Conspiracies Near and Far...

“The main thing that I learned about conspiracy theories, is that conspiracy theorists believe in a conspiracy because it is more comforting then the truth. The truth of the world is that it is actually chaotic. The truth is that it is not The Illuminati, or a host of endless numbers of organizations to blame. Conspiracies bring more comfort to people who are "rudderless"...which is the way of the word void of God. Personally I am not rudderless and know that God is at the helm. The far right wing of the Republican party AND the Christian right has long been a natural magnet to conspiracies. They tend to be reactionaries whether information is true or not. Personally I believe it gives them a sense of power....and once it comes to that point....even reality usually cant stop it. QANonsense highlighted it the last few years but Q just took the conspiracies theories that the Right wingers already held and amplified them and embellished them with stupid. Q may go but conspiracy theories still thrive. If Q did anything good they opened up some people to realizing the conspiracies were there and had been all the time.

Engel v. Vitale (1962) is a SCOTUS ruling which sits at a foundation of conspiracy driven right wing movements and the move toward Christians moving away from being any influence in Public education...through which they began creating a self-fulfilling prophecy...and maybe a self created monster for them to battle. As I started writing it opened up a lot of things that are related...so it may end up being longer than I initially thought. In Engel v. Vitale the Supreme Court ruled that mandatory, school-sponsored prayer violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. This landmark decision prohibited state officials from composing official prayers and requiring their recitation in public schools, even if participation was voluntary. The Court held that the state-sponsored prayer was a form of government endorsement of religion, which is prohibited by the Establishment Clause, which protects religious freedom.

As a former right winger I pushed all the conspiracies and used the language. Facts were irrelevant...just someone saying something implying this is the way God is moving or that our efforts will defend against the demonic influences in our country. I was also initially converted from atheism/agnosticism into a Charismatic church a decade or two after the beginnings of what the charismatic movement or "latter rain" which would become (mostly not good). 'Charismania" has a larger influence than many understand and tenets have spread into many denominations..even some of the Southern Baptists. Gullibility, however, is not a spiritual gift. ​

I think the trouble with conspiracy theories is that they often become indefensible beliefs, beliefs that just can't be shown to be wrong at all. You run into people where you realize, “Oh wait, you believe something that you've painted yourself into a corner where you can't ever be wrong about this?” And I think that flags something about the appeal of the conspiracy theory. --Dru Johnson

​Someone once wrote: I'd rather be labeled a conspiracy theorist than a sheep! It's too bad people settle for either. I would rather study the subject, verify & consider my sources, look at the data and then make a decision on all issues and especially on ones that may be a life and death issue for me AND others around me. Conspiracy theorists simply follow the demands and information they get from their wolf of choice. Sheep are extremely intelligent animals capable of problem solving (or so I have read) but in the context that the author of the comment above indicated she/he meant it as someone who just stupidly follows. There's nothing wrong with being a "sheep" IF you "study the subject, verify & consider your sources, look at the data and then make a decision accordingly. Jesus referred to His followers as sheep and preached several parables likewise. Most disciples of Jesus considered the available information (scripture, etc.) and acted accordingly to follow. God gave everyone a brain and the power to reason and make intelligent decisions. Use it.

​A new study by the University of Fribourg found a the belief that God created the Earth less than ten thousand years ago was linked to beliefs in things like faked moon landings. The team at the University conducted a number of different experiments through questionnaires with over 800 people. The link between the two was attributed to teleological thinking where a person doesn't question certain facts. A false witness will perish, but the word of a man who hears will endure. A wicked man puts on a bold face, but the upright gives thought to his ways. No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the Lord. The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord -Proverbs 21:28-31.

“The masses have been fooled by the media and/or government, but I’m special and different, and I know the truth!” -The foundation and/or inspiration for most conspiracy theories.