Two days ago, in response to the DM posing questions to Peter Thiel, a reader told us she wanted to share the essay with Thiel and others. Yesterday, we put out a press release for other media who may be interested in my invitation to discuss or debate with Mr. Thiel. I have also written him a personal letter. Because other readers of the DM may also want to alert their local media or share this press release on social media or by other means, we are sharing the press release here as our daily meditation for today. Thank you.
To download the press release in PDF format, click HERE.
Theologian calls for debate after Thiel opens door on antichrist discussions.
San Francisco, CA, October 15, 2025
Postmodern theologian, educator, and author Rev. Dr. Matthew Fox has issued a public invitation to Silicon Valley billionaire Peter Thiel for a debate on the meaning of the Antichrist for this American moment.
Fox, author of more than forty books on spirituality and culture, has explored the issue of evil in three books, most recently in his 2024 book Trump and the MAGA Movement as Antichrist. He has previously commented on Thiel’s theories in blog posts and in a two-part conversation series with journalist Gil Duran, Counterpoint: A Response to Peter Thiel’s Antichrist.
His invitation follows the recent widespread news of leaked transcripts of Thiel’s four-part seminar on the antichrist held in San Francisco, in which Thiel said he was open to discussing the topic with others. Fox responded with an open letter to Thiel on his Daily Meditations blog, posing a series of theological and moral questions addressing capitalism, democracy, justice, and the future of religion, and inviting Thiel to a serious debate.
“What does unchecked capitalism do to the human soul? … Have you jettisoned the idea of the nobility of every person as an image of God? … Why are billionaires so invested in immortality projects instead of helping our species survive?” Fox asks.
When asked why he wants to take Thiel up on his offer to discuss the antichrist, Fox replied: “Peter Thiel is a very influential voice in today’s America and has candidly shared his thoughts on the antichrist. I am certain an exchange between us would be one of respect and offer an occasion to dive more deeply into this powerful archetype of the antichrist that has so caught his imagination and speaks to the apocalyptic spirit of our times.”
While Thiel has described himself as “religious but not spiritual,” Fox argues that religion stripped of spirituality loses its essence of gratitude, compassion, and consciousness directed to the common good. In a previous Daily Meditations blog, he notes that he and Thiel share an appreciation for certain theological thinkers, such as Cardinal Newman, Jacques Maritain, Henri de Lubac, and others.
Banner Image: Peter Thiel (l) Photo by Gage Skidmore, Wikimedia Commons. Matthew Fox (r), photo by Michael Conti.
Queries for Contemplation
Meditate and think about and ask the universe or God what action you can take to slow down the avalanche of christian nationalism that is swamping America and its media and government and the powers behind it.
Related Readings by Matthew Fox
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
5 thoughts on “Matthew Fox Challenges Peter Thiel to Debate on the Antichrist”
Hooray Matthew! Thank you for publicly and courageously challenging Peter Thiel to a debate on the Antichrist archetype. Hope he’s brave enough to accept your offer to debate on the Spiritual Truth about the Antichrist archetype. He is obviously to most people of intelligent faith either delusional and projecting, greedy for more material power & control, ignorant, or all three, but definitely dangerous in trying to brainwash Americans, especially fundamentalists and Christian nationalists. If he refuses to accept your offer to debate him publicly, he will cowardly be exposing himself further about his true possible motives which I just mentioned. I’m sharing today’s important DM with my list of email spiritual friends.
I’m so grateful you’ve issued this request to debate Mr Thiel. His teachings terrify me. I’m praying he will accept your challenge.
I appreciated your Counterpoint response to discussion about the Antichrist archetype as evil. Will you offer a recording to those of us who registered and listened to Matthew and Gil’s response?
A debate between Matt and Peter Thiel would be productive and valuable for the survival of authentic Christian values and teachings. We need to follow Jesus authentic teachings, not some trumped up version of Christianity.
I would like to see such a debate, but bullies fear reasonable people that they cannot control. You have the credentials that should make him afraid. I would love to be wrong, but I don’t think he has the cojones to take you on.
When I graduated with a philosophy degree from Fairfield University, after studying Aristotle as well as Plato and the pre-Socratics; Kierkegaard and Nietzsche, Modern American Philosophy in the 1900s and many others; also after have a couple years of calculus, Physics and many other and varied courses, I felt the need to operate in the real world and as the Scripture says “work with your hands the thing that is good”; also I was mindful of the admonition to work so that we may have resources to give to those in need. We must also work to support ourselves, real meaningful work, never making compromises or being involved in complicity with immoral or unethical activity.