This question gets to the heart of Jordan Peterson’s symbolic theology—where psychology, myth, and moral action converge.
While he doesn’t always use theological language in a traditional way, Peterson treats the figures of the Adversary, the Devil, and evil itself as deeply connected. For him, they are not only real in myth or metaphor—they’re real in action, consequence, and the shaping of the human soul.
Here’s how Peterson understands the relationship between evil and the Adversary:
🔥 The Devil = The Adversary = The Embodiment of Evil
1. The Adversary (Satan as “the Accuser”)
Peterson draws from the original Hebrew word for Satan: ha-satan — meaning the adversary, or the accuser.
In this role, Satan is:
- The one who challenges God’s creation,
- The voice that sows doubt and despair,
- The force that tempts people to betray what is true and good.
For Peterson, this isn’t just an external figure. It’s an inner voice:
“The adversary is the spirit that accuses Being itself. It says: ‘This is all worthless. This is all terrible. Life is suffering. And the best thing you could do is bring it all to ruin.’”
This is the psychological root of nihilism, cynicism, and destructive resentment.
2. Evil as Participation with the Adversary
Evil, in Peterson’s framework, is not just a passive condition. It’s a choice to align with the Adversary.
This alignment happens when a person:
- Willfully lies (especially to themselves),
- Resents life and refuses responsibility,
- Intentionally harms others—out of spite, ideology, or envy.
He often uses the story of Cain and Abel to illustrate this:
Cain doesn’t just kill Abel—he kills him because he resents God, resents goodness, and blames reality itself. Cain acts like the Adversary.
3. The Devil as Psychological and Metaphysical Reality
Peterson doesn’t insist on a literal horned being. But he insists the Devil is real enough—as a pattern of thought and behavior that can possess individuals, movements, and nations.
“You can act like the Devil. And if enough people do that at once, then something like the Devil emerges.”
The Devil, then, is the archetype of:
- The destroyer of meaning,
- The father of lies,
- The voice that says: “Tear it down. Burn it all.”
- The spirit behind genocide, cruelty, and totalitarianism.
This makes evil both a personal and cultural force—something we resist in ourselves and in the world around us.
4. Christ as the Antidote
For Peterson, the figure of Christ stands in radical opposition to the Adversary.
Christ is:
- Truth instead of lies,
- Voluntary suffering instead of resentment,
- Redemption instead of destruction,
- The one who “carries the cross” rather than curse the world.
In this sense, Peterson views the story of Christ not only as religious truth, but as an existential guide for resisting evil—within the self and in society.
🧭 In Summary
| Term | Peterson’s Meaning |
| The Adversary / Satan | The archetype of rebellion against Being; the accuser, the destroyer of meaning. |
| Evil | The conscious choice to align with the Adversary; rooted in resentment and lies. |
| The Devil | The psychological and spiritual force that embodies malevolent destruction. |
💬 What Do You Think?
Do you agree with Peterson’s view that evil begins with self-deception and resentment?
Can “the Devil” be real—even without being literal?
Leave a comment below. I’d love to hear your thoughts.
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Written with assistance of ChatGPT
Seized by Christ 