All You Need to Know About Conspiracy Theories, Part 1

Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective

We’ll get back to our ongoing series in Ecclesiastes, but I wanted to take a short detour to highlight a subject that has been around for eons: conspiracy theories. As we know, some conspiracy theories hold more water than others and of late, it seems that so many people see a conspiracy in just about everything that the whole area of conspiracy theories is becoming one in which people discuss, debate, and argue things that are either firmly believed to have happened due to some form of alleged legitimate conspiracy or vehemently rejected as being unfounded and irrational conspiracy.

Let me state right off the bat that I like a conspiracy as much as the next person, but I don’t allow all them to run or control my life. There are many things in life that are simply not conspiracy theories but based in actual fact. However, there are those who readily and willingly oppose those situations and events because they say they are “only conspiracies.” Unfortunately for them, too much has been documented and moreover, we can actually see that things have taken place in society to direct part or all of society toward a “conspiracy” goal. I also want to state that it is not my intention to ridicule or make fun of people who believe conspiracy theories. I think certain theories hold a lot of water. However, even there, I believe we need to be very careful because it becomes easy to focus on the conspiracy and remove our eyes from God.

Some things are simply not conspiracy theories but passed of as such. The factual information appears to be too much to ignore in too many cases. However, even in those cases, the label “conspiracy theory” persists and anyone who tends to take that theory as truth is seen as someone who also enjoys wearing tin foil hats. At least some of this is done by naysayers to silence those who believe, for instance, that JFK was killed by Oswald and only by Oswald, as merely one example.

But let’s be realistic here as well. The United States Constitution does not provide for a central bank, yet America has one. It’s called the Federal Reserve and is not connected with the federal government in any way, shape, or form directly. This country should not have a central bank and people like Abraham Lincoln fought hard to keep it out. Is that why he was assassinated? We can guess or believe one thing but it is impossible to prove beyond doubt. But the fact that America has a central bank now (since 1913) and that bank has controlled much of America’s economy says a great deal about the fact that maybe, just maybe, powerful people do exist who have done what they could to take over and control America’s economy. Why would they do that? For no other reason than they would be in the position of gaining tremendous wealth by so doing. This is fact. Beyond this, it is difficult to see.

Much has been written about the way powerful individuals and groups – ostensibly all connected to the same ultra-powerful group – have dumbed down American education on purpose. We have seen specific individuals over the past seven, eight, nine or more decades doing what they can to take control of education so that American students are not taught what they should be taught. Books have been written on these things to the point that it is difficult to ignore. These are not conspiracy theories, but actual facts and the only thing those who oppose these things can do is attempt to ridicule those who hold to the belief that socialists or Marxists have gained control over many educational institutions over the past several generations in America and because of that, have created institutions that have dumbed down Americans rather than educated them.

When I speak of conspiracy theories, I’m talking about whether or not the government was behind the original 9/11, either directly or indirectly. Were there really weapons of mass destruction (WMD) being hidden by Saddam Hussein? Was there illegal activity during the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections to ensure that Mr. Obama became and remained president? Were the numerous gun-related massacres conspiracies that were supposed to bring greater gun-control to the fore from Congress?

There are so many tragic events and situations that appear to be something within the realm of conspiracy that it makes a critical thinking person’s mind boggle. What about “Fast and Furious” – was that more than it appeared to be as some are saying? What is the truth of Benghazi? Why was the U.S. even involved in the events that overturned governments in North Africa and what is America’s true involvement in the Middle East?

We can go crazy asking ourselves these questions repeatedly. For instance, one of the “conspiracies” has to do with what Albert Pike is supposed to have written regarding three world wars. It’s a fascinating study and when studied seriously, it makes for compelling reading. Yet, there are people on both sides of the issue that are vehemently in favor of believing that what Pike wrote was true, while others are just as vehement in stating that it’s all a hoax. Each person has his/her reasoning and they stick with it.

We’ve had World Wars I and II. They are done and behind us. What about World War III? According to what is allegedly stated by Pike, the following describes WWIII.

The Third World War must be fomented by taking advantage of the differences caused by the “agentur” of the “Illuminati” between the political Zionists and the leaders of Islamic World. The war must be conducted in such a way that Islam (the Moslem Arabic World) and political Zionism (the State of Israel) mutually destroy each other.

There is much reasoning as to why this is the case, with everything from the false Ashkenazi Jews (through the Rothschilds powerful family), and their desire to take over the Holy Land in order to create their own country to other theories as well. But is it true?

Honestly, I have no idea. In the end, does it really matter? I don’t believe so, for several reasons, chiefly, what we learn in Scripture.

This is also part of the dividing line between those who believe in conspiracy theories related to the Rothschilds (Illuminati, etc.), and the truthfulness of Scripture. Those who do not take the Bible seriously generally denigrate nearly all conspiracy theories when it comes to believing in one nearly all-powerful group of people who want to take over the world. For instance, if you go to the bottom of the article from which the above paragraph was quoted, you’ll see discussion that occurs. Those opposed to conspiracy theories have no qualms in casting aspersions on those who do accept them as truth, or at least, having some measure of truthfulness in them. Consider this comment from one naysayer.

Do I have to state for the umpteenth time that lucifer is merely a Latin name for the morning star and a common theme in Christian sermons? Anyway, just take a look at the conspiracy forums – it is utterly full of daily looping fodder, propaganda, self-important asses posing as intellectuals to boot, parrots and sheep. And it houses many many liars and con artists. Certainly not only evangelical Christians. (Emphasis added)

This individual is likely a non-Christian and probably not religious in any way. Therefore, from his perspective, the whole idea of believing in some type of super-being who operates in the spiritual realm (or other dimensions) is preposterous. He has convinced himself that Lucifer, as an individual, does not exist, but is merely a name used in Christian sermons and theology. He clearly does not believe in the devil at all. So if the devil does not exist, then how can the Illuminati exist, a group that is said to worship this same devil?

Again, can we know beyond doubt that any particular conspiracy theory is true or not? I don’t think we can. Even in the realm of Edward Snowden, the “former National Security Agency subcontractor who made headlines in 2013 when he leaked top secret information about NSA surveillance activities,” we are left to wonder whether or not what he has done is true. Is it? I don’t know. I cannot prove it one way or another. I do tend to believe at least some of what he has said because of the verification of facts outside of himself that we have seen reveal themselves in global society.

My point is simple. We can educate ourselves in every conspiracy theory that we find interesting or possible. We could learn everything we can about those conspiracy theories and in the end, we must rely solely on our own opinion as to the truthfulness of each of them. They may certainly sound compelling. They may appear to be truthful, but part of that may be in how the information was presented, what was left out and what was included. In the end, we are left to rely on ourselves as our highest authority to determine the truthfulness of any so-called conspiracy theory. The result of that is that we come to believe certain things are true while other things are not.

I’ve read many conspiracy articles where people simply make blanket statements, with absolutely no citations. Yet, they not only present their information as complete truth, but do so in a way that makes them appear to be the authority on the subject. This is the problem with conspiracy theories. By their nature, they are in the shadows. Most people who write about them cannot provide concrete data to support their conclusions. If they could bring verifiable information to the fore, the discussion would be over. But by the very nature of conspiracy theories, this cannot be done.

You’ll also notice that to make themselves appear more genuine, more believable, conspiracy theorists will often refer to their own private “whistle blower.” You’re really no one if you don’t have one. Of course, they cannot provide the name of the person because they are often high-ranking government officials and if their “covers” were blown, they would not only lose their jobs, but be placed in imminent danger. This makes us feel more secure in the knowledge that what we are reading is legitimate when in point of fact, we have no way of knowing whether or not they actually do have a person who is truly placed high up as they claim and who provides otherwise hidden knowledge to us.

Finally, what I’ve noticed is that many of these conspiracy theorists warn the same thing over and over and over, ad nauseum. The economy is going to crash in a month, they’ll warn! Take your money out of the banks, they exclaim! Buy silver and gold! Plant a garden! All of this and more is the battle cry. Yet, nothing drastic happens. They would argue that things are in a constant state of flux therefore as situations change with the ebb and flow, things are put off until a later period of time.

Is there a way to cut through all of this to know what should be believed and ignored? Even so, when we find something to believe, is there a way to know what our response to it should be? I believe there is, on both counts and it’s something I’ll talk about next time, in part two of this series.

Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective