{"id":41515,"date":"2025-04-08T01:22:05","date_gmt":"2025-04-08T08:22:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/?p=41515"},"modified":"2025-04-08T01:22:05","modified_gmt":"2025-04-08T08:22:05","slug":"lunch-with-dr-jordan-peterson-maps-heroes-and-the-bible","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/lunch-with-dr-jordan-peterson-maps-heroes-and-the-bible\/","title":{"rendered":"Lunch with Dr Jordan Peterson, Maps, Heroes and the Bible."},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/strong>I wish I had read this book before lunch with Dr Peterson last year. I was just as surprised as anyone else when I was invited to meet him in Sweden. The contact came through a friend. With 48 hours’ notice, I changed my plans and flew to Sweden to have lunch with Dr Peterson, His wife, two friends, two bodyguards (Peterson\u2019s, not mine), and later with Douglas Murray. Reading Peterson\u2019s testimony in His preface, \u2018Decensus ad Inferos\u2019[1]<\/a> in Maps of Meaning: The Architecture of Belief<\/em> would have better prepared me for the more personal aspects of conversation with him. Needless to say, he was brilliant in thinking, speech and inquisitive. While we wanted to ask him questions, he was equally interested in asking us for our views on various subjects. Conversations about Jesus were a significant part of the conversation. He later invited us to his evening presentation in an arena with 10,000 others (mostly young men) and then gave us backstage passes so we could continue conversations on Isaiah as the most Christological book in the bible. It was fascinating.<\/p>\n

Maps of Meaning <\/em>explores how individuals create meaning by navigating the tension between order and chaos. He describes life as a hero\u2019s journey, emphasising how meaning emerges when people confront uncertainty. This concept aligns with Joseph Campbell\u2019s monomyth in The Hero with a Thousand Faces<\/em>,[2]<\/a> where a heroic protagonist faces trials, transforms, and returns home. Both works highlight the hero\u2019s journey, mirroring the universal human struggle for significance and are well supported by the biblical narrative.<\/p>\n

The Hero\u2019s Departure<\/strong><\/p>\n

Peterson frames the departure as leaving comfort and safety to confront the unknown.[3]<\/a> This stage resonates with Luke 4:18-21, where Jesus, returning to His hometown, proclaims His mission: \u201cThe Spirit of the Lord is on me… to proclaim freedom for the prisoners.\u201d Jesus initiates His public ministry, stepping into uncertainty, a hallmark of the hero\u2019s departure. Similarly, in Campbell\u2019s narrative, the hero receives a call to adventure: In modern media, Frodo takes the ring, Neo chooses the red pill, and Katniss volunteers as a tribute in the Hunger Games.[4]<\/a><\/p>\n

Peterson identifies this stage as a departure from idealism, where the hero acknowledges that meaning comes from embracing vocation over ease. This is similar to the Journeyman ideal, where one moves beyond mere survival to pursue purpose.[5]<\/a><\/p>\n

The Ordeal: Confronting Fear and Chaos<\/strong><\/p>\n

In Peterson\u2019s view, ordeals symbolise confrontations with internal and external chaos.[6]<\/a> Campbell sees the ordeal as the hero\u2019s pivotal test, a moment that demands courage and transformation.[7]<\/a> Jesus\u2019 journey to the cross (Matthew 16:24-25) reflects this stage: \u201cWhoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.\u201d Peterson emphasises that these moments shape character, requiring heroes to face their deepest fears.[8]<\/a><\/p>\n

The inmost cave\u2014whether it\u2019s Frodo\u2019s journey to Mordor or Neo\u2019s battle with Agent Smith\u2014represents the confrontation with one\u2019s inner demons. For Jesus, Gethsemane is the inmost cave, where He confronts the challenge of making the ultimate sacrifice (Luke 22:39-46).<\/p>\n

Initiation: Tests, Allies, and Transformation<\/strong><\/p>\n

Peterson repeatedly expands on Campbell\u2019s initiation phase through his book, describing tests, allies, and enemies as essential for growth.[9]<\/a> These challenges define the hero\u2019s identity, testing integrity and character. In leadership, this stage demands vulnerability and resilience where allies may also serve as enemies (like Gollum, whose duality challenges Frodo or Judas, who betrayed Jesus (Matthew 26:47-50). According to 2 Peter 1:3-4, discipleship involves participating in God\u2019s divine nature, requiring leaders to navigate these complexities with wisdom.<\/p>\n

Reward and Return: Leadership and Legacy<\/strong><\/p>\n

After overcoming trials, the hero claims the reward. Campbell calls it the \u201cUltimate Boon,\u201d[10]<\/a> a moment that benefits both the individual and the community. Peterson identifies that meaningful leadership emerges when individuals return transformed and ready to serve.[11]<\/a> Jesus\u2019 resurrection represents the ultimate reward, offering salvation (1 Peter 1:18-19). The return signifies a renewed sense of purpose. Campbell illustrates this as the hero returning home.[12]<\/a> Harry Potter to Hogwarts, Katniss rebuilding District 12, or Simba reclaiming Pride Rock.<\/p>\n

Conclusion: Participating in the Divine Journey<\/strong><\/p>\n

Peterson and Campbell\u2019s frameworks converge on the belief that the hero\u2019s journey is not merely a narrative but a psychological and spiritual reality. A map, followed by most, if not all, ideologies, collectively emphasising responsibility, courage, and meaning that aligns with the hero\u2019s quest as a transformative process. In leadership, discipleship and a bible focus, embracing the hero\u2019s journey means:<\/p>\n

Recognising that ordeals shape character,<\/strong><\/p>\n

James 1:2-4 <\/strong>“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”<\/em><\/p>\n

Romans 5:3-5 <\/strong>“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”<\/em><\/p>\n

Departures demand courage, and<\/strong><\/p>\n

Genesis 12:1 <\/strong>“The Lord had said to Abram, \u2018Go from your country, your people and your father\u2019s household to the land I will show you.\u2019”<\/em><\/p>\n

Joshua 1:9: <\/strong>“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”<\/em><\/p>\n

Returns inspire legacy<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

2 Timothy 4:7-8 <\/strong>“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day.”<\/em><\/p>\n

Hebrews 12:1: <\/strong>“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”<\/em><\/p>\n

Talking scripture with Dr. Peterson and connecting it with Campbell\u2019s hero narrative would have added another dimension to our lunch. Reflecting on Maps of Meaning<\/em>, I see how his framework aligns with the biblical story, Jesus as the ultimate hero, embracing the departure, ordeal, initiation, and triumphant return. Our conversation on Isaiah as the most Christological book already touched on this, but had I been more familiar with Peterson\u2019s analysis of meaning emerging from chaos, I could have drawn even stronger connections between the biblical call to courageous faith and the hero\u2019s transformative journey. That lunch was not just a meeting of minds but a reminder that the greatest stories, those that shape individuals and societies, point back to the eternal truths found in scripture.<\/p>\n

[1]<\/a> Peterson, Jordan. 1999. Maps of Meaning: The Architecture of Belief<\/em>. New York: Routledge. Xi.<\/p>\n

[2]<\/a> Campbell, Joseph. 2012. The Hero with A Thousand Faces<\/em>. 3rd edition. Novato, Calif: New World Library.<\/p>\n

[3]<\/a> Peterson, 148.<\/p>\n

[4]<\/a> Campbell, 41.<\/p>\n

[5]<\/a> Peterson, 271.<\/p>\n

[6]<\/a> Ibid, 186.<\/p>\n

[7]<\/a> Campbell, 81.<\/p>\n

[8]<\/a> Peterson, 256-266.<\/p>\n

[9]<\/a> Peterson, 31, 91, 221, 222, 223, 225, 272, 273, 275, 277, 297, 396, 423, 426.<\/p>\n

[10]<\/a> Campbell, 148.<\/p>\n

[11]<\/a> Peterson, Ch5, 301.<\/p>\n

[12]<\/a> Campbell, 188-196.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I wish I had read this book before lunch with Dr Peterson last year. I was just as surprised as anyone else when I was invited to meet him in Sweden. The contact came through a friend. With 48 hours’ notice, I changed my plans and flew to Sweden to have lunch with Dr Peterson, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":191,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[3461,2967,1778],"class_list":["post-41515","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-mapsofmeaning","tag-dlgp03","tag-peterson","cohort-dlgp03"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41515","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/191"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41515"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41515\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41517,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41515\/revisions\/41517"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41515"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41515"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41515"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}