Trustful Waiting and Enemy Loving Responses to Uncertainty and Vulnerability: Christian Psychology Soul Care in an Age of Conspiracy Rumors

In this article, we approach conspiracy rumor hubbub from a Christian psychological perspective. We argue that the anxious and angry participation in conspiracy theory discourse—even were such theories to be proven true—constitute two “off-the-mark” responses (namely, fearful-anxious and defensive- hateful rumor) to uncertainty and vulnerability, and that these responses flow from a distorted existential understanding of God as bad (i.e., untrustworthy, tyrannical, distant, condemning). Conversely, we also explore two “on-the-mark” responses (namely, trustful waiting and enemy loving) to uncertainty and vulnerability that flow from a biblical existential understanding of God as good (i.e., trustworthy, loving, near, generous).

Approaching Conspiracy Rumors through Christian Psychology Lenses


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