Christ, Miracle, and the Beauty of the Church

Jordan B Peterson2 minutes read

The panel discussion features Bishop Robert Baron, Dr. Jordan Peterson, and Father Mike Schmidtz, discussing the relationship between Dr. Peterson's conception of Christ and the Orthodox Christian view, emphasizing the complexity of understanding the victory of Christ and the ongoing battle against evil. The discussion also delves into the importance of beauty in evangelization and the significance of understanding the biblical God to enhance the beauty of the world and engage in sacrificial relationships for personal growth and fulfillment.

Insights

  • Beauty, truth, and goodness are considered objective concepts that can lead individuals towards God, with beauty being a transformative force that transcends subjectivity and compels awe and imitation.
  • Traumatized individuals often turn to religious formulations, like the biblical language of Good and Evil, to understand malevolence and seek healing, highlighting the profound psychological impact of religious narratives.
  • The concept of sin, etymologically meaning "to split," emphasizes the need for unity and integration within oneself, suggesting that religion can serve as a unifying force for fractured individuals seeking wholeness and mental health.

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Recent questions

  • Who are the panelists in the discussion?

    Bishop Robert Baron, Dr. Jordan Peterson, Father Mike Schmidtz

  • What is the Bible in a Year podcast?

    Number one Catholic podcast globally

  • How does Bishop Barron advocate evangelization?

    Leading with beauty to counter skepticism

  • What is the significance of the term "sin"?

    Originates from "to split" or "Sunder"

  • How does John Henry Newman view conscience?

    Best argument for God's existence

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Summary

00:00

"Panel Discussion: Peterson, Baron, Schmidtz on Christ"

  • The panel discussion features Bishop Robert Baron, Dr. Jordan Peterson, and Father Mike Schmidtz.
  • Bishop Baron is the bishop of the diocese of Winona Chester in Minnesota and the founder of Word on Fire Catholic Ministries.
  • Dr. Jordan Peterson is a bestselling author, psychologist, and professor emeritus at the University of Toronto.
  • Dr. Peterson has published over 100 scientific papers and authored books like "12 Rules for Life" and "Beyond Order."
  • Father Mike Schmidtz is a renowned Catholic priest known for his YouTube videos and podcasts.
  • Father Mike hosts the Bible in a Year podcast, which became the number one Catholic podcast globally.
  • The moderator for the panel discussion is Dr. Matthew Petrusic, the senior director of the Word on Fire Institute.
  • Dr. Petrusic has authored books on evangelization and co-authored a book on Jordan Peterson and Christianity.
  • The panelists are recognized for their efforts in making the Bible more accessible and engaging for young people.
  • The discussion delves into the relationship between Dr. Peterson's conception of Christ and the Orthodox Christian view, emphasizing the complexity of understanding the victory of Christ and the ongoing battle against evil.

16:19

"Beauty's Transformative Power in Divine Communication"

  • Human beings created in God's image and likeness, possessing intellect and will, indicating freedom and a divine purpose.
  • Revelation in Christianity emphasizes God as a personal father, desiring children resembling Him through enduring trials with trust.
  • Bishop Barron advocates leading with beauty in evangelization to counter cultural skepticism towards morality and truth.
  • Beauty, like truth and goodness, is considered objective, with examples like mathematical truths and moral judgments illustrating its objective nature.
  • The truly beautiful, not merely subjectively satisfying, has the power to transform and lead individuals towards God, following a hierarchical path.
  • Beauty is likened to a burning bush, calling individuals and serving as a means for God to communicate.
  • Beauty is proposed as a transcendent rather than subjective concept, with a study demonstrating the reliability of aesthetic judgments.
  • Beauty is defined by the convergence of wholeness, harmony, and radiance, leading to a transformative experience that compels awe and imitation.
  • Deep beauty moves individuals in multiple dimensions simultaneously, rearranging consciousness and offering inexhaustible meaning.
  • Biblical stories, interlinked and reflecting multiple plot lines and characterizations, exemplify deep literature that brings harmony with the spirit of the text and rearranges individuals.

30:23

"Language of Good and Evil in Trauma"

  • The individual in the text experiences a range of emotions, including suffering, love for his mother, and a sense of injustice without a language to express it.
  • Upon encountering Shakespeare's works, he finds a language to articulate his feelings of hatred towards a stepfather figure and the injustice he faces.
  • In clinical practice, deep conversations with traumatized individuals often lead to discussions with biblical overtones due to the need for a language of Good and Evil to understand malevolence.
  • Traumatized individuals may need to develop a sophisticated understanding of Good and Evil, often leading to a religious formulation for healing and progress.
  • The dismissal of the Bible as Bronze Age mythology by some is criticized for overlooking its profound impact on Western culture and psychological needs.
  • The oversimplified interpretation of the Bible as an archaic scientific theory is deemed problematic, especially when disregarding its moral teachings.
  • The rise of moralistic therapeutic deism, where God is seen as a distant figure only needed in times of trouble, is highlighted as a prevalent belief among American youth.
  • The failure to pass on faith to younger generations is attributed to the prevalence of moralistic therapeutic deism in previous generations.
  • The importance of understanding the biblical God, who is not in competition with human freedom but enhances the beauty of the world, is emphasized.
  • Young people's resistance to structure and dogma is linked to a desire for subjective freedom, which may hinder their ability to engage in sacrificial relationships and collective rituals for personal growth and fulfillment.

44:44

"Sin, Self, and God: Unifying Fragmented Souls"

  • The English term "sin" originates from the German word "Sund," meaning "to split" or "Sunder," highlighting the concept of sin as a form of division within oneself.
  • Sin, etymologically, signifies a need for binding, suggesting that when one feels split or fractured, they require something to unify them, like religion, to make them whole.
  • Psychologists have noted that being self-conscious or concerned about oneself is indistinguishable from negative emotion, emphasizing the importance of integrating fractured aspects of oneself for a well-integrated personality.
  • Concentrating solely on personal desires and impulses can lead to a never-ending pursuit of infantile gratification, highlighting the significance of higher forms of social responsibility for mental health and fulfillment.
  • Religious leaders should confidently propose the values and traditions that have given meaning to Western society for millennia, rather than justifying themselves to skeptics, emphasizing the importance of objective values and the link to God.
  • The relationship between the scientific method and religious tradition is complex, requiring a careful separation of valuable elements from outdated beliefs to avoid dismissing essential aspects of tradition.
  • The story of Abraham illustrates the transition from a life of material abundance to a meaningful adventure that integrates family and tradition, emphasizing the importance of hearing the higher voice and following a path beyond personal desires.
  • The search for God can manifest in beauty, adventure, or conscience, with Elijah's experience highlighting the importance of recognizing the still, small voice within as a guide towards goodness and moral behavior.
  • The inner voice that calls out misbehavior at 3 a.m. is seen as a form of a transcendent spirit or God, challenging atheists to explain its autonomy, moral judgment, and intimate knowledge of oneself.
  • John Henry Newman viewed the inner voice as the best argument for God's existence, emphasizing the unconditioned good that summons individuals to goodness and moral behavior.

58:34

"The Power of Conscience in Sacrifice"

  • Newman describes the conscience as the Aboriginal Vicar of Christ in the soul, emphasizing the importance of sacrifice in pursuing what is highest.
  • The story of Jonah highlights the significance of acting positively and sacrificing everything, with the conscience guiding individuals towards the highest sacrifices.
  • Conscience serves as a moral compass, signaling when one is deviating from the sacrificial relationship required for pursuing the highest goals.
  • Lying is depicted as moving towards hell, not just for oneself but also for those around, emphasizing the collective consequences of individual dishonesty.
  • Times of depression and darkness may be imposed to limit errant will, leading individuals to where they need to be for growth and transformation.
  • Bearing suffering for the sake of the good is a necessary part of life, with faith in the unfolding of proper timing and the manifestation of higher goods being crucial.
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