Questions Posed to Peter Thiel on His Recent Talks on the Antichrist

I offer here questions arising from your recent four-part seminar.

— What does capitalism do to the human soul?

— What does unchecked capitalism do to society itself? Do only the rich survive? What about other species as well–do they have a right to exist?

— Why do you feel those who sit at the top of the pyramid need no restraints? (You call Greta Thunberg a candidate for antichrist because she is in favor of “restraints” and that would require a “one world” effort.)

— Have you jettisoned the whole idea at the foundation of democracy and Christianity about the “nobility” of every human person born as an image of God?

— Yes, democracy needs a lot of work to clean up its act, but do Silicon Valley billionaires truly hold the key to the future?

— You cite Winston Churchill, but Churchill made the point that “democracy is the worst of all forms of government…except for all the others.” Where do you stand on Churchill’s observation?

 — Instead of displacing democracy, why don’t you and your billionaire MAGA buddies instead put your resources into helping democracy become more workable in the 21^st century, when we face so many challenges together, such as global warming, nuclear war, clean energy, and poverty that actually can be eradicated?

— Thomas Aquinas, whom you invoke, made it very clear that justice and the common good are the glue that keeps society together. I did not see the word “justice” or “compassion” mentioned even once in your four lectures. (See Lk 6:36)

— You are famous for saying, “I am religious but not spiritual.” Does that mean you want the religious structure and hierarchy sans its essence of gratitude and change of heart and consciousness in the direction of compassion and the common good?

— Do you know about the five beasts Saint Hildegard of Bingen, doctor of the church, painted symbolizing characteristics of the antichrist? The “fiery dog” symbolizing humans who “bite at their own condition” and fail to burn for justice? The “reddish-brown lion” standing for “warlike men”? A “pale horse” standing for those putting luxury living ahead of worthwhile acts? The “black pig” representing rulers who create sadness in self and others? The “wolf” who robs others?*

All are chewing on a black rope representing “the darkness that stretches out many injustices,” resulting in chaos and disorder.

— What kind of religion are you and other Christian nationalists trying to give birth to? It seems to mirror almost exactly the opposite of what Jesus lived and taught and died for— thus, the antichrist. There are times in your talks when you seem to be talking about yourself and your work of spying on others as work of the antichrist.

At times, I see in these talks a little boy yearning to escape from bad religion to authentic spirituality. Not unlike the rich young man who came to Jesus and asked how to be spiritual, but when told he had to change his ways, turned and walked away.

— Can a powerful billionaire change his ways? Is redemption really offered to everyone?

When you talk about the American and Roman Empires, I hear you imagining Silicon Valley’s aspirations to be a new empire in a post-democracy world run by and for billionaires. Is that your message?

Compassion seems to disturb seemingly very hard and super masculine men of MAGA. Is it too soft? Were Jesus, Gandhi, MLK Jr, or Nelson Mandela soft?  Or is insecure masculinity at work? (See the Appendix to my antichrist book.)

You propose Bill Gates as another nominee for Antichrist. Is it because he has called for billionaires to give away their money for good causes? And has called out Musk for being the richest man in the world, killing thousands of the poorest people of the world in Africa by killing USAID, etc?

— Why are billionaires in Silicon Valley so invested in immortality projects instead of projects that assist our species to survive?

— How much “fatalistic self-hatred” (Adrienne Rich’s term) rules the billionaire MAGA class and gets projected onto others? Why not a little “love of self and neighbor” (including neighbors other than human) instead?

— Why is so much sadism built into MAGA actions and ideology?

I repeat my offer of yesterday to dialogue on the archetype of the antichrist. And encourage you to read up on the mystics—there is one in you yearning to emerge, I am sure.

*Matthew Fox, Illuminations of Hildegard of Bingen, pp. 122-126

Banner Image: One world and one atmosphere: the thin line of Earth’s atmosphere and the setting sun are featured in this image photographed by the crew of the International Space Station while space shuttle Atlantis on the STS-129 mission was docked with the station. Photo by NASA; Wikimedia Commons.

Queries for Contemplation

How important do you think it is that a leader so close to the throne of the MAGA administration is pronouncing about the antichrist? How would you address Mr. Thiel amid his interest and teachings of the antichrist?

Illuminations of Hildegard of Bingen

Original Blessing: A Primer in Creation Spirituality

The Coming of the Cosmic Christ: The Healing of Mother Earth and the Birth of a Global Renaissance

Trump & The MAGA Movement as Anti-Christ

Sins of the Spirit, Blessings of the Flesh: Transforming Evil in Soul & Society

Order of the Sacred Earth: An Intergenerational Vision of Love and Action by Matthew Fox, Skylar Wilson and Jen Listug: 

A Spirituality Named Compassion: Uniting Mystical Awareness with Social Justice

The Reinvention of Work: A New Vision of Livelihood For Our Time