Jordan Peterson is famous for inspiring many to take religion seriously — but for me, he had the opposite effect. In this video, I walk you through how reading Maps of Meaning turned me from a devout Catholic who almost became a priest into an atheist — and how Peterson’s ideas unexpectedly helped me accept myself as a gay man. We'll dive into belief, metaphorical substrates, value hierarchies, meta-narratives, and why I eventually walked away from Peterson too. Strap in — it’s a journey.

00:00 Discovering Jordan Peterson's Work
03:26 Realizing Natural Explanations for Religious Benefits
05:03 Understanding Peterson's Concept of God
08:07 Metaphorical Substrate and Its Influence
09:46 The Power of Stories and Archetypes
15:35 Meta-Narratives: Finding Purpose and Direction
17:43 Questioning the Need for a Supernatural God
18:50 The Role of Belief in Religion
25:54 Embracing My Sexuality: Peterson's Indirect Influence
28:58 Why I Left Jordan Peterson Behind
30:32 Critique of Peterson's Views and Methods
34:11 Conclusion: Life Beyond Dogma

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On today's episode, we react to a 27 page document that reports to take people from agnosticism to catholicism. Myself and Colin (ex-traditional catholics) debunk this document while getting an outsider's perspective from our friend Greg (never been very religious). Let's see how catholic apologetics play out to some experienced debaters and a fresh set of eyes.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
02:39 Discussion on Proving Religion
08:11 The Big Bang and God's Existence
09:30 Critique of the Big Bang Argument
15:54 Philosophical and Scientific Counterpoints
31:37 Historical Reliability of the Gospels
43:24 Exploring Historical Claims and Mystical Accounts
44:27 Miracle Claims Across Religions
45:31 Historical Evidence for Jesus
49:13 Manuscript Evidence and Reliability
51:41 Debating the Historical Accuracy of the Gospels
01:01:04 The Role of Apologetics in Reinforcing Belief
01:06:52 Introduction to Part Two: Converting Greg
01:09:04 Did Jesus Claim to Be God?
01:25:38 Introduction to the Debate
01:26:05 The Concept of the Trinity
01:26:39 Jesus' Divinity and Historical Context
01:29:01 The 'I Am' Argument
01:34:29 Miracles and Prophecies
01:39:15 The Trilemma Argument
01:44:02 Establishing the Church
02:04:56 Questioning the Trinity and Monotheism
02:05:14 Santa Claus and Apologetics
02:06:43 Jesus Establishes the Church
02:11:45 The Church's Succession and Authority
02:15:54 Faith and the Catholic Church
02:29:57 Natural vs. Supernatural Faith
02:42:11 Critique of Catholic Charity and Unity
02:43:39 Questioning the Infallibility of the Church
02:46:25 Debating the Authority of the Church
02:49:27 Concluding Thoughts on Faith and Apologetics
02:53:39 Final Reflections and Advice

To join our discord community for $1 or to support my work/get early access to content, check out my patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/gayextrad

To be a guest on the episode, visit my YT channel and send me an email.

In this critical follow-up to our earlier reflections on Pope Francis’s passing, three gay ex-Catholics break down the truth behind the progressive myth. While headlines hail him as a revolutionary, we ask: did anything actually change for queer Catholics? From catechism clauses to conversion therapy, brunch with trans folks to doctrinal silence—this episode confronts the carefully curated optics of compassion.

We’re not here to hate—just to tell the truth. What could have changed? What stayed the same? What harm still hides behind a smile? Tune in to hear three ex-believers decode the Vatican’s most PR-friendly pope.

00:00 Introduction and Today's Topic
01:00 Initial Reactions to Pope Francis
03:01 Personal Journeys and Opinions
06:09 Pope Francis' Actions and Inactions
10:04 The Church's Stance on LGBT Issues
17:13 Comparing Traditional and Progressive Catholics
22:43 Pope Francis' Legacy and Future Implications
26:44 Cultural Significance of the Latin Mass
28:18 Pope Francis' Stance on Homosexuality
29:16 The Future of Pope Francis' Legacy
31:13 The Church's Harmful Teachings on LGBTQ+ Issues
32:30 Pope Francis' Missed Opportunities for Change
37:49 The Catholic Church's Influence and Power
39:42 Pope Francis' Actions and Inactions
46:22 Concluding Thoughts on Pope Francis
50:46 Final Remarks and Farewell

To join our discord community for $1 or to support my work/get early access to content, check out my patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/gayextrad

To be a guest on the episode, visit my YT channel and send me an email.