Book Review: We Who Wrestle With God

Tuesday, March 4, 2025.

Jordan Peterson's We Who Wrestle with God: Perceptions of the Divine is a sprawling, intellectually dense, and sometimes meandering attempt to wrestle with the psychological, moral, and existential implications of biblical stories.

It continues the intellectual trajectory set in his previous works—Maps of Meaning and 12 Rules for Life—but here, Peterson leans even more heavily into religious and mythological themes, situating himself more squarely in the lineage of thinkers like Carl Jung, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Mircea Eliade.

Peterson’s Project: Wrestling with the Divine

At its core, We Who Wrestle with God is an effort to extract practical, psychological, and even political wisdom from biblical narratives. This is something that has immediately attracted me, as I have done that in my blog from time to time as well.

Peterson is particularly interested in the Old Testament, which he sees as a rich source of archetypal struggles between chaos and order, suffering and redemption, tyranny and freedom. I also see the OT much the same way.

Much of his analysis revolves around the idea that these ancient stories contain "evolutionarily ingrained wisdom" that transcends their historical and religious contexts.

The book's title itself references the biblical story of Jacob wrestling with an angel—a metaphor Peterson uses to describe humanity's ongoing struggle with faith, doubt, and moral responsibility. He argues that even in our secular age, we are still grappling with religious ideas, often unconsciously, through our engagement with ethics, culture, and even politics.

He asserts that many modern ideological conflicts—whether in gender debates, political correctness, or the collapse of meaning in a hyper-materialist age—can be understood as misapplications or distortions of deep, biblical principles.

His argument is both compelling and provocative: in rejecting religious frameworks, modern society may have thrown out structures that sustained us for millennia, leading to a rise in nihilism, resentment, and ideological fanaticism. I think the good doctor has a point.

The Strengths of Peterson’s Approach

One of the most compelling aspects of We Who Wrestle with God is Peterson’s ability to make biblical narratives psychologically relevant. His background in clinical psychology allows him to connect these stories to modern struggles—helping readers see them not as outdated myths but as living blueprints for navigating suffering, purpose, and responsibility.

For instance:

Cain and Abel become an allegory for the dangers of resentment and the seductive appeal of victimhood.

Moses and Pharaoh illustrate the necessity of transcending tyrannical structures—both external (authoritarian regimes) and internal (self-imposed psychological limitations).

The Tower of Babel becomes a warning about the hubris of utopian projects and the inevitable fracturing that occurs when people pursue order at the expense of meaning.

Peterson's knack for making ancient texts feel urgent and relevant is perhaps his greatest strength. His discussions of tyranny, suffering, and personal transformation often resonate deeply with those who feel adrift in the modern world.

Another major strength is his interdisciplinary approach.

He doesn’t just analyze the Bible—he brings in literature, neuroscience, psychoanalysis, and even pop culture. Again I was attracted, as I’m also incline to juxtapose those same frames of reference.

His comparisons of biblical archetypes to stories like The Lion King and Harry Potter may strike some as odd, but they make perfect sense to me. They serve his larger point: our myths, both ancient and modern, are expressions of the same fundamental human struggles.

Where the Book Stumbles

The dense, repetitive, and overbearing prose!

Even among Peterson’s fans, there is an acknowledgment that his writing can be verbose, wandering, and at times overwhelming.

We Who Wrestle with God is no exception.

The book is often bogged down by long, circuitous arguments that could have been delivered more concisely. As The Times review put it, the book is "repetitive, rambling, hectoring, and mad," which, while harsh, captures the challenge some readers might face.

This is not an easy book to read in a single sitting, nor is it one that neatly presents its ideas. Instead, it reads like an extended lecture series—sometimes brilliant, sometimes frustratingly disorganized.

Peterson as a Theologian—Or Not?

Another major critique comes from theologians who argue that Peterson's approach is more Jungian than traditionally Christian.

He is not interested in religious faith in a traditional sense but rather in the psychological utility of religious belief. This has led some critics to accuse him of reducing faith to mere pragmatism. However, my interest in faith follows along the same exact lines of reasoning.

For instance, rather than engaging with theological questions about God’s existence or the nature of divine grace, Peterson is, as I am, more curious about how belief functions in shaping human behavior.

While this is a valuable perspective, for some, it makes the book feel less like a theological work and more like a psychological interpretation of religion. Which frankly, is a more heuristic conversation. In other words, I see this as a feature, not a bug.

One of the most scathing critiques from The Guardian called the book an example of "a culture warrior out of his depth"—suggesting that while Peterson is effective at critiquing modern ideological movements, he is less effective when engaging with the theological depth of the biblical traditions he references. This is a trivial argument, as the real meat and taters is on the secular plate.

The Political Undercurrent

Though We Who Wrestle with God is primarily about religious narratives, Peterson appropriates dives into contemporary political issues.

He critiques modern identity politics, radical leftist movements, and what he sees as the dangers of postmodern relativism. As my gentle readers already know, I’m inclined to align with him on all of these concerns.

While many of these critiques will resonate with his audience, others may find them distracting.

Some critics argue that his tendency to link biblical principles to contemporary political conflicts feels forced and occasionally one-sided. This makes the book feel, at times, more like an ideological manifesto than a neutral intellectual exploration.

These critics obviously don’t understand the role of a public intellectual like Peterson or Perel. They are not public scalpels, neutrally engaging in a paralysis of analysis. they are corageous, flesh and blood human beings thinking deeply in public.

Final Verdict

We Who Wrestle with God is a fascinating, flawed, and deeply ambitious work. It is not an easy read—its prose is dense, its arguments sprawling, and its ideas controversial. However, it offers a unique perspective on biblical narratives that makes them feel deeply relevant to modern psychological and philosophical questions.

Who Will Love This Book?

Fans of Peterson’s previous work who enjoy his mix of psychology, myth, and self-improvement.

Readers, like me, who are interested in biblical narratives from a psychological, rather than strictly theological, perspective.

People struggling with meaning, suffering, and personal responsibility who are looking for deeper narratives to guide them.

Who Might Struggle With It?

Those looking for a traditional Christian theological analysis. Peterson is not a theologian, and his interpretations can sometimes feel like Jungian mythology rather than religious exegesis.

Readers who dislike verbose, meandering prose. If you found Maps of Meaning difficult, this book will be no easier.

Critics of Peterson’s political stances. His commentary on modern culture, while compelling to some, will feel polemical to others. I appreciate the way Jordan thinks, and while I agree with him on some points, I also have other concerns that do not seem to excite his intellectual curiosity.

My Final Rating: 8.5/10

We Who Wrestle with God is a thought-provoking but somewhat uneven book.

At its best, it offers profound insights into the intersection of psychology, mythology, and religion.

At its worst, it is repetitive, overly verbose, and politically charged in ways that sometimes distract from its core themes. It’s just needed a good editor. The compelling arc of Jordan’s insight is as luminous as ever.

For those willing to wrestle with Peterson’s ideas—much like Jacob with the angel—there is wisdom to be gained. But, as with all such struggles, the process may leave you a wee bit exhausted.

Be Well, Stay Kind, and Godspeed.