“I’m Done With Him”: Jordan Peterson’s Viral Debate With 20 Atheists Has The Internet Talking

Jordan Peterson, a controversial right-winged psychologist, is facing the heat after arguing in a debate against 20 atheists.

Airing on Monday, May 26, the 62-year-old Canadian author was featured on the YouTube channel Jubilee amidst their Surrounded series, where one person is typically pitted against 20 audience members who share different views. They each take turns debating a specific topic before time runs out.

Most debates have had an undercurrent of respect for the one person in the hot seat. But this time, Peterson was met with a wave of roasts for his performance.

Psychologist Jordan Peterson was brutally roasted for his debate against 20 atheists

Image credits: Jordan B Peterson

The commentator, who is best known for speaking on subjects such as free speech, transgenderism, feminism, religion, and COVID-19, took his seat to answer questions on Christianity, its morality, and the teachings of the Bible.

But a few moments in, the nearly 90-minute debate had viewers cringing — most prominently when he would not confirm nor deny which religion he followed.

Image credits: Jubilee

“Science has to exist within a moral framework that isn’t in itself scientific” @jordanbpeterson takes on 20 Atheists in latest episode of #surroundedpic.twitter.com/10Pp2lRD56

— Jubilee (@jubileemedia) May 25, 2025

As reported by news.com.au, the episode was originally slated to be titled 1 Christian vs 20 Atheists, before it was instead changed to Jordan Peterson vs 20 Atheists a few hours after its publication.

“You’re a Christian,” one debater named Danny said as he sat down, after asking Peterson about his views on Catholic teaching.

The author repeatedly avoided questions and refused to give direct answers

Image credits: Jubilee

“You say that, I haven’t claimed that,” was the author’s response.

Confused, Danny asked, “What is this, is this Christians versus atheists?”

Image credits: Jubilee

“If God created this world… by knowing exactly what’s going to happen in the future it makes all of those events inevitable which means that they’re all casually determined which means we have no free will”@jordanbpeterson takes on 20 Atheists in latest episode of #surroundedpic.twitter.com/O5jghKcOlb

— Jubilee (@jubileemedia) May 25, 2025

“I don’t know,” Peterson said.

“You don’t know where you are right now,” Danny fired back, to which the 62-year-old warned, “Don’t be a smart*ss.”

“Either you’re a Christian or you’re not — which one is it?” Danny questioned.

He never confirmed nor denied whether he was a Christian

Image credits: Taylormusic67

Image credits: Jubilee

The back-and-forth happened for quite some time, with Danny getting increasingly frustrated as Peterson refused to answer his initial question. The debater told the psychologist, “You’re really quite nothing” at one point before the line was drawn.

Peterson claimed, “Okay, I’m done with him,” either prompting the next question to be asked if time ran out or for another debater to try his hand.

Image credits: CSchroeder125

But this wasn’t the only exchange that stood out for viewers.

Parker — a debater who has appeared in several Jubilee episodes and is known for his strong left-wing views — asked if he “believe[d] in the all knowing, all powerful, all good notion of God.”

Peterson asked, “What do you mean by believe?” to which Parker provided the definition, “You think it to be true.”

Snippets of the debate quickly went viral

Image credits: Jubilee

But the author once again avoided the question, saying that was a “circular definition.” At another point in time, he declined to answer the hypothetical question of whether he would lie to save his life or someone else’s.

“If you were in Na*i Germany and there’s Jew*sh people in your attic, would you lie to the Naz*s?” Parker grilled.

“I would have done everything I bloody well could so I wouldn’t be in that situation to begin with,” said Peterson. “It’s a hypothetical. I can’t answer a hypothetical like that. Don’t play games.”

Image credits: theelapislazuli

Image credits: DrKarlynB

Various clips of the debate went viral on social media, and it’s safe to say netizens did not let Peterson get away unscathed.

“Jordan Peterson, apparently, is very bad at debating,” said one simple comment.

Netizens pointed out his debating skills and said he’d never been challenged by a group of people before — contributing to his flawed approach

Image credits: Jubilee

“How much do you know about me? I didn’t lie to save my career. I didn’t lie to save my clinical practice” @jordanbpeterson takes on 20 Atheists in latest episode of #surroundedpic.twitter.com/wpsozkG4L2

— Jubilee (@jubileemedia) May 25, 2025

Another read, “One reason Jordan Peterson is so poor at reasoning is he’s surrounded by sycophants who don’t give him feedback on his extremely flawed arguments. Here’s what happens when he tests his ideas against someone who isn’t in his close circle of salad brain pseudointellectuals.”

David Pakman, a Youtuber, gave his side of things, saying, “Jordan Peterson’s completely humiliating and failed attempt to debate 30 random atheists is a great reminder that he’s really not worth paying attention to.”

Image credits: Philosophi_Cat

Image credits: mattsdoormats

“Posited nothing of interest or meaning and simply played semantics games every time he was outmatched, which was often.”

As reported by the outlet, the author has described himself as Christian in the past, but other times, like the debate, has declined to talk about his faith in more detail.

The nearly 90-minute video was talked about all over social media

Image credits: Jubilee

Image credits: Jubilee

His wife, Tammy Peterson, converted to Catholicism in 2024 following a battle with cancer.

Though divided, a few online supported the debaters who took Peterson down a notch

Image credits: BillboardChris

Image credits: Rodrigu93989836

Image credits: abierkhatib

Image credits: J0hnADouglas

Image credits: iansmithfitness

Image credits: Asher73979290

Image credits: ibdhippo

Image credits: LexsinDay

Image credits: EvB05034506

Image credits: Lead_Flinger

Image credits: SamPhelps448922

Image credits: IgnorantHussy

Image credits: kendall6699

Image credits: Rodrigu93989836

Poll Question

Total votes ·

Thanks! Check out the results:

Total votes ·

Newsletter

Subscribe to Access
Exclusive Polls

Subscribe

By entering your email and clicking Subscribe, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. You are also agreeing to our Privacy Policy.

Thank you! You've successfully subscribed to newsletters!

Follow Bored Panda on Google News!

Follow us on Flipboard.com/@boredpanda!