My Thoughts on… We Who Wrestle with God by Jordan Peterson
I often find myself drawn to the deeper questions of life, the ones that linger at the edges of our awareness. This pull recently led me to Jordan Peterson’s “We Who Wrestle With God.” Now, I’ll admit it, it’s a hefty book. I opted for the audiobook, which made it easier to digest, but it was still a journey. There were moments where I felt lost in its dense arguments, and others where the ideas were so captivating they felt like a revelation. Peterson’s focus is the Old Testament, and he explores these familiar stories — Adam and Eve, Noah’s Ark, Cain and Abel — with a depth I’d never considered.
It was astonishing how much meaning he was able to extract from these narratives. These weren’t just old tales, but powerful allegories for our own lives. The stories themselves felt familiar, but Peterson presented them with fresh eyes. At times, his intense delivery felt like a bit of a rant, but amidst the passionate delivery were insightful points that truly resonated with me.
Sacrificing for Meaning
Take for example, the story of Cain and Abel. Peterson argues that it’s not just a tale of sibling rivalry. It’s a lesson about the nature of sacrifice. To create something meaningful, something of worth, we have to be willing to sacrifice. Are we willing to make the greatest sacrifices, not just half-hearted attempts, to achieve what we desire? Abel’s story is about putting in your best effort and aiming upwards whereas Cain’s story illustrates what happens when we take shortcuts. The consequences of Cain’s actions are catastrophic. He is then left wondering why he was treated so unjustly, completely missing the point and not taking responsibility for his own actions.
The Inner Voice
Then, there’s the story of Noah. Peterson highlights that Noah listened to an inner voice, what many would call a conscience. This is something I found profound. This inner voice is not something we should ignore, but something we should nurture and actively listen to, because, one interpretation is that it’s the voice of God.
In every decision we face daily, this voice presents itself. We might ignore it out of fear or shame, but when we repeatedly suppress that voice the negative consequences tend to compound and we slowly start down a certain path which ultimately defines the type of person we are. Peterson’s book has really brought my awareness to this concept, to the idea that listening to that voice can guide me down a certain path. I’ve been experimenting with this since finishing the book, noticing how often that inner voice is telling me to act, even when I am not in my comfort zone.
The Pursuit of Truth
Peterson’s book also delves into the concept of truth. He makes a strong case for seeking truth wherever you can. He suggests that it’s so easy to stumble off of the right path, a path that’s illuminated by truth. When we do, we risk ending up in a metaphorical “living hell,” a space created by repeated deviations from what we know to be true. He uses horrific examples to illustrate this point such as the gulag, the holocaust, and brutalities that went on during World War 2. These examples highlighted the dangers of not living consciously and being very careful of the decisions you make everyday. The saying “the road to hell is paved with good intentions” began to resonate with me more and more.
Navigating the World
The core message for me in this book is about conscious living. It’s about recognising the importance of making meaningful sacrifices. It’s about recognising the significance of listening to your inner voice, even when it’s uncomfortable. It’s about the pursuit of truth and the dangers that present themselves if you deviate too much from it. If you are interested in exploring these ideas further, I encourage you to check out this book. It is not an easy read, but definitely a rewarding one. I’m aware that I haven’t touched on all the subjects he talks about in the book. I’ve only really gone through the main ideas that really hit home for me personally and I feel have the potential to help me navigate through this world and strive to become a better human being.
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