What type of person is more susceptible to conspiracy theories?

Question

Who among you believe these things, and what are your religious views?

Answer 1

I love conspiracy theories. They are usually great fictional reads. I am a Christian and do not necessarily believe any of said conspiracy theories but I do like to see other peoples spin on things.

Answer 2

Interesting question.

I do not think that buying into a conspiracy theory has anything to do with ones religious beliefs or lack thereof. What I do think takes place is this.

1) A particular event happens. It can be of a personal nature or something more global.

2) You witness the official response to this event. You take it at face value. You give the official response the benefit of the doubt.

3) You discover through your own research or by simply receiving some additional information, that the official response maybe only partially correct or filled with lies.

4) You're shocked and perhaps even hurt by having the wool pulled over your eyes.

Now here is where the line forks. Usually one of a couple of things takes place.

1) You shrug it off with an "oh well" and go on your merry way.

2) You become cynical and begin to mistrust. From this place of mistrust, two things can result.

a) You start becoming a bit obsessive compulsive about finding the truth. Enter the Conspiracy Theory!

b) You go about your daily business in the usual way but take everything you hear with a grain of salt. From this point forward, "prove it" becomes your personal mantra.

As far as the religious component is concerned, I think both "a" and "b" take place when a person begins to question the belief system they have been given. If the official response to their questioning falls short or they discover its a blatant lie, cynicism and conspiracy theories can result.

Again. Interesting question! You made me think. Not meaning to be snarky or mean, but that doesn't happen too often on R & S.

Answer 3

Actually had this conversation with one of my old college instructors. He said there was a study and in general (don't want to make a blanket statement) they are people who have had problems in their life - financial, health, etc, and do not want to take responsibility so have to blame others (the government, new world order, etc) And then the paranoia grows from there. They do tend to be very right wing religious as well.

In the area I am there are a lot of conspiracy nuts - and we are a very low income area - lots of people on welfare, high divorce rate, lots of alcoholism, so it does kind of fit in there.



That being said, I have known some people in intelligence areas in the military that haven't told anything but there are things the government does that the general public does not know - nor should they. But that doesn't make every far out conspiracy true. Some are harmless but some - like the 911 thing going on now - could be potentially dangerous.

Answer 4

There are so many different conspiracy theories out there. Do you mean the fact that our government knows about UFOs and the aliens among us and doesn't admit to it or maybe that Jesus was knocking boots with Mary Magdalene, or maybe it's the whole 9/11 thing. I don't claim any religion and I'm not sure about conspiracy theories.
Love & Light
Sharon
One Planet = One People

Answer 5

I enjoy a good conspiracy theory as much as the next person. But have since come to learn not to take anything at face value, especially conspiracies. Unless the evidence is overwhelming I tend not to believe them.

I am Agnostic and believe religion is on it's way out. Slowly, but surley.

Answer 6

The simplest explanations are usually the most accurate. Some people have a mindset that everything must be complicated. I don't believe in conspiracy theories for the most part. I will listen.
The people that I know that are like this don't practice a religion.

Answer 7

Most conspiracies are bunk but some make you think. I at least listen to them the first time around to see if there is any validity to them. Most times there is not and that's the end of it. The ones who still believe them are the same type that accept anything without real facts and are too lazy to investigate it. Kind of like fundies.

Answer 8

For the most part I think they are bunk. The only one I think may have been somewhat a cover up was Kennedy's assassination because otherwise why would all the files be sealed until 2036 when I'll even be old and grey and everyone involved in it will be long gone. I'm Agnostic.

Answer 9

Anyone who is too childish to accept responsibility for their own behavior, and anyone who always plays the victim tend to be the conspiracy nuts. They blame things like 9-11 on Bush and Israel. I can't say who those people are because I don't want them to run and cry to the Yahoo speech police.

Answer 10

Leftists are extra into conspiracy theories? Who theorizes approximately the illuminati, the Trilateral Commission, the Council on Foreign Relations, the John Birch Society, or the Jews controlling the media? Do you particularly consider the ones are left-wing persons?