Conspiracies And Secret Societies: Why So Appealing?

Like many Americans and others abroad, I am fascinated with conspiracies. The late President John F. Kennedy had famously said, ”The very word secrecy is repugnant in a free and open society, and we are as a people–inherently and historically–opposed to secret societies, secret oaths, and to secret proceedings.” And yet, arguably it is this repugnancy, to borrow Kennedy’s words, which seems to make conspiracies irresistible for many of us.

Indeed, conspiracies may very well be attractive not just because of the element of secrecy, but because of the allure that darkness has in general. In much the same way that horror films and frightening things present an exciting, compelling variety of entertainment, apparently even the real possibility of dark cabals in our midst has become something that is able to draw many people in… and hence, people tend to project it outward just as well.

Maybe this is why we now find “evidence” of conspiracies almost everywhere. Even prior to the birth of Prince William and Catherine’s infant heir, there were already beginning to be conspiracies that the Dutchess of Cambridge had been late on delivery (let alone crazier notions that are no doubt being tossed around that the poor little chap may be a blue-blooded reptilian). Whether it’s a royal family birth, or a despicable act of terror that makes the headlines, more than ever before it seems that people are quick to label almost anything as being a potential conspiracy… so what is it about conspiracies that have managed to permeate our culture so easily?

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Reposted with permission.