First Rule of Life

What NOT to Do
(Public Domain)

According to a bestselling book by Dr. Jordan Peterson, there are 12 rules for life.  At least that was the case until his sequel came out with 12 more.

Of all 24, the first seems the easiest.  So why not begin by focusing upon that?  If things go swimmingly well, perhaps the next 23 can fall gracefully by the wayside.

Let’s face it: “Fix your posture” is a breeze compared to God’s own first and foremost commandment.  Sitting up straight is way more doable than walking the straight and narrow.  Peterson points out that lobsters claw their way through life more successfully when manifesting a hardier stance.  So why not us?

He asserts that the “dominance detector” within our brains will know how droopy our shoulders might be.  Droopy shoulders may then result in droopy spirits, especially when coupled with many a droopy body part.  In conclusion: “To stand up straight with your shoulders back is to accept the terrible responsibility of life, with eyes wide open.”  So there!

Resources

https://readingraphics.com/book-summary-12-rules-for-life/

 

He Who Wrestles With Peterson

If you haven’t yet heard of Dr. Jordan Peterson,

Jacob Wrestling with the Angel
(Painting by Eugene Delacroix)

 chances are that you haven’t been wrestling with the media since 2010.

Peterson’s books have topped bestseller lists in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom.  They’ve offered 24 rules to live by and psychologically interpreted key biblical stories.  Ever wonder just what landed Jonah within the whale?  Peterson will tell you that and so much more.

“Overthinker” Joseph Holmes has mixed feelings about these biblical approaches.  On the one hand, he praises Peterson's “contribution to the rise in young men’s return to Christianity.”  Peterson”s somewhat macho interpretation of “the Bible’s vision for life” begins with having to find “a woman,” and ends with needing to face “the utter catastrophe of life… without fear.”

This very interpretation is what then gives Holmes pause.  He believes that Peterson places too much emphasis upon human heroism and not enough emphasis upon God's grace.  Holmes concludes that Peterson is way more the interpreter than the scholar, and perhaps way more the poet than the religionist.

Resources

https://religionunplugged.com/news/2024/11/20/book-review-jordan-peterson-fails-to-wrestle-with-god-enough