I don't think that ANY clearly-thinking Christian would assert that it is
morally-ethically acceptable to embrace a conspiracy theory, that is built
on gossip, or appeals to other unproven conspiracy theories. BUT, I do
think that many Christians have not carefully thought through what toying
around with unproven conspiracy theories, could cause. (Nor have the
media companies clearly thought this through.)
I give an example in the area of school shootings. Take the carefully researched
book "Columbine", about the school massacre by Eric Harris and Dylan
Klebolt on April 20th, 1999. The author, Dave Cullen, quotes heavily from
Eric and Dylan's own "kill notebooks" as they discuss their plans and
motivations, and goals.
The author also heavily quotes the FBI psychologist who extensively studied the
remaining evidence, and described the character, motivations, and goals of Eric
and Dylan. This evidence came from 100 law enforcement officers, who were
working the case.
The problem with Columbine is that conspiracy theories grew about the shooting,
and that these conspiracy theories were almost all FALSE. It is a fascinating read
(I didn't read this book for the killing and perversion) to find how the "legend" of Columbine,
started and grew.
The first page of the Introduction is a diagram of all the school shooters, who
claimed to be "inspired" or following the influence of the Columbine shooters
[Columbine, xiii]. This includes over 50 shooters, who have killed over 300 people,
while claiming to be inspired or influenced by a legend that is false -- essentially,
a web of conspiracy theories.
As the leading FBI investigator himself says, he has tried to correct sites on
the Internet that glorify the legend of Eric and Dylan, but has been unsuccessful.
He has tried to correct their conspiracy theories, but found that Americans
like to believe legends about "persecuted outcasts", who are "bullied" by jocks,
and who eventually "snap" and exact revenge by targeting the people who
bullied them. Unfortunately, this popular conspiracy theory was not true in
the Columbine shooting, and Americans have preferred to believe the conspiracy
theories, rather than the findings of the FBI. (We see this same pattern appealed to,
by politicians who say "If they can do this to ME, then they can do it to YOU.")
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For Christians, who think that repeating conspiracy theories is a benign
preference, you should carefully consider that this sort of mythical legend
has lead to dozens of school shootings, in America and foreign countries,
by people who were "inspired" by the Columbine conspiracy theory.
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For those who are continually repeating conspiracy theories, and claiming to
be "persecuted" or "misunderstood" or the champions of the persecuted or
misunderstood, they are repeating a legend that is VERY attractive to people
who identify with being persecuted or misunderstood or wronged. It does not matter
if they are believing a false legend, or is they are imagining the "wrongs" done to
them, or if they actually have been wronged in some way.
Those who provide legends or templates in the form of conspiracy theories,
WILL FIND PEOPLE ON SOCIAL MEDIA THAT BELIEVE THESE CONSPIRACY
THEORIES. Alex Jones did. Tucker Carlson does.
A politician who approves of Nancy Pelosi and Mike Pence being hung by
a lynch mob, may have no intention of doing that himself. But in this
American society, where some people are out looking for legends or
templates that they can live out, SOME ONE WILL BELIEVE THESE
CONSPIRACY THEORIES. And like the Columbine legend, there are
dozens of people out there who are willing to live out lawless violence,
while quoting unsubstantiated conspiracy theories as a justification
for their mindless violence.
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Christians should have nothing to do with conspiracy theories.
The damage that conspiracy theories can cause, is MASSIVE.