I agree that it is strange that Christians will spread conspiracy theories. Apart from the US nonsense, here in Australia I get quite distressed when Christian groups or friends post memes, fabricated quotes, false statistics and urban myths or even use them as sermon illustrations, to prove some kind of point. To me, distributing false information is the same as lying, slander or gossip, all things I know these friends and groups would not support, but they don't realise they are doing just that.
Conspiracy theories are not all the same. Some are repeated for the fascination of the story – a wonder at the unbelievable. Others make some sense of the inexplicable. However, those kind of conspiracy theories (hypothesis) of which Dr. Bird warns have to do with the emotion of abandonment and the loss of representation or power. Becoming or the fear of becoming the minority engenders the fear losing power, control, and representation in a society. The good news is that being among the powerless is a position in which the followers of King Jesus can practice behaviors that belong to the kingdom that is not of this world. Jesus was abandoned, powerless against the rulers of this world, theologically unrepresented, and in the minority, that is of a remnant. Those "Christians" with conspiracy hypothesis will just want to sit at the Lord's right hand when He comes into power. However, He already has!
IMO a diversity of news sources is not a good reason for ingesting lies. Many people now lost to conspiracy theories justified their consumption of alt right propaganda as avoiding the echo chamber. I think the way was paved by sketchy news sources and pop theology eroding their sense of truth long before conspiracies swept through our communities.
Love this! Practical and helpful.
I agree that it is strange that Christians will spread conspiracy theories. Apart from the US nonsense, here in Australia I get quite distressed when Christian groups or friends post memes, fabricated quotes, false statistics and urban myths or even use them as sermon illustrations, to prove some kind of point. To me, distributing false information is the same as lying, slander or gossip, all things I know these friends and groups would not support, but they don't realise they are doing just that.
Excuse me, Dr., I have translated this article into Spanish, do you give me permission to spread it?
https://www.credo.cl/cristianos-y-teorias-conspirativas/
Greetings
Permission granted!
Conspiracy theories are not all the same. Some are repeated for the fascination of the story – a wonder at the unbelievable. Others make some sense of the inexplicable. However, those kind of conspiracy theories (hypothesis) of which Dr. Bird warns have to do with the emotion of abandonment and the loss of representation or power. Becoming or the fear of becoming the minority engenders the fear losing power, control, and representation in a society. The good news is that being among the powerless is a position in which the followers of King Jesus can practice behaviors that belong to the kingdom that is not of this world. Jesus was abandoned, powerless against the rulers of this world, theologically unrepresented, and in the minority, that is of a remnant. Those "Christians" with conspiracy hypothesis will just want to sit at the Lord's right hand when He comes into power. However, He already has!
IMO a diversity of news sources is not a good reason for ingesting lies. Many people now lost to conspiracy theories justified their consumption of alt right propaganda as avoiding the echo chamber. I think the way was paved by sketchy news sources and pop theology eroding their sense of truth long before conspiracies swept through our communities.
Michael, what is the psychology behind the desire for Christians to gravitate toward conspiracy theories?
I am surprised that people that I know, who have even had a good theological education at reputable institutions, have fallen for conspiracy theories.