Conspiracy Theories, as viewed through the Columbine School Shooting.

This is a comment that I wrote for a book club, about the book Columbine, by Dave Cullen.
But, as I read the book, I focussed on the topic of how conspiracy theories about the
Columbine massacre formed, and how it was that they were believed by many
Americans. I provide this same view of the disaster, focussing on conspiracy theories.
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I know a lot of people only read for enjoyment. But in periods of intellectual explosion, book clubs often read for extending adult education, and for intelligent discussions.

You may think that the Columbine book is only in the true crime category. But it fits into another, very relevant, and very current problem -- the widespread popularity of some groups in America to believe conspiracy theories.

When reading the Columbine book, ask yourself:

-- How could these 2 kids not be mentally insane, but also not be normal?
-- Was there any possible successful intervention possible? As it turns out, for Dylan, Yes. For Eric, probably not.
-- Why is it in America, that so many people are willing to believe that some criminals are "made" by being outsiders, into shunned subcultures (such as Goth), were part of a trench coat crowd, or being persecuted by jocks or popular students?
-- What was the role of media, and social media, in leaping to "explanations" and so creating conspiracy theories?
-- Why did many of the students who experienced parts of the massacre, begin to believe the explanations of the news channels, even though almost all of these speculative explanations were wrong?
-- What was the interaction between Christian religious groups, and the proliferation of some false explanations of what was going on with some of the victims of the shooting?
-- Who were the target groups in Columbine, for those who tried to use the Columbine trauma to grow their political support, or grow their religious conversion goals?
-- Why is it that the FALSE explanations of the shooters' motives, became established online as a LEGEND of 2 persecuted kids, who finally "snapped" and tried to target their persecutors? Why has this false conspiracy theory legend become the predominant story of Columbine, that you will find on the internet?
-- Why is it that the LEGEND of Columbine, became a template of later shooters who followed the conspiracy theory legend, and tried to copy the "target the jocks and the popular students" legend? Why do some politicians use this legend?

And then, think about ...

-- What makes people believe the conspiracy theories that conclude that the 2020 presidential legend was stolen through massive fraud?
-- Who are the traumatized groups, that the Alex Jones and Tucker Carlsons of the world, try to manipulate and use to grow their own business careers?
-- Why is it that some politicians start to use the slogans of conspiracy groups, when they know that careful research will prove that conspiracy theories are false?
-- Why does the embracing of conspiracy theories, tend to lead to the denial that America has a fair rule of law? (Ask yourself, why the 24 lawsuits that Trump filed claiming that the 2020 election was stolen, were rejected by American courts on the basis that they did not present any relevant or sound evidence of their claims?)

Finally, as you read the book about this school trauma, ask yourself...

-- Why didn't those who saw serious warning signs of impending violence, not take effective action to stop it?
-- What are 13 characteristics of a psychopath? Of a seriously depressed kid?
-- What is the relationship between fantasizing about violence (or getting "justice"), and carrying out the violence that Eric and Dylan did, at Columbine. Where is the line, between fantasizing about ideas, and a serious commitment to carry them out?
-- How long did it take for the trauma of parents and families, to work out?
-- Why is it that the local law enforcement agencies NOT put together the intentions of the 2 shooters? One FBI agent did, but the local police couldn't, and didn't see why the FBI analysis of the "chemistry" of Eric and Dylan worked the way it did.
-- How is this dual chemistry existing in public figures who use immoral and violent language (claiming "freedom of speech"), and thousands of quiet and depressed online listeners, who may decide some day that they should cross the line between fantasizing and doing? How is this dual chemistry exhibited in the violent jihadist groups, who have public figures making violent and outrageous claims, trying to recruit damaged and discouraged listeners, to "fulfill" their lives by carrying out the violent goals of the recruiters. (While the recruiters don't bother to get involved in the violence at all.)

Obviously, I am reading this book as the FBI psychologist read the mountains of evidence about the 2 shooters, Eric and Dylan. This is NOT the conspiracy theory LEGEND of the shooting, that is common on the Internet.

And, I am concerned about much more than school violence carried out by its own students. I see broad correlations between the different mental states of Eric and Dylan, and the way these very different mental states exist in modern America between public figures advocating violent forms of lawlessness, and thousands of online watchers who feel that they have been done wrong.

These are modern and relevant topics, for book clubs [and Christians] to discuss.

Note that the anniversary of the Sandy Hook shooting, just occurred.

Alex Jones, who was fined hundreds of millions of dollars for supporting
conspiracy theories about the Sandy Hook shooting, made millions of dollars
promoting lies about the government creating the Sandy Hook shooting.
Jones claimed that this shooting never really happened.

This is the problem with conspiracy theories. They are unfounded, they are
not supported by rigorous evidence, but they have massive effects on people.
And in the Sandy Hook conspiracy theories, they caused massive trauma to
the families who lost relatives in the shooting.

(Apparently, a lot of people have read some of this thread.
But no one has been thinking along these lines.

This surprises me.

Again, (and again, and again) Christians need to inform themselves about HOW
CONSPIRACY THEORIES COME INTO BEING. And reading a journalistic
analysis about the Columbine High School shooting is a good introduction.

One of the students paralyzed in the shooting, has just died as a complication
of her wounds.

The MYTHS (aka conspiracy theories) that grew up around this killing by 2 high
school students, have become the backbone of "inspiration" for at least 30 more
school shootings, since the original shooting. All these "inspired" shooters,
were badly deluded.

And, those holding to these myths, don't seem to be able to be reached by the
facts of the case. The Columbine shooting myths are a template of how
Christians (and non-Christians) can be sucked into the social media hype and
lack of critical methodology, that produces many of the conspiracy theories that
we see today in America.

Note that, for Christians, we are COMPELLED by the Apostle to

"test all things -- hold onto what is good".

9 Let love be sincere; hate what is evil, hold on to what is good; 10 love one another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honor
New American Bible, Revised Edition. (Washington, DC: The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2011), Ro 12:9–10.

14 We urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, cheer the fainthearted, support the weak, be patient with all. 15 See that no one returns evil for evil; rather, always seek what is good [both] for each other and for all. 16 Rejoice always. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophetic utterances. 21 Test everything; retain what is good. 22 Refrain from every kind of evil.
New American Bible, Revised Edition. (Washington, DC: The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2011), 1 Th 5:14–22.
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The PROBLEM is that Paul is talking about a METHODOLOGY OF CRITICAL
THINKING. AND, those who have never developed these critical thinking
skills, ALSO appeal to the same Apostolic advice.

*** Appealing to scriptural commands like this, DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE
ONE DOING THE APPEALING, IS ACTUALLY USING CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS!!

Some of the most anti-intellectual Christian groups, ALSO appeal to be "careful
thinkers, and logical, and claim to properly use the intellect."

The proof of bad thinking, is in the lack of careful methodology, and the conclusions
reached. It's the bad fruit of the tree, that defines it as a bad tree.

IT IS THE EMBRACING OF CONSPIRACY THEORIES, THAT DEFINES A CHRISTIAN
WHO DOES NOT HAVE CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS, AND DOESN'T KNOW HOW
TO "TEST ALL THINGS"!

It is anti-intellectual Christians, who deny the goodness of modern vaccines (such
as the ones that functionally eradicated measles in America, before those without
critical thinking skills, re-introduced it by NOT vaccinating their children).

It is anti-intellectual Christians, who deny the mountain of environmental studies, that
clearly connect air pollution, with worse and worse swings in our weather.

It is anti-intellectual Christians, who leap to conclusions about what a text of Scripture
means, WITHOUT engaging critical Bible study skills.

It is anti-intellectual Christians, who embrace the conspiracy theories about the
Columbine High School shootings, and don't bother to read a critical analysis
of what happened that day with the 2 violent losers, Eric Harris and Dylan
Klebolt.

And, it is this horrifying trend of anti-intellectualism, that prompted me to write
the book "Christian Logic", which directly addresses the critical thinking skills
that North American Christians OUGHT TO HAVE. Forget who wrote the book.
Try reading it.
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This desperate need for Christians to gain critical thinking skills, is repeated
(for all Americans) with regard to becoming informed about the new Generative AI tools...

"But as individuals, we also need to take steps to protect ourselves, by fostering critical thinking, carefully evaluating the information we come across and making our own judgments on its accuracy. The concept of digital literacy, fact-checking, and being able to make informed decisions regarding the digital content we consume will become more important than ever."
[Generative AI in Practice, Marr]


Christians who do not believe in fact-checking, are holding to some model
of truth, that is incompatible with historic Christianity.