Why Your Christian Friends and Family Members Are So Easily Fooled by Conspiracy Theories

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#21
#2: Conspiracy Theories Help Us Make Sense of a Chaotic and Complicated World.
The term “Black Swan” was popularized by statistician Nassim Talib and refers to “high-profile, hard-to-predict, and rare events that are beyond the realm of normal expectations in history, science, finance, and technology.

Historical examples of Black Swan events include the assassination of John F. Kennedy, the 1918 Influenza pandemic, the collapse of the Soviet Union, the September 11 terrorist attacks, the Fukushima nuclear accident, and the fall of the Lehman Brothers in 2008.

Black Swan events are incredibly fertile ground for conspiracy theorists. When the unexpected occurs, there’s always an initial vacuum of precedent and context as we try to make sense of how and why something happened. Black Swans are equalizers; they dumbfound experts and laypersons alike.

And catastrophic events are inherently traumatizing. They interrupt our routine and force us to change the way we view the world.

In an interview with NPR on conspiracy theories, Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, said,

“We as human beings do not like unanswered moral questions. We want to know who did it. We want to know how it was done. We’re looking for a pattern. Our intelligence, given to us by God, is a pattern-seeking intelligence.”​
Our ability to discern patterns helps us construct internal narratives that give our lives meaning and make sense of the world around us. Conspiracy theories hijack that ability by linking loosely-connected events into a semi-coherent narrative (usually through the assistance of a well-edited YouTube video).

Of course, Black Swan events aren’t really random. Everything that happens in the universe is a result of a cause-and-effect relationship. Nothing really occurs spontaneously. It’s just that sometimes, the real-world explanation of a catastrophic event isn’t very emotionally satisfying. A big effect needs a big cause, right? Shouldn’t dramatic events require dramatic explanations?

No.

Sometimes all it takes to change the world is a single deranged individual with access to a rifle and a decent perch. Or a religious extremist who exploits an overlooked security flaw in airport security. Or a bat that urinates on the wrong animal in an open-air market in China.

In The Death of Expertise, Tom Nichols writes,

“Conspiracy theories are also a way for people to give context and meaning to events that frighten them. Without a coherent explanation for why terrible things happen to innocent people, they would have to accept such occurrences as nothing more than the random cruelty either of an uncaring universe or an incomprehensible deity.”​
We don’t like random. We don’t like chaos. We don’t like ambiguity. And we don’t like living under the realization that we’re at the mercy of forces outside of our control that we don’t understand or can’t comprehend.

Or, in the words of Christian writer D.L. Mayfield,

“People believe conspiracy theories because it is psychologically easier to believe a singular and unlikely narrative rather than engage in a hard and complicated reality where your own long-term participation is needed.”​
Instead of accepting reality, we construct elaborate fantasy worlds to process our cultural and existential anxieties. The President was killed by the mafia and CIA. The terrorist attack was allowed to happen to help justify a war in the Middle East. The school shooting was faked by the government so they can take our guns away. The virus is a ploy by the Deep State to take away our rights.

In a weird way, the idea of a secret cabal of powerful men and women pulling the strings on international events (like assassinations, pandemics, terrorist attacks, world wars, etc.) is somewhat comforting because at least it implies someone is in control of all this madness.

So, when someone posts conspiracy theory video on social media with the message, “Don’t give in to fear! Stay informed!“, they’re most likely writing to themselves. You’re watching someone publicly process their anxieties and insecurities in real-time by latching onto an explanation that places themselves “in the know” of a secret plot they want other people to know they also know about.

And this is doubly ironic because their conspiracy theory’s far-reaching implications are often far more frightening than the event the conspiracy theory is attempting to explain.

Note: Nassim Talib considers the COVID-19 pandemic a “White Swan” – an event that would eventually take place with great certainty given the innumerable warnings of a global pandemic by public health experts and epidemiologists for years. In a twist that should surprise no one, conspiracy theorists have actually rolled those warnings and preparation plans into proof that a conspiracy exists. Like I said, maddening.
 
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#22
Well, Biden did say that 10 - 15% of Americans are evil, so he might consider your 95% peaceful estimate to be a bit on the high side.

I did see a lot of people saying 'kill the pigs' during these peaceful protests that I found distasteful. I don't believe that those chanting were lobbying for the pork industry.

If the Democrats win the White House and the Senate in November there will be no more police force. Next, they will phase out the military for reasons of excessive use of force in defense of freedom for the citizens of the United States.

Already in the State of New York there is legislation initiated that bail would no longer be required for felons apprehended in the commission of a crime, regardless of its classification.

The fabric that holds America together is unraveling.
I would check "fact finder's" on these stat's. Because I no for a fact that Biden said no such thing. For One. the repulican's would have crucified him! Lol.. And your lip reading was way off. They were chanting " I can't breath" And actually I don't think that the younger generation has even heard the phrase "kill the pigs." think that went out in the 70's. LOL... I believe that all American's agree that we need a police force
we are just wanting them to do their Job! And as far as no military? That is truly laughable!!!!
 
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#23
Sez who? You believe the mainstream media who hide the truth from you every day? Did you see that moronic reporter on TV who was saying that the protests were peaceful, when the rioters and looters behind him were doing the exact opposite?

WATCH: CNN Reporter Says Riot Is ‘Entirely Peaceful,’ Immediately Gets Stuff Thrown At Him
https://www.lacortenews.com/n/watch...peaceful-immediately-gets-stuff-thrown-at-him

And CNN -- the fountain of Fake News -- was vandalized by rioters. So they got their comeuppance.

"Hundreds of rioters descended on CNN’s headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia on Friday night where they vandalized the CNN sign outside the CNN Center downtown Atlanta and broke the building glass as they threw water bottles and other objects at officers inside the building. "
The "fake new's is the only way you knew about the looting and rioting! LOL....
 
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#24
I would check "fact finder's" on these stat's. Because I no for a fact that Biden said no such thing. For One. the repulican's would have crucified him! Lol.. And your lip reading was way off. They were chanting " I can't breath" And actually I don't think that the younger generation has even heard the phrase "kill the pigs." think that went out in the 70's. LOL... I believe that all American's agree that we need a police force
we are just wanting them to do their Job! And as far as no military? That is truly laughable!!!!

Biden did say what you deny he said.

I am not sure if you are joking or serious here.
 
Nov 23, 2013
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#26
The "fake new's is the only way you knew about the looting and rioting! LOL....
well there's that if you think conservative news is fake but then there is also the destruction; burned out businesses, broken windows, theft, people who have been injured by marauders and so on.
 
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#27
Noah was labeled a conspiracy theorist right up until the rain started.

Moses was a conspiracy theorist to the Egyptians, EVEN after 9 plagues, right up til everyone’s first born keeled over.

Jesus was the King of conspiracy theorists, saying He would even rise from the dead, and well, you know how that turned out. I hope.
That makes no sense. When was Noah labeled a conspiracy theorist? Where is your evidence? You are just making things up. Which is exactly what is wrong with most conspiracy theorists. They do not require evidence. Their view of reality is based on what they want it to be and evidence is irrelevant. It is a mental illness. That is why I would never appoint one of these people into leadership positions in my church. I love them and understand that they are convinced that they are correct but I cannot expect them to interpret scriptures correctly since they would not care about the rules of hermeneutics. Scripture is whatever they want it to say that will line up with their own views of reality. Authorial intent is irrelevant.
You are clueless, you have no idea whats happening to this world right now. I think every conspiracy theory I've ever heard is coming to fruition right now.
Well that is not mental illness is it?
 
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#28

Biden did say what you deny he said.

I am not sure if you are joking or serious here.
Saying that 10 to 15% of people are not very good. And saying that people are evil are two entirely different thing's...
 
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#29
The "fake new's is the only way you knew about the looting and rioting! LOL....
No FOX, one of only two words in the English language that add up to 666 is not mainstream news lol, they're the good guys who tell conservative Christians the truth.
 
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lenna

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#30
Saying that 10 to 15% of people are not very good. And saying that people are evil are two entirely different thing's...
I really do not know what you are referring to with the 'evil' notation.

Are you going to actually admit you were off base in saying Biden 'said no such thing'?

I don't know you so I am not sure what you are trying to say
 
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That makes no sense. When was Noah labeled a conspiracy theorist? Where is your evidence? You are just making things up. Which is exactly what is wrong with most conspiracy theorists. They do not require evidence. Their view of reality is based on what they want it to be and evidence is irrelevant. It is a mental illness. That is why I would never appoint one of these people into leadership positions in my church. I love them and understand that they are convinced that they are correct but I cannot expect them to interpret scriptures correctly since they would not care about the rules of hermeneutics. Scripture is whatever they want it to say that will line up with their own views of reality. Authorial intent is irrelevant.


Well that is not mental illness is it?
No it's trying to convince people to not believe what is obviously coming.
 
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#32
The idea that a virus cannot just pass from a bat to a human and cause a pandemic without a conspiracy theory behind it exposes a need to have everything explainable. The desire and need to have an evil plot behind it rather than just chance. This is suspect of a mental illness (treatable however). To be willing to believe it even though you know that you just made it up out of your head is even worse. That is a bad character.
 

tourist

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#33
I would check "fact finder's" on these stat's. Because I no for a fact that Biden said no such thing. For One. the repulican's would have crucified him! Lol.. And your lip reading was way off. They were chanting " I can't breath" And actually I don't think that the younger generation has even heard the phrase "kill the pigs." think that went out in the 70's. LOL... I believe that all American's agree that we need a police force
we are just wanting them to do their Job! And as far as no military? That is truly laughable!!!!
The exact wording is Biden saying that 10 - 15% of Americans "are just not very good people" . Typing this in google will bring many references to his latest gaffe.

Actually, there were those marching saying "kill the cops" , "kill the pigs', any other such mindless chants. I will leave it to yourself to verify this.

I think that the current terminology for the younger generation is "off the pigs'.

A lot of Democrats are getting onboard with the defunding of the police force. The city council of Minneapolis, having a veto proof majority, has already voted to eliminate the Minneapolis police force. Regarding the military, it is not held in the highest respect in some Democrats, with the most high profile ones being Obama and Hillary.

The younger generation, at least in the 60's during the period that I grew up in, would hold up signs saying "Make love and not war". Naïve then, and still naïve today. What kind of drugs are the kids on these days? Mindless.
 
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lenna

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#35
The term 'progressive Christian' is a red flag to begin with and it seems Joe Forrest is a self described 'progressive Christian'

As for the article, I have read similar in articles put out by actual doctors who wish to define the 'reasons' for conspiracy theories, so no brilliant deductions there.

Since that was one sided 'research', I would not extend a ban on theories or conspiracies in an all inclusive attempt to pat everyone on the back while saying 'there there'.

In other words the op is not original and simply has put all his faith in terminology that sounds agreeable to him.
 
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#36
No it's trying to convince people to not believe what is obviously coming.
The need to convince people of some evil plot coming for them even if you know your ideas are based on suspicions you just believe to be true because you are more special than most people and see things the way they really are and have a gift of a priori knowledge that people should listen too you and they will be WOKE is a mental illness under the category of narcissim.

There is another motive for trying to persuade people of a theory like flat earth that is not really mental illness, they know that the earth is round but they enjoy getting people upset and so they like pushing buttons and pretending that they believe these illogical conspiracy theories but they really don't. Those people are also mentally ill but it is a sinful type of lust. A very wicked thing. Trolls are mentally ill because they find pleasure in pushing peoples buttons. This is not a normal kind of physical lust it is a mental addiction. A sin and yet also a mental illness both.
 
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lenna

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#37
My sense is that he was serious.
I don't know how Biden gets around with one foot in his mouth all the time. But then he was sitting for this interview I believe.
 
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lenna

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#38
The need to convince people of some evil plot coming for them even if you know your ideas are based on suspicions you just believe to be true because you are more special than most people and see things the way they really are and have a gift of a priori knowledge that people should listen too you and they will be WOKE is a mental illness under the category of narcissim.

There is another motive for trying to persuade people of a theory like flat earth that is not really mental illness, they know that the earth is round but they enjoy getting people upset and so they like pushing buttons and pretending that they believe these illogical conspiracy theories but they really don't. Those people are also mentally ill but it is a sinful type of lust. A very wicked thing. Trolls are mentally ill because they find pleasure in pushing peoples buttons. This is not a normal kind of physical lust it is a mental addiction. A sin and yet also a mental illness both.

oh good grief
 
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#39
well there's that if you think conservative news is fake but then there is also the destruction; burned out businesses, broken windows, theft, people who have been injured by marauders and so on.
I was being ironic. Lol. My point being was that the "new's" covered all of what you are talking about
and if people watched the new's they would know this and where the looting came from...
 
Sep 13, 2018
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#40
No FOX, one of only two words in the English language that add up to 666 is not mainstream news lol, they're the good guys who tell conservative Christians the truth.
Like that pill that Trump was pushing???