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

[lenna]

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...

I know what ironic means and I don't think it describes whatever it is you are saying.

Sorry, but I am really not sure what your point is.

 

[1christian1]

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.

I'm sure that you would agree those "marches "against police is literally a fraction of those protesting in the 60's and 70's. And the coined the frase "PIGS" LOL....

 

[Scribe]

oh good grief

It is treatable. Repentance is the beginning and then counseling to recognize what unmet need they are trying to meet.

 

[PennEd]

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?

What!? Noah built an Ark in his driveway for 120 yrs! On dry land.
He is the absolute epitome of a conspiracy theorist.
He was a preacher of righteousness.

I’m sorry but you sound just plain silly.

 

[1christian1]

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.

He probably keep's that foot in his mouth as to not blurt out B.S.s like Trump does every day! LOL...

 

[Scribe]

What!? Noah built an Ark in his driveway for 120 yrs! On dry land.
He is the absolute epitome of a conspiracy theorist.
He was a preacher of righteousness.

I’m sorry but you sound just plain silly.

And Noah having a driveway does not silly? What did he park on it a Brontosaurus?

 

[tourist]

I'm sure that you would agree those "marches "against police is literally a fraction of those protesting in the 60's and 70's. And the coined the frase "PIGS" LOL....

Yeah, I thought that phrase was a little dated myself but then again, the marches had a wide gamut of ages marching in these current protests. I saw a lot of signs saying "Black lives matter" and while I certainly agree with this sentiment I would go as far as to say that "All lives matter". I am almost certain that there will be many carrying such signs in the next Right to Life march protesting the killing of innocent children in the womb. The lame stream media will probably not cover such a march though as it is contrary to the radical liberal Democrat mindset. These are the signs of the times.

 

[PennEd]

And Noah having a driveway does not silly? What did he park on it a Brontosaurus?

Do you even believe in the account of Noah constructing an Ark for 120 years, to hold a pair (in some cases 7), of every animal on Earth, because God was going to send rain on Earth, to drown every living thing?

 

[1christian1]

#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.

Very well stated!...

I know what ironic means and I don't think it describes whatever it is you are saying.

Sorry, but I am really not sure what your point is.

That the media covers everything!

 

[Gregoryp]

Conspiracy theories are and remain just that THEORIES if it could be proved it would no longer be a theory would it

Conspiracy theory was invented but the CIA,s predecessor after ww2, as the USA was interfering in a lot of countries politically. When they were called out via the media, the CIA of the day invented the term conspiracy theory to try and water the allegations down to theories, they weren't theories, it was fact. After that happened they started a deliberate program of controlling mass media, which they do with great aplomb to this day.

 

[1christian1]

And Noah having a driveway does not silly? What did he park on it a Brontosaurus?

LOL...

 

[Gregoryp]

No it's trying to convince people to not believe what is obviously coming.

and that is terrifying to see that so many so called christians can't see whats coming, they are going to be so easily deceived by Satan, the new world order, one world religion , wow

 

[1christian1]

Conspiracy theory was invented but the CIA,s predecessor after ww2, as the USA was interfering in a lot of countries politically. When they were called out via the media, the CIA of the day invented the term conspiracy theory to try and water the allegations down to theories, they weren't theories, it was fact. After that happened they started a deliberate program of controlling mass media, which they do with great aplomb to this day.

All I know is that they have never allowed a foreign entity mess with the U.S.A .That was until the Russian interference.

 

[1christian1]

Very well stated!...


That the media covers everything!

How would you know Penn...

 

[1christian1]

Yeah, I thought that phrase was a little dated myself but then again, the marches had a wide gamut of ages marching in these current protests. I saw a lot of signs saying "Black lives matter" and while I certainly agree with this sentiment I would go as far as to say that "All lives matter". I am almost certain that there will be many carrying such signs in the next Right to Life march protesting the killing of innocent children in the womb. The lame stream media will probably not cover such a march though as it is contrary to the radical liberal Democrat mindset. These are the signs of the times.

You say that all lives mater. Do you believe that all lives are equal?

 

[lenna]

It is treatable. Repentance is the beginning and then counseling to recognize what unmet need they are trying to meet.

Get a grip. John must have needed repentance from his visions as well then. What unmet need are you trying to meet?

 

[tourist]

You say that all lives mater. Do you believe that all lives are equal?

I believe that all lives are equal but sadly, some seem to be treated more equal than others.

 

[PennEd]

How would you know Penn...

What are you babbling about?

 

[Blain]

This is an instant classic for turning into a booklet and passing out to your church members. I will have it available when church starts meeting again.

https://instrumentofmercy.com/2020/...I9sp8mwBjKiFlTvViZVnOR63gSfnRUCzOsz3VYNTcIsEk

I found it well written and based on solid logic. I will admit there are some conspiracies I do think are true the illuminati being one my own sister claimed to be a part of it and tried to recruit me and the illuminati even wrote three books you get by joining as well as a solid gold symbol and I read some of the first book out of curiosity and they thanked people for getting obama elected as apparently he was a major puppet they used. My sister told me the illuminati is not what everyone thinks they apparently do not want world domination but do pull the strings and want world peace and security and also that no one is forced to join they have to do so of their own free will

She then said to me right now it is a window of opportunity but if one day she is taken not to look for her, when I asked her what she meant by that she just stared at me silently I still have no clue what she was talking about. I don't think this is the actual illuminati but I do believe they are real and very much active behind the scenes.

However I do not seek out conspiracy theories as I find them to much to deal with mentaly I would rather seek out God and grow closer to him any way I can

 

[lenna]

He probably keep's that foot in his mouth as to not blurt out B.S.s like Trump does every day! LOL...

It's not working. Another Trump hater then?

That the media covers everything!

Sorry but whatever waters you are paddling in, are still murky.

The lol's sound nervous