Ztracen ve tmě. Lost in the dark – Czech
Ztracen ve tmě. Lost in the dark – Czech
Flashback
Part 1 What my peers are saying
Part 2 What Peterson taught me.
Epilogue – New Map/Old Map
Flashback
Scene #1 – Steelpot jammed on his head, flashlight in hand – fighting the dark, wind threatening to rip the map from his hands, the 2LT was leading his convoy of 20mm Vulcan Air Defense Weapon systems into his General Defense Plan locations pointed east towards the Czech Border. The flashlight had a red filter reducing the ability of the enemy to target the racing jeep, but the dampened light made it darn hard to read the map. The drill was in preparation for the Soviet Union invasion of Europe.
Scene #2 – The sun beat down on the tent where sweat stained straps of the young Captain’s Kevlar helmet seemed surgical implanted onto his head. He moved small plastic templates across the map ensuring that the Patriot Missile coverage protected the leading edge of the VII U.S. Corps as it swung up between the French and Arabs sectors. Designed to engage hostile aircraft and now SCUD missiles the little plastic templates represented men and women soldiers “at risk” while defending the movement into Kuwait.
The list could go on. Maps have been a part of my life. Then came GPS and until the next Electromagnetic Pulse, guides me on my next geriatric run to Walmart. (Old soldiers fade away to Walmart hardware aisles).
There are all kinds of maps, and Jordan B. Peterson, Maps of Meaning: The Architecture of Belief [1]takes us on a journey that seems similar to Joseph Campbell’s A Hero With A Thousand Faces [2] left off.
What ChatGPT4 says in comparison of the two authors. “In summary, while there is an overlap in the exploration of myths and the human psyche, Campbell’s “The Hero with a Thousand Faces” presents a more focused exploration of the narrative structure of myths across cultures, whereas Peterson’s “Maps of Meaning” provides a broader analysis of the role of belief systems in shaping human understanding and behavior.”
Using AI as a research tool provides an interesting summary. But it lacks, of course, the depth of spiritual mapping that we need to guide our lives. For that I turn to my peers.
Part 1 What my peers are saying.
DLGP02 Tim Clark (one of my favorite pastors) drills down the book to the goal I was looking for, he writes, “I’m indebted to Peterson for his important maps-of-meaning metaphor, but I want to teach those I shepherd not to engage the Bible as “a” map among many, but instead to see it as “the” map to align the rest of the life-maps to, to keep us from getting lost.”
AMEN.
DLGP02 Jennifer Vernam as always challenges us to further thinking. She applies this week’s reading to last week’s unconscious biases.
- How does the framing of my culture impact the way that we talk about the disagreements we have?
- How can our cultural biases on areas of controversy influence how we respond when someone questions our narratives around that issue?
Taking the second question, I have another kind of flashback (the first two scenes were of my younger days of course). My Asian/Pacific Islander label (a far cry from the old Oriental label). Brings me to an internal argument. Why the need for labels? If culture is a map that is crystalizing “identities” in America today, then where – I argue, is the cohesion of like beliefs and goals. Will the USA be fractured by a “woke, diversity, equality and inclusion tribalism?” Are these tribes worth dying for? Sacrificing for?
Part 2 What I learned from Peterson.
Peterson starts with, “I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.” (Matthew 13:35). Secrets. I should have been warned. Peterson is delving into the secrets (unconscious biases?) that are revealed in stories and dreams.
In the torrent of his thoughts, a veritable blur…I sometimes have clear glimpses. He writes, “How can a good God allow for the existence of a suffering world?”[3] This question has held up many from believing a faith in God. While these “sins” are products of the fall and the exercise of human free will Peterson continues to wrestle with the idea expressed by many.
Another glimpse, “Thus Jesus became the tutelary image or amulet against the archetypal powers that threatened to possess everyone.”[4] Peterson then reduces the person of Jesus to a talisman/tool against whatever evil they encounter.
Surprisingly, Peterson also covers “identity – ala Fukuyama.” He writes, “People need their group identification, because that identification protects them, literally, from the terrible forces of the unknown. It is for this reason that every individual who is not decadent will strive to protect his territory, actual and psychological.”[5]
My sympathy goes out to Peterson who seems lost, dislodged from his faith. Peterson seems unable to find a replacement (he tried socialism in his early years). He writes, “I could not see how there could be any alternative to either having a belief system or to not having a belief system-and could see little but the dis advantage of both positions. This truly shook my faith.”[6] He adds, “Rejection of moral truth allows for rationalization of cowardly, destructive, degenerate self-indulgence. This is one of the most potent attractions of such rejection, and constitutes primary motivation for the lie.” [7] Seemingly here, he backtracks and seems to cry out for faith (any faith), as the lack provides a descent in hell.
Truly Peterson is hard reading, and I hear Hamlet’s “to be, or not to be, that is the question? Like Hamlet, Petersons’ writings go back and forth. Unsure of where he finally land. Seemingly he is lost in the dark. (Ztracen ve tmě)
Epilogue – New Map/Old Map
If I were supporting Peterson as a friend, I might guide him towards some purposeful action. There is only so much that can be gained in “navel gazing.” Getting out into the world to ACT might be a small step in seeing the PURPOSE that God has laid out for him. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” Ephesians 2:10.
I suppose one must choose their battles. Battles might even be healthy things. Some in the cohort will fight the good fight for racial equality and gender equality. Their NPOs will help re-shift the world into balance.
For me a new map now claims my mental and emotional bandwidth.
Our Sports ministry moves a war zone. Ahhh… GoodSports Ukraine…where do we begin? www.goodsportsinternational.org
The mental map guiding this Ukraine effort leaps from the bible, Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
And Deut 10:18 He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing.”
Yes, Jordan…God is calling you to action!
Selah….
_________________________________________________
[1] Jordan B. Peterson, Maps of Meaning: The Architecture of Belief (New York: Routledge, 1999).
[2] Joseph Campbell, The Hero with a Thousand Faces (Joseph Campbell Foundation, 2020).
[3] Ibid., 452
[4] Ibid., 456.
[5] Ibid., 460.
[6] Ibid, 460.
[7] Ibid.,466.
About the Author
Russell Chun
interlinkt.org is now ready for your Refugee Resettlement needs. 15 tasks, languages ESL plans coming7 responses to “Ztracen ve tmě. Lost in the dark – Czech”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Hi, Russell,
I love how you take us on a journey through your blogs.
You quoted Peterson as saying “People need their group identification, because that identification protects them, literally, from the terrible forces of the unknown. It is for this reason that every individual who is not decadent will strive to protect his territory, actual and psychological.”
I feel that this is a very true statement of how we were created. We need to matter and belong. However, when it becomes a “we are better than them” scenario, it becomes destructive with implicit bias. A daily perspective of God’s grace and acceptance is so needed to keep us aligned with Godly intent.
Dr. Marc LiVecche spoke at my immigration conference and briefly he talked about nation states and reminded us that before nation states there were tribes.
I had forgotten that.
Tribes formed our culture, language, boundaries and kept track of our moral behaviors.
The USA is a collection of tribes, so we should not be surprised at the frictions that emerge (and horrible injustices – sin).
Given that, what is our shared identity, our similar likes, morals, goals in America?
Before I left Hungary, there was a discussion in churches that the reason that U.S. is NOT mentioned in Revelation is that it will probably implode or become irrelevant.
Ahhh…the fall of Rome.
But not leaving on a sour note. The shared identity we have in Christ, calls us to move beyond tribal behaviors. Good grief we are called to more like Christ! (how does one get an A in that class?)
Selah…
P.S. Peterson wrote another book called. 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos”
Pam Lau mentioned it so I asked ChatGpt to summarize.
Voilà
Stand up straight with your shoulders back: This rule emphasizes the importance of adopting a posture of confidence and readiness to take on life’s challenges, akin to the dominance hierarchies observed in lobsters.
Treat yourself like someone you are responsible for helping: Encourages readers to show the same care and consideration for themselves as they would for others, recognizing their own worth and taking responsibility for their well-being.
Make friends with people who want the best for you: Advises choosing friends who support and wish well for you, as they can have a significant impact on your success and happiness.
Compare yourself to who you were yesterday, not to who someone else is today: Focuses on personal growth and self-improvement by measuring progress against one’s own past performance rather than against others.
Do not let your children do anything that makes you dislike them: Highlights the importance of setting boundaries and disciplining children in a way that fosters respect and likability, ensuring they develop into individuals who can function well in society.
Set your house in perfect order before you criticize the world: Encourages individuals to address their own issues and improve their personal lives before attempting to fix larger societal problems.
Pursue what is meaningful (not what is expedient): Advocates for a life focused on long-term meaning and purpose over short-term gain, suggesting that this leads to a more fulfilling existence.
Tell the truth – or, at least, don’t lie: Stresses the importance of honesty and integrity in building trust and meaningful relationships.
Assume that the person you are listening to might know something you don’t: Promotes open-mindedness and the value of listening to others, as everyone has unique experiences and knowledge to share.
Be precise in your speech: Encourages clear and specific communication, arguing that this helps to confront and resolve problems more effectively.
Do not bother children when they are skateboarding: Warns against overprotectiveness and excessive risk-aversion, suggesting that encountering and overcoming risks is essential for development.
Pet a cat when you encounter one on the street: Offers a reminder to find and appreciate the small, joyful moments in life, especially during times of hardship and suffering.
Russell, I loved your call for Peterson to act (that was brilliant), stating “Yes, Jordan…God is calling you to action!” I’d love to have a conversation with Dr. Peterson to ask him more about his faith journey, as I also felt he reduced Christ to something less than Savior in Maps of Meaning —- you said “a talisman/tool against whatever evil (someone might) encounter.” Having discovered that Peterson is coming out with a new book — Scott Dickie mentioned this — I wonder if he might have reframed his take on the Christian metanarrative from his 1999 perspective.
Hi Travis,
Pam Lau felt that Peterson is on a Journey. Pam also said we should pray for him.
Jenny Dooley focused on suffering in Peterson’s writing. Truly there seems to suffering in Peterson’s writing as he oscillates between faith and no faith.
And yet, I already have something that bolsters me in time of suffering. “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Romans 5:3
He uses a lost of scripture, but I do not sense a lot of “Holy Spirit” guiding him.
Sadly I am not sure what value his book brings to us.
At this point Russell, Peterson’s take on the Bible is very “heady” and analytical. I think he pulls out some interesting ideas from the Old and New Testament, but its certainly a VERY different take on the Bible that most of us are used to hearing. Thomas Merton, famous Catholic monk from my area who has passed, wrote a book on the Bible and said many times those who are not “Christian” will pull things from our tradition and Scriptures that we as Christian may not always see, and that brings much value. Peterson is on a journey right now, but he has caused many people who have disregarded the Bible and Christian faith to reengage it. Many of them in my circles. Greatful for that!
P.S. Peterson wrote another book called. 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos”
Pam Lau mentioned it so I asked ChatGpt to summarize.
Voilà
Stand up straight with your shoulders back: This rule emphasizes the importance of adopting a posture of confidence and readiness to take on life’s challenges, akin to the dominance hierarchies observed in lobsters.
Treat yourself like someone you are responsible for helping: Encourages readers to show the same care and consideration for themselves as they would for others, recognizing their own worth and taking responsibility for their well-being.
Make friends with people who want the best for you: Advises choosing friends who support and wish well for you, as they can have a significant impact on your success and happiness.
Compare yourself to who you were yesterday, not to who someone else is today: Focuses on personal growth and self-improvement by measuring progress against one’s own past performance rather than against others.
Do not let your children do anything that makes you dislike them: Highlights the importance of setting boundaries and disciplining children in a way that fosters respect and likability, ensuring they develop into individuals who can function well in society.
Set your house in perfect order before you criticize the world: Encourages individuals to address their own issues and improve their personal lives before attempting to fix larger societal problems.
Pursue what is meaningful (not what is expedient): Advocates for a life focused on long-term meaning and purpose over short-term gain, suggesting that this leads to a more fulfilling existence.
Tell the truth – or, at least, don’t lie: Stresses the importance of honesty and integrity in building trust and meaningful relationships.
Assume that the person you are listening to might know something you don’t: Promotes open-mindedness and the value of listening to others, as everyone has unique experiences and knowledge to share.
Be precise in your speech: Encourages clear and specific communication, arguing that this helps to confront and resolve problems more effectively.
Do not bother children when they are skateboarding: Warns against overprotectiveness and excessive risk-aversion, suggesting that encountering and overcoming risks is essential for development.
Pet a cat when you encounter one on the street: Offers a reminder to find and appreciate the small, joyful moments in life, especially during times of hardship and suffering.