Notes from the first session of our Lent Study Group.
Introduction
Jordan Peterson’s first rule in 12 Rules for Life, “Stand up straight with your shoulders back,” is more than a call to good posture. It symbolizes self-respect, confidence, and responsibility—values deeply rooted in Catholic teaching. The Penny Catechism and the Catechism against Modernism affirm that man is created in the image of God, responsible for his moral choices, and subject to divinely instituted hierarchy. The Oath Against Modernism (1910) condemns relativism and the false notion of continuous moral progress, both of which Peterson implicitly challenges.
Catholics today must stand firm against modernist assumptions, affirming objective truth, hierarchy, and moral responsibility in a world increasingly hostile to these principles. As we reflect on these themes, we must also recognize where we have failed to “stand up straight” spiritually and take concrete steps to correct our course—especially as we prepare for Lent through the pre-Lenten season of Gesimatide.
Hierarchy and Order vs. Egalitarianism
*“Dominance hierarchies are older than trees. The part of our brain that tracks our status in the hierarchy is so ancient that it operates within us at a level far below our thoughts and feelings. The world is structured in a hierarchy—order is necessary.”*¹
Modern culture promotes radical egalitarianism, rejecting natural hierarchy as oppressive. Peterson, however, argues that hierarchy is not only natural but essential for order and stability. The Church has always taught that hierarchy is divinely instituted, whether in creation, society, or the Church itself.
Catholic Teaching:
- Catechism against Modernism:
- Q. 15: “Does the Catholic Church recognize a divinely instituted hierarchy? Yes, the Church, as founded by Christ, is not a democracy but a divine institution with an unchangeable order of authority.”²
- Penny Catechism:
- Q. 6: “In whose image and likeness did God make you? God made me in His own image and likeness.”³
- Oath Against Modernism (1910):
- *“I reject the error that human society can be reshaped according to modernist ideals, ignoring the divine structure of authority established by Christ.”*⁴
Summary: The Catholic faith teaches that hierarchy is not oppression but order, instituted by God for the flourishing of humanity. Peterson’s critique of egalitarianism aligns with the Church’s teaching that authority, when rightly ordered, reflects divine law. Catholics must resist cultural trends that seek to dismantle legitimate structures of authority in the name of false equality, recognizing that leadership, responsibility, and obedience to rightful authority are necessary for human and spiritual well-being.
Objective Truth vs. Subjectivism
*“You cannot twist reality without consequences. You can only fool reality for so long before it strikes back.”*⁵
Modernism asserts that truth is relative and evolving, but Peterson argues that truth is discovered, not created. His stance aligns with Catholic teaching, which upholds objective truth as revealed by God.
Catholic Teaching:
- Catechism against Modernism:
- Q. 23: “Is truth subjective and relative? No, truth is not subject to human experience or change, but is objective and revealed by God.”⁶
- Oath Against Modernism (1910):
- *“I hold with certainty and sincerely confess that faith is not a blind religious sentiment arising from the subconscious, but a genuine assent of the intellect to truth received from without.”*⁷
Summary: The Catholic Church teaches that truth is eternal and rooted in divine revelation, a position echoed in Peterson’s rejection of relativism. Modernist relativism leads to moral confusion, the erosion of faith, and the inability to stand firm in conviction. Catholics must recognize that truth does not change with cultural shifts but remains grounded in Christ and His Church.
The Fall of Man and the Struggle Against Chaos
*“A defeated lobster’s brain dissolves. A new, lower-status brain grows in its place. If you start to voluntarily straighten up, you send signals of competence to your nervous system. You start to win.”*⁸
Peterson describes how weakness leads to further defeat, echoing the Catholic doctrine of concupiscence—the tendency toward sin due to original sin.
Catholic Teaching:
- Penny Catechism:
- Q. 25: *”What is original sin? Original sin is that guilt and stain of sin which we inherit from Adam, who was the origin and head of all mankind.”*⁹
- Q. 28: “What are the effects of original sin?” “The effects of original sin are the loss of grace, concupiscence, suffering, and death.”
- Catechism against Modernism:
- Q. 30: “Does modernism acknowledge the reality of original sin?” *”No, modernism denies original sin, seeing humanity as progressing naturally towards moral improvement rather than requiring grace for salvation.”*¹⁰
- Oath Against Modernism (1910):
- *“I reject the error that man is in a continuous state of moral progress. Left to himself, he falls into corruption.”*¹¹
Summary: Modernism claims that society naturally improves, but Peterson and the Catholic faith agree that without grace and effort, human nature tends toward disorder. To “stand up straight” spiritually means actively cooperating with God’s grace, fighting against sin, and cultivating virtue.
Personal Responsibility vs. Victimhood
*“People who refuse responsibility are like overgrown children. They expect the world to cater to them, rather than shaping themselves to meet the world’s demands.”*¹²
Catholic Teaching:
- Penny Catechism:
- Q. 15: “Have we free will?” *”Yes, we have free will; otherwise we could not merit reward or punishment.”*¹³
- Catechism against Modernism:
- Q. 45: “Is man personally responsible for his salvation?” *”Yes, though God’s grace is necessary, man must freely respond to it and not passively wait for moral improvement.”*¹⁴
- Oath Against Modernism (1910):
- *“I reject and condemn the opinion that a Christian man is only required to live according to the times, and that religious truth is mutable.”*¹⁵
Summary: The Church rejects passivity. While God’s grace is essential, Catholics are called to actively pursue virtue. Peterson’s emphasis on personal responsibility aligns with the Church’s teaching that we must strive against sin and disorder.
Final Thoughts: Gesima as Pre-Lenten Preparation
Gesima serves as a preparation period for Lent, helping us identify our weaknesses before entering a time of fasting, prayer, and repentance. Just as Peterson urges people to take responsibility for their lives, the Church calls us to take responsibility for our souls.
The time for preparation is now. Let us use Gesima wisely, so that when Lent arrives, we will be ready to fight, ready to stand, and ready to grow closer to Christ.
Lent Study Group
Each week, we read a chapter of Dr. Jordan Peterson’s Twelve Rules for Life and compare and contrast his insights with perennial Catholic doctrine. Participants are encouraged to read the chapter ahead of the meeting, noting their initial thoughts, questions, and reflections. Afterward, they search the Catechisms—including the Penny Catechism, the Catechism against Modernism, and other traditional sources—for relevant teachings that either align with or challenge Peterson’s ideas.
During the meeting, we discuss these comparisons, examining how Catholic moral theology, hierarchy, and objective truth provide a deeper and more complete understanding of the principles Peterson explores. By engaging in critical reflection and theological analysis, participants strengthen their ability to articulate and defend the faith, apply practical wisdom to daily life, and prepare spiritually—especially in the context of the liturgical season.
If you’d like to join in the discussion and participate in our study group, we meet every Wednesday from 5.30pm at Mrs Reed’s home on Hartington Road, email for an invitation.
¹ Jordan B. Peterson, 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos (2018), Rule 1.
² Catechism against Modernism, Q. 15.
³ Penny Catechism, Q. 6.
⁴ Oath Against Modernism (1910), Sacrorum Antistitum.
⁵ Jordan B. Peterson, 12 Rules for Life, Rule 1.
⁶ Catechism against Modernism, Q. 23.
⁷ Oath Against Modernism (1910), Sacrorum Antistitum.
⁸ Jordan B. Peterson, 12 Rules for Life, Rule 1.
⁹ Penny Catechism, Q. 25, 28.
¹⁰ Catechism against Modernism, Q. 30.
¹¹ Oath Against Modernism (1910), Sacrorum Antistitum.
¹² Jordan B. Peterson, 12 Rules for Life, Rule 1.
¹³ Penny Catechism, Q. 15.
¹⁴ Catechism against Modernism, Q. 45.
¹⁵ Oath Against Modernism (1910), Sacrorum Antistitum.
