transcendent, especially as we climb the ladder of success. If a person achieves worldly success—organizing their life and rising in stature—but lacks a transcendent guiding narrative, they risk falling into corruption. Without objective moral guidance, subjective whims can take over, leading to self-destruction. This is seen not only in individuals but in entire societies. Totalitarian regimes based on secular ideals often end in catastrophe, as the absence of a higher moral framework leads to oppression and violence.So, what is the answer to this predicament? The answer is to maintain a connection to the transcendent through faith. The image of the impure spirit seeking rest in dry places contrasts with the life-giving force of the Holy Spirit, associated with water. Jonah’s escape from the depths, symbolized by the whale, represents the potential for redemption and rescue. In the face of destruction, the call to maintain faith and fulfill a higher purpose is what enables us to overcome the challenges of life, just as Jonah did.In conclusion, while the Creator is an omnipotent, unchanging source of perfect good, humanity, in contrast, is capable of corruption. This capacity for corruption is evident in the fall of man in Genesis, where Adam’s decision to turn away from God introduced original sin into the world. As a result, we are born with an awareness of evil and suffering, but this does not mean humanity is inherently evil. Rather, we are inherently good as God's creation, and it is only through our own choices that we embrace wickedness. Hell on earth manifests when we praise wicked acts as good and condemn the creation of an all-loving God as evil.However, the good news is that the nature of God is such that He can bring good out of evil. In fact, evil itself can highlight the value of good, as we come to appreciate what is righteous more fully by recognizing the depths of wickedness from which we can turn away. The hope for humanity lies in the new covenant with God through Christ, who came into the world through the Virgin Mary. By being born outside the bloodline of Adam, Christ, as both the Son of God and the Son of Man, offers freedom from original sin. He is the Word made flesh, embodying the divine nature, and through His sinless life and sacrificial death, He provides a pathway to redemption.Christ's sacrifice on the cross offers grace—the fundamental difference between the redeemed and the lost. While God's justice would rightfully condemn us all, it is through His mercy, by grace, that we are saved and enabled to choose righteousness. The resurrection of Christ demonstrates that death holds no power over Him, and through His victory, His followers are promised eternal life. Thus, while humanity is marked by its fallibility, the hope for restoration is found in the grace of God, who, through Christ, offers the redemption of all who turn toward Him.