A really interesting article that analyzes susceptibility to conspiracy theories of the Christian Right, but that also applies more generally. A look at a few of the author's (and some overlooked) points:
First, the premise that reality can "boring"...1/
medium.com/interfaith-now…
First, the premise that reality can "boring"...1/
medium.com/interfaith-now…
...and that people don’t like randomness/ambiguity, or [the idea] we’re at the mercy of forces...we don’t understand/can’t comprehend...and that "conspiracy theories are ridiculously entertaining...and intoxicatingly addictive".
Well, an argument can be made that religion...2/
Well, an argument can be made that religion...2/
...religion was an attempt to explain a random/ambiguous world (reality) that people didn't/couldn't understand or comprehend with "ridiculously entertaining" narratives/stories.
According to this criteria, religion was the "original sin":
The original conspiracy theory. 3/
According to this criteria, religion was the "original sin":
The original conspiracy theory. 3/
This also explains why so many Christians support a guy who not only violates nearly every value they claim to hold, but whose pathological dishonesty has resulted in 20k documented lies:
Trump's entire existence is a "ridiculously entertaining" conspiracy theory (lie). 4/
Trump's entire existence is a "ridiculously entertaining" conspiracy theory (lie). 4/
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The author also quotes @RadioFreeTom to highlight the role of narcissism in conspiracy susceptibility: “The masses have been fooled by the media and/or government, but I’m special and different, and I know the truth!”. 6/
Even setting aside the "religion is the original conspiracy theory" premise, that quote is just as easily applied to religious "belief", as it is to the Qanon nonsense, because of the gravitational pull between narcissists/religion: 7/
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Another point in the article is that: “Conspiracy theories play upon our fear by supplying a more powerful emotion: rage. Fear can so quickly morph into anger because it provides an object: they are to blame, they caused this, they deserve retribution". 10/
As explained in this thread, fear is exploited to fuel the "Us-vs-Them", religious tribalism: 11/
The author analyzes ego-investment. This is especially relevant not just in conspiracy theory susceptibility, but to Trump's support. It's not surprising they're highly correlated b/c Trump's pathology creates alternate realities/revisionist histories. 12/
The article also addresses the role of confirmation bias in conspiracy theory susceptibility.
This thread analyzes confirmation bias, the cognitive processes that may factor into it, and even neurotransmitters ("intoxicatingly addictive"):....13/
This thread analyzes confirmation bias, the cognitive processes that may factor into it, and even neurotransmitters ("intoxicatingly addictive"):....13/
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A thread on one of the conspiracy theories mentioned in the article......that Sandy Hook was a staged event, performed by "crisis actors"......and the devastating toll that has taken on survivors/parents:....16/....
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A thread analyzing an article written by a member of the Religious Right admitting to the Religious Right's "illiberal thoughts".......and blaming those illiberal thoughts on progressives: 20/
Relevant thread to this religion/conspiracy theory thread:...21/
