At a forum organized by the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship (ARC) in Germany, Peterson asked how a free country could fall into the grip of a totalitarian nightmare. His answer is “because every person living in this country has chosen to be silent when asked to say what needs to be said.”
“If you keep your mouth shut when you’re asked to tell the truth, you’re not only putting the ship of state at risk. You’re condemning yourself and everyone you love to the darkest place imaginable,” says the Canadian psychology professor, who rose to prominence after becoming embroiled in the culture wars, particularly her opposition to political correctness on college campuses.
He states: “You must understand that there is no difference between a totalitarian state and a state where everyone is always lying about everything, whether by telling lies or hiding the truth.”
Peterson points out that “good people have a mandate from their conscience.” This mandate is to speak from the spiritual source of their hearts.
— The Alliance for Responsible Citizenship roughly translates to “Alliance for Responsible Citizenship.” Peterson says Germans know what responsibility means. One meaning is: “If you have something to say, keep your mouth shut, not just at your own peril, but at the peril of everything, everything you love, everything you know, your country, the world.” This, he stresses, is a result of the fact that each person is created in the image of God and therefore has a mission.
Peterson points out that speaking up about unpopular truths comes at a cost. “Don’t think it doesn’t cost anything. But don’t think the cost of speaking up is any less than the cost of staying silent, because that’s not how life works. The cost of silence comes later, but the delayed penalties are often worse than the penalties you get when the time comes.”
“If the consequences of speaking out are already high, you’re already in a bad situation and you’d better speak up now before it gets worse. And it’s going to get worse, depending on how much people want to stay quiet,” Peterson says.
This is where the meaning of life can be found, the Canadian psychologist continues. We all have to die someday. “Then you can do something noble with your life. It could be the greatest romantic adventure of your life. You have gone from false security to chaos, and God only knows what you will experience there. If you do it willingly, “the best in you will have the opportunity to emerge, and then you can be the light that illuminates the world, and the reward you will receive for following your conscience will be far greater than any punishment,” the psychologist says.
This is the definition of an evolving faith. Peterson asserts: “Do you believe in the truth? Does the truth set you free? That doesn’t mean it doesn’t have a price. But everything has a price. You can’t decide if there is a price, you can decide what you’re willing to pay for it, and if you have to pay a price, can you pay it for what is sacred, because what would you choose?”
Jordan Peterson is the bestselling author of “12 Rules for Life. An Antidote to Chaos.”
Echo Richards embodies a personality that is a delightful contradiction: a humble musicaholic who never brags about her expansive knowledge of both classic and contemporary tunes. Infuriatingly modest, one would never know from a mere conversation how deeply entrenched she is in the world of music. This passion seamlessly translates into her problem-solving skills, with Echo often drawing inspiration from melodies and rhythms. A voracious reader, she dives deep into literature, using stories to influence her own hardcore writing. Her spirited advocacy for alcohol isn’t about mere indulgence, but about celebrating life’s poignant moments.
