Thread by @atkinsmike1

I have given Christians a hard time over the fact that many have believed covid vaccine conspiracies. Maybe time for some balance.

The media, and much public discourse, IS generally slanted against ordinary Christian belief (objectively, this could be a good, or a bad thing). /

In my view, much results from the mistrust of "mainstream media". In part (I choose my words carefully), some of that mistrust is well founded.

Christians tend to feel alienated (some will say that they should), and anyone who comes along, and "identifies" with that alienation /

will tend to get a good hearing. My opinion is that this happens on an emotional level at first, which is why it can be so hard to shake the ideas gained in this way.

Of course, Trump exploited this tendency ruthlessly. He needed to be shielded from scrutiny of his personal /

life, and business dealings, and the way that he shored up his core support was to play on the mistrust of the mainstream to get his followers to ignore anything bad said about him (it is a bit more complex than this).

Many Christians supported Trump, as he was the only advocate

of some of the issues important to Christians. But, he picked up on the sense of alienation. In doing so, I feel that he advanced the sense of separation from the mainstream felt by so many.

This has made it easier for others to come along and whisper "mainstream" or "MSM", and/

for their message to be accepted, without critical analysis.

To want life to be without bias, and some level of agenda, is basically a pipe dream. The challenge is to engage, and navigate the different perspectives.

Many have rather withdrawn into their own huddles, and have /

hence been ripe for the plucking, in terms of disinformation.

Many who believe and share the silly conspiracy stuff are ordinary, decent people, who do not have an "interest" in the matter.