Canadian conservative philosopher Jordan Peterson repeatedly refused to discover as a Christian during a heated YouTube debate about theology that aired on Sunday, growing increasingly indignant as a young atheist vlogger challenged him over his faith.
Peterson, 62, was participating in an episode of Jubilee Media’s series Surrounded,“Jordan Peterson vs Twenty Atheists,” when the spat occurred. The show required the professor to sit down at a desk in the middle of a circle of would-be challengers who took turns arguing with him on subjects related to religion.
Almost an hour into the session, Peterson was challenged by Danny, a philosophy graduate from the PhilTalk channel, who pushed him on his definition of Christian faith and whether or not the Virgin Mary will be considered a figure of worship.
“Why is that relevant?” Peterson asked him.
“Because you go to a Catholic church. I’m sure you’ve attended recently. You’re interested by Catholicism, aren’t you?” Danny responded. “You’re aware of their doctrines?… How do they regard Mary?”
“Why are you asking me that?” Peterson asked.
“Because you’re a Christian,” Danny responded.
“You say that. I haven’t claimed that,” the general public mental snapped back.
“What is that this – Christians vs atheists?… You don’t know where you might be without delay?” Danny scoffed.
After Peterson had admonished the younger man for being a “smarta**” and warned him he would terminate the controversy if he kept up his tone, the latter gave him an ultimatum: “Either you’re a Christian otherwise you’re not–which one is it?”
“I might be either of them, but I don’t need to inform you… it’s private,” Peterson responded defensively.
“Am I not talking to a Christian?… I feel everyone should have a look at the title of the YouTube channel. You’re probably within the mistaken YouTube video,” Danny continued, sensing victory.
“You’re really quite something, you might be,” Peterson seethed.
“Aren’t I? But you’re really quite nothing,” Danny hit back, drawing audible gasps from his fellow participants, a few of whom covered their mouths in shock on the audacity of the insult.
“I’m done with him…” Peterson said, concluding the segment.
A former psychology professor on the University of Toronto, Peterson became an unlikely favorite of the suitable a decade ago after speaking out on identity politics issues and against political correctness, but has since develop into as well-known for his erratic and emotional media appearances as for his academic work.
In a January 2025 interview with The Spectator, Peterson was asked if he called himself a “Christian.”
“I’d say within the deepest sense, yes. But I’m not a typical Christian because I’m striving for understanding above all. I suppose people might pillory me as agnostic, but that’s not true because I don’t imagine that the correct relationship between this underlying unity and myself could be established as a consequence of mental conquest. I’m a latest sort of Christian,” he answered.
