Why Your Conspiracy IQ Matters

Thomas Gray, an 18th century poet, is responsible for the often-quoted phrase, “Ignorance is bliss.” However, the entirety of Gray’s actual quote is, “Where ignorance is bliss, ‘tis folly to be wise.” President Thomas Jefferson embellished that quotation with his own, saying, “If ignorance is bliss, why aren’t more people happy?” 

Scripture has a lot to say about wisdom and knowledge. But the absence of them is rarely associated with “bliss.”

This is especially true of Christians and conspiracy theories.

While many evangelical academics and influencers spend significant energy scolding Christians about entertaining conspiracy theories (like HERE, HERE, and HERE), there’s some very good reasons for believers to remain informed and pay attention to ideas and claims that influence the contemporary mind.

Here’s three reasons why your conspiracy IQ matters.

The Arc of Biblical History is Conspiratorial

In a certain sense, God is the ultimate Conspirator. Not only is He invisible, He is all-powerful. Perhaps more importantly, He is not dormant. He has a fantastic Plan that He is overseeing, masterfully bringing it to pass using events and players often unbeknownst to their own understanding. In fact, He alone knows “the day or the hour” (Matt. 24:26) that will signal “the end of the age.” In fact, when describing the end of this present age, Jesus commanded His followers to be vigilant; to understand “the signs of the times” (Matt. 16:3) and to be on guard against deception. “Watch out that no one deceives you,” Christ warned (Matt. 24:4). This end-times deception will be so powerful that it could possibly “deceive the very elect” (Matt. 24:24). Which is why Jesus often said, “Be on guard. Be alert” (Mk. 13:33).

Despite the assertion of many possible futures — from utopian to apocalyptic — Christians believe the Scripture reveals a rather specific unfolding redemptive plan. While it could involve technology, nuclear war, and even non-terrestrial entities, the biblical timeline envisions our world culminating in global cataclysm, war, spiritual deception, persecution of Christians, the appearance of the Antichrist, Armageddon, the Second Coming of Christ, and the Final Judgement. Yes, there are different branches of eschatology. But the Church has historically believed that most of these aforementioned elements will constitute the End Times.

Thus the Christian approaches conspiracy research from the perspective that there is a Plan behind human history.

One reason Christians should be interested in conspiracy theories is because we believe that Someone is in control; the world is not rudderless, and events do not happen randomly. The world is moving towards an appointed end.

One reason Christians should be interested in conspiracy theories is because we believe that Someone is in control; the world is not rudderless, and events do not happen randomly. The world is moving towards an appointed end. Many conspiracy theories intersect, in some fashion, with biblical worldview themes. Theories about a New World Order, digital tracking, globalization, governmental cover-ups, the spread of evil, mass manipulation, the increase of paranormal phenomenon, evidence of alien life forms, etc. might all play a role on God’s unfolding Plan. In this sense, Christians have a fundamentally different approach to the world and what transpires in it than does the secularist. Not only are we “a pattern-seeking intelligence,” we believe that God is weaving a “pattern” we are to intuit.

People in Power Sometimes Do Very Shady Things

In her op-ed Conspiracy theories are caused by government secrecy, Caitlyn Johnstone suggests that one reason for the exponential rise in conspiracy mongering are the growing revelations of actual governmental cover-ups and conspiracies.

All the fixation on the way unregulated speech on the internet has contributed to the circulation of conspiracy theories conveniently ignores the real cause of those theories: government secrecy.

If the most powerful government in the world were not hiding a massive amount of its behavior behind increasingly opaque walls of secrecy, people would not need to fill in the gaps with theories about what’s happening, because there would be no gaps; they would simply see what’s happening.

Johnstone is correct in seeing industries, networks, and governments as “hiding a massive amount of [their] behavior behind increasingly opaque walls of secrecy.” Is it any wonder that the average citizen casts a side-eye at their own government?

There are many examples. For instance, Mind-control experiments like MK Ultra were concealed from the public. “Though Project MK-Ultra lasted from 1953 until about 1973, details of the illicit program didn’t become public until 1975, during a congressional investigation into widespread illegal CIA activities within the United States and around the world.”

Many other government programs operated secretly, outside of public purview. For example, Operation Paperclip brought Nazi scientists into the U.S. after World War II to exploit their knowledge. In 1977, Carl Bernstein broke the story about Operation Mockingbird, a covert CIA program to employ and use journalists to create propaganda via mass media. Many see Operation Mockingbird as the precursor to today’s employment of propaganda using the media and social media ecosystem.

Many black Americans still have a healthy suspicion of the U.S, government. One reason is because The US Public Health Service lied about treating black men with syphilis for more than 40 years. Also, we now know that mass public surveillance and data collection of U.S. citizens is taking place. Algorithms constantly collect data and monitor our preferences and movement. Even going “digitally dark” does not ultimately prevent one from being traced. According to Popular Mechanics, an estimated 30 million surveillance cameras are now deployed in the United States shooting 4 billion hours of footage a week. 

Powerful industries continue to exploit the average consumer. Not only are pharmaceutical companies price gouging, but the tobacco industry concealed evidence of nicotine’s addictive qualities and health impact for decades. Even now the industry continues to manipulate data to reach new smokers. Compounding this are continued revelations about governmental malfeasance in its handling of the COVID pandemic and the vaccines.

One reason that Christians should be aware of conspiracy theories is because people in power often abuse that power. As believers, we should be concerned about the exploitation and victimization of the less powerful. Just because a claim is labeled a “conspiracy theory,” or someone who dares investigate alleged claims is scolded, should not hinder the Christian from truth-seeking. Winking at criminal acts or dismissing injustice is not a virtue. Government decrees and mandates are not infallible. The Bible is explicit about the Christian’s call to seek justice and fight oppression wherever it exists. While many translate social justice into strictly humanitarian terms, fighting for the cause of the poor or powerless, or addressing societal wrongs, often involves challenging those in power… even when charges of conspiracy-mongering are leveled.

Engaging Culture

Theologian and literary critic Harry Blamires described the “Christian mind” this way:

The Christian mind—a mind trained, informed, equipped to handle data of secular controversy within a framework of reference which is construed of Christian presuppositions. The Christian mind is the prerequisite of Christian thinking. And Christian thinking is the prerequisite of Christian action.

The Christian mind is “equipped to handle data of secular controversy” and to sift that data through the sieve of “Christian presuppositions.” Conspiracy claims could fall under the heading of “secular controversy,” meaning something that does not directly affect the Church. Even so, the Christian mind is “equipped” to engage those claims.

Growing in knowledge about the world around us is intrinsic to our callings. For some (perhaps many) that could mean developing a basic understanding of conspiracy theorism and the various claims that permeate our culture. Especially when charges of conspiracy-mongering and naivete are so often attached to evangelicals. Being able to provide a rational defense for or against certain popular conspiracy claims can be a helpful apologetic bridge. Sadly, intellectual laziness is often the only real reason we can’t provide such a defense.

In Acts 17, the Apostle Paul famously engaged the Athenians. The location was named the Areopagus, which served as a public court and a place for intellectual and public debate. These were some of the most cosmopolitan people of the ancient world. Paul was privy to their culture and customs, and even quoted some of their own poets and philosophers in an attempt to engage them (vs. 28).

As Christians, being able to engage our audience is incredibly important. Simply relying upon what others say about an incident or claim is not very persuasive. What your pastor thinks about something is important. Nevertheless, pastors (and medical experts, scientists, fact-checkers, and journalists) can still be biased and reach faulty conclusions. Saying “the Bible says” or “experts agree” will not always win us a hearing.

What your pastor thinks about something is important. Nevertheless, pastors (and medical experts, scientists, fact-checkers, and journalists) can still be biased and reach faulty conclusions.

Part of being “prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (I Pet. 3:15) could also mean being “prepared” with other answers. For instance, certain conspiracy claims can be an obstacle to one’s acceptance of Christ. I recall once witnessing to a man who believed that the DaVinci Code theory was correct. According to him, Jesus was just a wise moral teacher who didn’t die on the cross, but fathered at least one child, probably by Mary Magdalene, and His bloodline continued through the present day. In that case, being “prepared to give an answer” also meant being prepared to rebut faulty “answers” that this man had come to believe. Likewise, conspiracies surrounding the Church, the life of Christ, the Resurrection, the Bible, or contemporary Christians could be an important part of pointing someone to Christ.

Similarly, when loved ones or co-workers speak about world events or political theater, it is to our benefit to be able to engage them. No, this doesn’t require that we know every breaking news story in detail or research every conspiracy claim that comes down the pike. However, having a broad knowledge of conspiracy theories can be a meaningful way to engage others.

So while many evangelical thought-leaders, pastors, and academics continue to scold their fellow Christians for embracing conspiracy theorism, there remains some good reasons for believers to research the subject. Not only do many conspiracy theories contain elements of the truth, many claims that were once disputed, have now proven true. Furthermore, the Bible describes the very arc of history as conspiratorial. Conspiracy research is unique for the Christian because they view the Bible as their ultimate authority. Pastors, scientists, politicians, and academic “experts” cannot replace the truth of Scripture in the hands of a discerning, objective child of God.

For a more detailed treatment of this subject, see my book Christians & Conspiracy Theories: Investigating Alternative Truth-Claims without Buying in to Fear, Fanaticism, or Tribalism.