“Dad, why do people believe conspiracy theories?” My twelve-year-old son asked me.
“I don’t really know, Vince,” I said. “They’ve been around for a long time. I suppose they must help people deal with life in some way, but I’m not sure exactly how.”
Thus, my mind began to turn, thinking about the subject and trying to understand it.
This is nothing new. Throughout history, there were many conspiracy theories. In Europe, long before World War II, there were strong beliefs that Jewish people were behind many terrible things in history. Europeans in the Middle Ages even believed that Jews caused the Black Death by poisoning their wells. There have been many interesting, if unprovable, theories about the assassination of John F Kennedy. And, more recently, there have been various theories regarding the people and purpose behind the events of 9/11.
The conspiracy theories that you buy into will depend on who you are and the culture that surrounds you. Citizens in the Middle East are much more likely to believe that the holocaust was faked or believe that many recent terrorist activities were sponsored by Western countries with colonial aspirations. On the other hand, Americans tend to believe that government agencies are “out to get them.” They think that the CDC is controlled by unsavory elements that which are trying to harm the citizens of the United States. And they are sure that “Big Pharma” is creating illnesses to pad their bottom line.
The most important thing about conspiracy theories, is that they do not require facts, but are more dependent on strong belief by the people embracing and promoting these theories. So, if you believe that the earth is flat, that the moon landing was a hoax, or that the CDC and all the other “experts” are faking the COVID pandemic, then you need very little data to support your opinions, or to convince you that the main stream opinion is incorrect.
Conspiracy Theorists Value the Wrong Opinions
I remember a patient of mine who came to see me after seeing her cardiologist. “He tells me that I need a pacemaker and defibrillator,” she said.
“He’s a good doctor,” I told her. “I think you should probably go ahead and do it.”
“Yes,” she said. “But he doesn’t really know me, and I know he doesn’t care about me like you do. That’s why I wanted to come and talk to you about what he wants to do.”
I understand this feeling. Experts may be smart, but do they really have our individual concerns and needs in view? Maybe they are just trying to make their next boat payment.
At the same time, a cardiologist is far better to listen to than a family doctor when it comes to a decision about a pacemaker.
Conspiracy theorists are unwilling to trust the mainstream “experts.” They claim (and rightly so) that experts aren’t always correct. Computer simulation modeling and initial predictions are often wrong. So, they choose other experts, ignoring the facts and data informing their chosen expert’s opinions.
The most important thing to keep in focus when evaluating segments of the news, written articles and books, or online documentary videos presenting data on a specific subject should not be “Does this make me feel good?” or “Is this person charismatic?” or “Do I like what they are saying?” or even “Does it make sense to me?” Instead, the question should be “What are the facts behind the statements and is there real data that backs up the stated opinions?”
There’s one more thing—true experts are quicker to say “I don’t know” when something is unclear. This is usually not the case with Conspiracy Theorists.
Conspiracy Theorists Exaggerate Their Credentials
I come at this from a medical point of view. I have read articles where doctors claim to have cared for “thousands of COVID patients” or to be members of some “Harvard” task force. Upon further investigation, I have found that many of these claims are exaggerated.
I do not claim that a person needs to be board certified to have a valid opinion on a medical subject, but I do believe that a person should not be deceptive about who they are and what their background knowledge is.
For what it is worth, I am a small-town family doctor in Central Virginia who wants to serve Jesus and thinks a little too much about things like this. Those are my only credentials.
Conspiracy Theorists Only Bring Up Facts that Support Their Theories
I suppose it is not surprising, but conspiracy theorists are quick to pull out certain phrases or focus on tiny sentences from within articles. Many times, these articles don’t really support their point of view, but they pull a sentence or a phrase out of context, twisting it according to their preference, then claim that the article does support what they believe. Understand that this is not a court of law; this discourse is about having a real understanding of the facts regarding anything from COVID-19, wearing masks, or even assassinations.
For instance, if you are discussing the pros and cons of wearing a mask, I want an explanation about why countries that use them see reductions in new cases and deaths from COVID, while at the same time they do not see lots of hospitalizations and ER visits from mask-induced hypercapnia (a buildup of carbon dioxide in a person’s bloodstream). If you don’t address this, I am going to be less willing to listen to some of the other things you are sharing. Why? Because if you don’t allow all the facts to be included, and to balance each other out, then the outcome or decision will be way off-track or out-of-balance.
If you claim that the earth is flat, I want more than criticism of the round earthers. I want an explanation of the physical laws of nature that we see and observe. Skipping that makes me believe that the round earth scientists are correct.
Conspiracy Theorists are Unwilling to Trust Occam’s Razor
William of Occam in the 1300s believed very strongly that all extra details need to be stripped away and the simplest explanation of the facts should be viewed as the most likely explanation. This is the opposite of most conspiracy theories.
For a conspiracy theory to be really ‘juicy’, there needs to be ‘secret powerful societies’ involved, as well as some ‘foreign labs’, and maybe ‘a couple of suitcases full of money’ floating around for good measure. All these sorts of things make a good spy story, but not so much what we see in our every day world.
Sure, there’s always the possibility of a “rogue scientist”. However, there’s such public scrutiny of the proclaimed facts that if medical claims are made that are outrightly deceitful it’s only a matter of time until the truth is revealed, and the false claims are corrected. On the flip side, God has promised that there is coming a time when there will be an increase in sickness, disease, and death as part of the lead-up to the end of time. So, there is a chance that, in His sovereignty, God may allow a mutated virus, or a rogue laboratory to be a part of that unfolding plan. As Christians we can respond either in faith or in fear to such a progression of events; the choice is ours.
So, from the perspective of faith, and the foundation of knowing that ultimately God is in control of all eventual outcomes, if the CDC makes a recommendation, it is not because a political party is paying them off, nor is it because “Big Pharma” is manipulating them. It is because the scientists who work there believe that what they are saying is accurate. If they later change that recommendation, it is not because they are being paid off, but because new data has come out that makes the older recommendations no longer valid.
Conspiracy Theorists are Looking for Reasons
Terrible things happen in this world. Men assassinate world leaders. Terrorists fly planes into tall buildings. Viruses somehow transition from bats to humans in China and lots of people get sick and some die. All of it seems like there should be plots behind it, replete with secret labs, illuminati, and criminals in dark suits and sunglasses.
Unfortunately, there aren’t always reasons behind things. (We do live in a fallen world after all.) The experts give their assessment of the situation and maybe it doesn’t feel adequate. In this absence of “real” or “complete” answers, people rise up who will try to explain the “why” of each tragedy. Each of these individuals has a following, if not the facts.
Conspiracy Theories Harm the People Who Believe Them
There are probably a number of ways in which these beliefs are harmful, but there are a few which stand out to me. First, they lead to a general paranoia. There is enough evil in this world without believing that the people charged with our safety and protection are trying to destroy the very things they are supposed to protect. Paranoia is a dangerous mindset and one that can lead to depression, fear, and anger.
Further, it seems as though people who believe conspiracy theories in one area tend to have these beliefs become generalized. Quite simply, if you are certain that one part of the government is lying to you, it is easy to believe that other parts are as well.
Usually, folks who believe conspiracy theories are often unwilling to do things that would be beneficial to them from a health and wellness standpoint. They are afraid of vaccines or cholesterol medications and will not try them, even though there are numerous studies that show benefits.
Finally, these theories certainly seem to lead to anger and hatred towards anyone who holds different opinions. I suppose it is human nature, but over time people seem to become quite entrenched in their views, convincing themselves that those holding different beliefs are foolish.
Christians Are Commanded to be Discerning
We know that in the Old Testament, false prophecy was judged harshly. False prophets were to be put to death even if just one of their prophecies was incorrect.
In the New Testament, Christians were still commanded to be discerning. John said, Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world –1 John 4:1. Quite simply, John did not want the early Christians to naively believe everyone who came along.
According to Acts 17:10-11, we are to be like the Bereans, searching and trying to understand to see who is truly sharing truth.
Buying into Conspiracy Theories is an Indication that Christians are too Invested in this World
This is a mouthful. Jesus told His disciples that they were to be in this world, but not of it. Paul told Timothy that “A time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.” It feels as though this Scripture has come to pass in my lifetime.
Of course, Christians care about the society they live in, but they should care more about seeing people meet Jesus. Our focus should not be understanding the darkness, but on spreading the light.
It is important for Christians to carefully evaluate the source of their information, but even more, to not become overly politicized. When Jesus returns in the clouds, he will not be riding on a donkey (Democrat) or an elephant (Republican). Rather, He will return seated on a white horse. (–see Revelation 19:11)
Those He returns for will be those who have served Him, not those who voted a certain way or posted the right memes on social media. They will be those who visited Him in prison. Those who saw Him hungry and fed Him. Those who saw Him in need and gave freely to help His needs. The message of the Gospel is clear—As we do these things (or don’t do them) for the neediest among us, that is when we are doing them to Him.
This morning I pray for clarity and for truth to prevail. I pray for anger and dissension among the people of God to end. I pray for false prophets and false scientists to be revealed.
Most of all, I pray that Jesus’ followers could focus on Him and the other world to which they are going.
While Conspiracy Theories may, in some convoluted way, explain the darkness, they will never spread the light.
This world needs that light more than anything else. Let’s do all that we can to do our part.
