(ANALYSIS) Peter Thiel stands as one of Silicon Valley's most enigmatic and influential figures. A visionary with a sharp intellect and an even sharper eye for money-making ventures, Theil is the co-founder of PayPal. An early investor in Facebook, the billionaire’s ability to foresee and shape the future of technology is, for lack of a better word, unparalleled. His heterodox thinking and disregard for conventional wisdom make him a controversial figure.

In 2016, his outspoken support for Donald Trump sent shockwaves through both Silicon Valley and the broader political landscape. In a region known for its politically progressive leanings, his endorsement was met with fierce backlash. Critics decried his alignment with a candidate who seemed to contradict many of the values held dear by the tech community.

But Thiel, 56, remained unperturbed. To him, the essence of being a true renegade lies in challenging the status quo, in daring to think differently and act upon those beliefs, regardless of the storm that may follow. In recent times, Thiel has taken up the mantle of championing Christianity, particularly advocating for the intellectual case of the faith. 

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Commenting on the Ten Commandments, which serve as a moral compass for many Christians, Thiel emphasizes the importance of two specific edicts: the first and the last.

“The first commandment is, you should worship God,” Thiel said. “The tenth commandment is, you should not covet the things that belong to your neighbor. In some ways, the first commandment is to look up, and the tenth commandment is you do not look around. And if you’re too much focused horizontally on all the people around you, that’s sort of the bad version you get caught up in. There are all these ways it’s intellectually true, and applying it personally is always just a lifetime of a work in progress.”

In an intellectual context, focusing on higher principles and long-term goals rather than getting bogged down by trivial matters appears to be solid advice. Intellectual endeavors benefit greatly from a focus on overarching truths, fundamental principles and visionary thinking. Just as the first commandment urges a spiritual focus, intellectual pursuits require a dedication to higher ideals and the pursuit of wisdom.

Similarly, coveting, or desiring what others have, can lead to distraction and dissatisfaction. Intellectually, this advice encourages individuals to avoid constant comparisons with their peers. Instead of envying the success or achievements of others, one should concentrate on their own intellectual growth and progress. This mindset fosters a healthier and more productive intellectual environment, where personal achievements are measured against individual goals rather than the accomplishments of others. Moreover, as obvious as it might sound, being overly concerned with the actions and opinions of others can detract from one's intellectual integrity. True intellectual progress comes from a focused and disciplined approach to learning and thinking. 

Thiel’s intellectual case for Christianity is not exactly a novel stance. The Stanford graduate is, in many ways, echoing the sentiments of heavyweights like Augustine, Aquinas, Pascal and Kierkegaard, all of whom made profound intellectual cases for Christianity. Thiel is simply taking the biblical baton and running with it.

Augustine of Hippo’s “City of God” juxtaposed the ephemeral nature of earthly kingdoms with the eternal nature of the divine. Written in the early fifth century, it was a response to the sack of Rome and the perceived failure of paganism, arguing that the ultimate salvation lies not in temporal power but in the eternal city of God.

Augustine's work provided a Christian lens through which to view history and human affairs, offering hope and a sense of purpose beyond the immediate and often brutal reality of life back then, Thomas Aquinas’ “Summa Theologica” systematically presented Christianity as a coherent and rational system of thought. Written in the 13th century, it aimed to reconcile faith with reason, demonstrating that the truths of Christianity could be approached through logical deduction and philosophical inquiry.

Aquinas built on the works of Aristotle, integrating classical philosophy with Christian doctrine. His work provided a comprehensive theological framework that addressed questions of existence, ethics and the nature of God, thus offering an intellectual foundation that has influenced Christian thought for centuries.

Inspired by the Italian, Blaise Pascal’s “Pensées,” a collection of fragments and thoughts published posthumously in the 17th century, reflected on the existential wager of faith. Pascal, a sort of existential gambler, argued that belief in God is a rational bet: If God exists, the believer gains everything, and if not, they lose nothing. This pragmatic approach to faith highlighted the limitations of human reason and the need for a leap of faith, resonating with the uncertainties and complexities of human existence. Pascal’s insights into the human condition and his acknowledgment of the tension between doubt and belief remain influential in contemporary discussions on faith.

A couple of centuries later, Soren Kierkegaard, a neurotic philosopher who meditated on the idea of death more than most, explored the subjective truth of Christian belief in “Fear and Trembling.” He focused on the individual's relationship with God, emphasizing the necessity of personal commitment and the “leap of faith” required to embrace Christianity. Kierkegaard’s existential approach to faith stressed the importance of personal experience and the inner struggle to achieve authentic belief, contrasting with the institutionalized and often impersonal expressions of religion.

A “leap of faith,” I suggest, is entirely compatible with intellectualism, as both involve the pursuit of understanding and truth, albeit through different means. Intellectualism values reason, evidence and critical thinking, while a leap of faith acknowledges the limits of human understanding and embraces belief or trust in something beyond empirical evidence. This leap often drives curiosity and exploration, encouraging intellectuals to question assumptions, explore new paradigms and integrate differing, even conflicting, perspectives.

Although Thiel's argument for Christianity syncs with these historical voices, it is distinctly attuned to contemporary anxieties. At its core, the intellectual argument for Christianity posits that without a transcendent source of morality and meaning, society inevitably spirals into nihilism and chaos.

In a time of rapid technological change (AI, gene editing, biohacking, etc.), political instability and cultural fragmentation, the need for a unifying and enduring moral framework becomes even more pressing.

Christianity, with its rich history of metaphysical claims and moral imperatives, offers a bulwark against this descent — not for everyone, I know, but for a sizable chunk of humanity. It provides a narrative that encompasses human suffering, offers redemption and asserts the inherent dignity of the individual, grounded in the imago Dei — the image of God.

John Mac Ghlionn is a researcher and essayist. He covers psychology and social relations. His writing has appeared in places including UnHerd, The US Sun and The Spectator World.