Jordan Peterson, a controversial right-winged psychologist, is facing the heat after arguing in a debate against 20 atheists.
Airing on Monday, May 26, the 62-year-old Canadian author was featured on the YouTube channel Jubilee amidst their Surrounded series, where one person is typically pitted against 20 audience members who share different views. They each take turns debating a specific topic before time runs out.
Highlights
- Jordan Peterson faced tough criticism during a debate against 20 atheists on Jubilee's Surrounded series.
- Peterson repeatedly avoided questions about his religious beliefs.
- Social media users widely panned Peterson’s debating skills, calling his performance humiliating.
Most debates have had an undercurrent of respect for the one person in the hot seat. But this time, Peterson was met with a wave of roasts for his performance.
Psychologist Jordan Peterson was brutally roasted for his debate against 20 atheists
Image credits: Jordan B Peterson
The commentator, who is best known for speaking on subjects such as free speech, transgenderism, feminism, religion, and COVID-19, took his seat to answer questions on Christianity, its morality, and the teachings of the Bible.
But a few moments in, the nearly 90-minute debate had viewers cringing — most prominently when he would not confirm nor deny which religion he followed.
Image credits: Jubilee
As reported by news.com.au, the episode was originally slated to be titled 1 Christian vs 20 Atheists, before it was instead changed to Jordan Peterson vs 20 Atheists a few hours after its publication.
“You’re a Christian,” one debater named Danny said as he sat down, after asking Peterson about his views on Catholic teaching.
The author repeatedly avoided questions and refused to give direct answers
Image credits: Jubilee
“You say that, I haven’t claimed that,” was the author’s response.
Image credits: Jubilee
“I don’t know,” Peterson said.
“You don’t know where you are right now,” Danny fired back, to which the 62-year-old warned, “Don’t be a smart*ss.”
“Either you’re a Christian or you’re not — which one is it?” Danny questioned.
He never confirmed nor denied whether he was a Christian
Image credits: Taylormusic67
Image credits: Jubilee
The back-and-forth happened for quite some time, with Danny getting increasingly frustrated as Peterson refused to answer his initial question. The debater told the psychologist, “You’re really quite nothing” at one point before the line was drawn.
Peterson claimed, “Okay, I’m done with him,” either prompting the next question to be asked if time ran out or for another debater to try his hand.
Image credits: CSchroeder125
But this wasn’t the only exchange that stood out for viewers.
Parker — a debater who has appeared in several Jubilee episodes and is known for his strong left-wing views — asked if he “believe[d] in the all knowing, all powerful, all good notion of God.”
Peterson asked, “What do you mean by believe?” to which Parker provided the definition, “You think it to be true.”
Snippets of the debate quickly went viral
Image credits: Jubilee
But the author once again avoided the question, saying that was a “circular definition.” At another point in time, he declined to answer the hypothetical question of whether he would lie to save his life or someone else’s.
“If you were in Na*i Germany and there’s Jew*sh people in your attic, would you lie to the Naz*s?” Parker grilled.
“I would have done everything I bloody well could so I wouldn’t be in that situation to begin with,” said Peterson. “It’s a hypothetical. I can’t answer a hypothetical like that. Don’t play games.”
Image credits: theelapislazuli
Image credits: DrKarlynB
Various clips of the debate went viral on social media, and it's safe to say netizens did not let Peterson get away unscathed.
“Jordan Peterson, apparently, is very bad at debating,” said one simple comment.
Netizens pointed out his debating skills and said he'd never been challenged by a group of people before — contributing to his flawed approach
Image credits: Jubilee
Another read, “One reason Jordan Peterson is so poor at reasoning is he’s surrounded by sycophants who don’t give him feedback on his extremely flawed arguments. Here’s what happens when he tests his ideas against someone who isn’t in his close circle of salad brain pseudointellectuals.”
David Pakman, a Youtuber, gave his side of things, saying, “Jordan Peterson’s completely humiliating and failed attempt to debate 30 random atheists is a great reminder that he’s really not worth paying attention to."
Image credits: Philosophi_Cat
Image credits: mattsdoormats
“Posited nothing of interest or meaning and simply played semantics games every time he was outmatched, which was often.”
As reported by the outlet, the author has described himself as Christian in the past, but other times, like the debate, has declined to talk about his faith in more detail.
The nearly 90-minute video was talked about all over social media
Image credits: Jubilee
Image credits: Jubilee
His wife, Tammy Peterson, converted to Catholicism in 2024 following a battle with cancer.
Though divided, a few online supported the debaters who took Peterson down a notch
Image credits: BillboardChris
Image credits: Rodrigu93989836
Image credits: abierkhatib
Image credits: J0hnADouglas
Image credits: iansmithfitness
Image credits: Asher73979290
Image credits: ibdhippo
Image credits: LexsinDay
Image credits: EvB05034506
Image credits: Lead_Flinger
Image credits: SamPhelps448922
Image credits: IgnorantHussy
Image credits: kendall6699
Image credits: Rodrigu93989836