Palantír, Power, and the Antichrist: Peter Thiel’s Secret Theology of Control

About this episode

This episode explores Peter Thiel's complex theological and political views, particularly in relation to control and surveillance.

Part three of the Great BASH series profiles Peter Thiel as a systems architect who fuses Girardian diagnosis, Schmittian politics, transhumanist immortality projects, and Opus Dei networks—while delivering closed lectures in Rome on the Antichrist and sponsoring surveillance infrastructure (Palantir) named after Tolkien’s seeing‑stones (made by the "antichrist" figure in the stories). The episode traces his intellectual formation and political investments, exposes the Palantir contradiction and the orange‑ray theological wound behind his refusal to surrender to death, and shows how secrecy and curated power risk fulfilling the very apocalyptic threats he warns about. As a remedy, the post presents five contemplative counter‑voices—Richard Rohr, Cynthia Bourgeault, Barbara Holmes, Brian McLaren, and Mirabai Starr—offering inward practice, restraint, and open authority as the alternative orientation the density transition requires.

People in this episode

Host: Doug Scott

Topics covered

• Peter Thiel
• Antichrist
• surveillance
• transhumanism
• theology
• politics
• contemplative practices

Keywords

• Peter Thiel
• Antichrist
• Palantir
• transhumanism
• Opus Dei
• surveillance
• Girardian
• Schmittian
• theology
• contemplative practices

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Opus Dei, Palantir

Books & works: Tolkien’s seeing‑stones, Great BASH series

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