Linking hands in exceptionalism

[Xeno.of.athens]

An online friend has commented that a somewhat famous Baptist who writes against Catholicism and JWs and Mormons has embraced conspiracy theories, especially those relating to COVID restrictions. I wonder if this is common? Do different kinds of fringe belief incline one to embrace other fringe beliefs?

 

[bling]

People like to hear what they want to hear.

 

[Fervent]

I don't think it's that, so much as certain fringe beliefs leading to trusting sources that are selling other fringe beliefs. The fleas get shared because the dogs run in the same pack.

 

[FireDragon76]

An online friend has commented that a somewhat famous Baptist who writes against Catholicism and JWs and Mormons has embraced conspiracy theories, especially those relating to COVID restrictions. I wonder if this is common? Do different kinds of fringe belief incline one to embrace other fringe beliefs?

Yes. Social scientists have already noted that happening. Once you have one fringe belief, you're more likely to adopt other ones as well.

Also, conspiracy mongers target minority religious communities because they are often more culturally isolated, allowing a wider spread of the ideas with more potential credulity. During the pandemic, COVID hit groups like Hasidic Jews or Pentecostals especially hard, they became filled with conspiracy theories about vaccines and masks.

I have noticed two Christian religious communities that are especially prone to conspiracy theories and extremism: Pentecostals and so-called Messianics. I believe it is because both are on the intellectual and/or cultural margins of society, and are more prone to idiosyncratic thinking.

 

[Xeno.of.athens]

Yes. Social scientists have already noted that happening. Once you have one fringe belief, you're more likely to adopt other ones as well.

Also, conspiracy mongers target minority religious communities because they are often more culturally isolated, allowing a wider spread of the ideas with more potential credulity. During the pandemic, COVID hit groups like Hasidic Jews or Pentecostals especially hard, they became filled with conspiracy theories about vaccines and masks.

I have noticed two Christian religious communities that are especially prone to conspiracy theories and extremism: Pentecostals and so-called Messianics. I believe it is because both are on the intellectual and/or cultural margins of society, and are more prone to idiosyncratic thinking.

The famous Baptist chap is author of a number of commercially published works on aspects of theology that were well received. But the anti-JW, anti-Catholic, and anti-Mormon lectures and debates and books do have a touch of conspiracy theory like reasoning to them so the dive into COVID conspiracies and the like is not too surprising.