I wrote this essay because I’m fascinated by Christianity and impressed with Thiel. By the time you finish reading this essay, you will too. I don’t agree with all of Thiel’s conclusions, but I admire his rigorous and independent thought. And both might complain I’ve focused too much on his relationship with Christianity. Thiel fanatics will say I’ve only scratched the surface. I’ve also chosen an interpretation of the Bible, and especially The Book of Revelation that aligns with Thiel’s philosophy. If you agree with everything in this essay, I haven’t challenged you enough. I am not a Christian and only have a basic understanding of Christian theology. The contents of this essay are based on public information and my own intuition. Some disclaimers: I’ve never met Peter Thiel. Then, we’ll close with Thiel’s advice and wisdom almost as old as Cain and Abel: the Ten Commandments. We’ll see why the last book in The Bible,The Book of Revelation, is a core pillar of Thiel’s philosophy. We’ll cover the shift from cyclical time to linear time, which was spurred by technological development and human progress. Then, we’ll return to the tenets of the Christian story. We’ll return to old books like The Bible, old ideas like sacrifice, and old writers like Shakespeare, and see why this ancient wisdom holds clues for modern life. We’ll begin by explaining Thiel’s connection to a French philosopher named Rene Girard. First, we’ll explore the principles of Peter Thiel’s worldview. Rather than focusing on Thiel’s actions, I’ve chosen to focus on his ideas. The future will be different from the present Three simple statements will lead us towards our ultimate answer about the importance of religion: I don’t feel a compelling need to convince other people of that.” But his beliefs are “somewhat heterodox.” In a profile in the New Yorker, Thiel said: “I believe Christianity to be true. Thiel was raised as an Evangelical and inherited the Christianity of his parents. He’s an investor who found wealth in PayPal, a student who found wisdom in Libertarian ideals, and a philosopher who found faith in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We’ll study religion through the lens of Peter Thiel. We’ll learn why the story is an archetype for human relationships, even in the Western world where people stiff-arm religion like it’s the Heisman trophy. In this essay, we’ll explore the significance of religion and the Cain and Abel story. What does Peter Thiel think? Is religion a superfluous add-on or the origin of everything?
Without it, peace cannot be maintained and violence will erupt like an angry volcano. But to others, religion is the foundation of human culture. It’s archaic and stuck inside a biblical world that can no longer speak to the challenges of life with iPhones, Tinder, and $12 avocado toast. For some, the Christian cross is too strange to be taken seriously. The two brothers represent two halves of the human psyche: Abel represents the part that looks up towards the transcendent, where Cain represents the other that looks down towards death and destruction.ĭepending on who you ask, the significance of the Cain and Abel story ranges from nothing to everything. But eventually, when Cain turns envious of his younger and more successful brother, he kills him. Cain is a farmer and the older brother to Abel, who is a shepherd. In The Bible, The Cain and Abel story is the first act of life after the Garden of Eden. Managing that violence is the secret reason for all religious and political institutions. That culture was fueled by rage and rivalry, which led to violence. “I am the Lord your God.” - 1st Commandment