Moses I: God as the Dreadful Spirit of Freedom

In Chapter 7 of We Who Wrestle with God, Jordan Peterson turns to the story of Moses and the Exodus to examine the unsettling nature of genuine freedom. Rather than portraying liberation as comfort or safety, Peterson frames it as a demanding moral calling that requires courage, responsibility, and the willingness to confront chaos. This presentation explores the confrontation with Pharaoh, the call at the burning bush, the collapse of a corrupt order, and the long wilderness journey that follows escape from tyranny. Central to the chapter is the idea that freedom cannot survive without structure, and that moral law, symbolized by the Ten Commandments, is not a restriction on liberty but its necessary foundation. Through this lens, the Exodus becomes a timeless psychological and cultural map for anyone seeking meaning, responsibility, and lasting freedom.

Questions for Reflection:
Freedom vs. Security
Can you think of a time when safety or comfort quietly limited your growth, and what did it cost you to move beyond it?
Resistance to Responsibility
Why do you think people, both individually and collectively, often resist responsibility even after being freed from obvious constraints?
Structure and Freedom
Where is the line between rules that protect freedom and rules that undermine it, and how do you recognize when that line has been crossed?

Note: Though encouraged, chapter reading is not required for attendance and participation

GENERAL INFORMATION:
The first half hour of our meetup is for mingling, then 7:30pm-10pm consists of a formal presentation and discussion; the discussion section may divide into smaller groups if size necessitates. All are encouraged to contribute to the formal discussion, although you may decline if you wish. Afterwards, we enjoy further discussion with those who wish to stay longer and pursue pertinent topics in more depth, but people should feel free to leave whenever they want/need to.

We have a potluck for everyone to partake of throughout the evening, so bring some food to share if you wish (this could be anything from a bag of chips to a homemade dish).
Our fundamental principle is to encourage the free expression and exploration of ideas. Therefore, we will never silence controversial views that anyone may have about a topic. For the same reason, we do not tolerate direct personal attacks, which only impede genuine dialogue.

DISCORD SERVER (updated link!):
The group has a Discord server! This gives us all a space to talk about stuff between meetups. Use the following link to join, if you haven't already:
https://discord.gg/FRab8G8j2V