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Why people believe in conspiracy theories

Discussion in 'Political Debate & Discussion' started by Bro. Curtis, Jun 12, 2007.

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  1. Bro. Curtis

    Bro. Curtis <img src =/curtis.gif>
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    It's probably a neo-con site, which will surely ruffle the feathers of certain conspiracy theorists we all know & love......


    By Dennis Prager

    http://www.townhall.com/columnists/...jfk_to_911_why_people_believe_in_conspiracies

    ...
    1. Many people find it impossible to believe that a few utterly unimpressive individuals can do so much damage. Lee Harvey Oswald, a man who can best be described as simply a loser, could change history all by himself? It doesn't seem to make sense.
    2. Many people want to blame those they loathe for as much of what they do not like as possible. Just about everyone who believes in hidden conspiracies attributes those conspiracies to those they hate. People who hate President George W. Bush blame him and his administration for 9/11. Egyptians who hate Israel have blamed AIDS on Israeli prostitutes. Indeed, attributing to Jews hidden conspiracies -- the "world Jewish conspiracy," the "Protocols of the Elders of Zion" -- is the oldest and most common belief in a hidden conspiracy.
    3. One should never underestimate the power of boredom -- and the subsequent yearning for excitement -- to affect people's thinking and behavior. Belief in a hidden conspiracy is far more exciting than accepting prosaic truths. Figuring out the "mystery" of who killed JFK is a much bigger thrill than accepting that one jerk was responsible. Deciphering who was "really" responsible for 9/11 is a lot more interesting than accepting that 19 Arabs with box cutters did it.
    4. People who feel powerless over their own lives are far more likely to believe that some invisible force controls their fate than people who believe that they are the masters of their lives.
    5. There is, apparently, a great yearning among many people to believe that there is hidden knowledge and that they have access to it. It makes them feel special, perhaps even superior to the rest of us who do not have access to this hidden knowledge.
    6. In Western societies, it appears that secular people are more likely to believe in hidden conspiracies than the more religious. It may be that the religious already believe in an invisible power that governs the universe -- God -- and therefore seem to have much less of a psychological or emotional need to believe in invisible powers on earth....
     
    #1 Bro. Curtis, Jun 12, 2007
  2. James_Newman

    James_Newman New Member

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    Ephesians 6:12
    12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

    Just keep telling yourself, 'There are no powers, there are no powers, there are no powers...'
     
    #2 James_Newman, Jun 12, 2007
  3. Bro. Curtis

    Bro. Curtis <img src =/curtis.gif>
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    Reason #2 is about the sharpest paragraph I've read in a while.
     
    #3 Bro. Curtis, Jun 12, 2007
  4. Scarlett O.

    Scarlett O. Moderator
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    Why do people believe in conspiracy theories? I thought it was those little aluminum hats they wore.:confused:
     
    #4 Scarlett O., Jun 12, 2007
  5. James_Newman

    James_Newman New Member

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    Thats great, but see I didn't hate Bush when I was awakened to the concept that 9/11 was not what it seemed. I thought he was a decent president and I wasn't looking to pin 9/11 on anyone but Bin-Laden (and it was easy to blame him, wasn't it?). The official 9/11 coverup is a conspiracy theory. What is the difference between my conspiracy theory and yours? Yours was broadcast on Fox News as 'the truth'.
     
    #5 James_Newman, Jun 12, 2007
  6. Rufus_1611

    Rufus_1611 New Member

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    It won't ruffle my feathers Bro Curtis. It's alright to get your education from a neoconservative such as Prager. It's alright to align yourself with neoconservative web sites such as Townhall, LGF, and PajamasMedia. It's alright to support the neoconservative use of military force in Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, Syria and perhaps eventually North Korea, Venezuela and maybe even Russia. If you like Pax Americana and AEI and PNAC, so be it. It's even alright to support neconservative candidates as it is still a somewhat, sort of free nation.

    What's wrong is saying I'm not a neocon and you folks should stop calling me names. If you are comfortable with your worldview, then perhaps you should stop denying it and embrace it, if you are uncomfortable with it, then perhaps you should change it.
     
    #6 Rufus_1611, Jun 12, 2007
  7. Bro. Curtis

    Bro. Curtis <img src =/curtis.gif>
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    Actually, is was more than just Fox News, wasn't it ?
     
    #7 Bro. Curtis, Jun 12, 2007
  8. Bro. Curtis

    Bro. Curtis <img src =/curtis.gif>
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    Neocon, neocon, neocon. Neocon neocon, neocon neocon neocon neocon.


    Anything to say about the article, besides "neocon" ?
     
    #8 Bro. Curtis, Jun 12, 2007
  9. Rufus_1611

    Rufus_1611 New Member

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    Hogwash, hogwash, hogwash, hogwash, hogwash, hogwash, hogwash, hogwash, hogwash
     
    #9 Rufus_1611, Jun 12, 2007
  10. Bro. Curtis

    Bro. Curtis <img src =/curtis.gif>
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    :laugh:

    Funny, but not convincing. And check yer feathers.
     
    #10 Bro. Curtis, Jun 12, 2007
  11. Rufus_1611

    Rufus_1611 New Member

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    My feathers are as smooth as a baby chicks...only not as cute.
     
    #11 Rufus_1611, Jun 12, 2007
  12. carpro

    carpro Well-Known Member
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    Most conspiracy theories are just another form of paranoia.

    The good news?

    It's treatable.
     
    #12 carpro, Jun 12, 2007
  13. Rufus_1611

    Rufus_1611 New Member

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    Massive doses of talk radio, Foxnews or any other source which numbs the mind, is a quite effective treatment.
     
    #13 Rufus_1611, Jun 12, 2007
  14. Rufus_1611

    Rufus_1611 New Member

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    CONSPIRACY, n. [L. See Conspire.]

    1. A combination of men for an evil purpose; an agreement between two or more persons, to commit some crime in concert; particularly, a combination to commit treason, or excite sedition or insurrection against the government of a state; a plot; as a conspiracy against the life of a king; a conspiracy against the government. (Source: Webster's 1828)
    ​

    Josephs' brothers conspired to slay Joseph...

    "And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him." - Genesis 37:18​

    Saul had a theory...

    "And Saul said unto him, Why have ye conspired against me, thou and the son of Jesse, in that thou hast given him bread, and a sword, and hast enquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?" - 1 Samuel 22:13 ​

    Absalom and many others conspired against King David...

    "And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counsellor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom." - 2 Samuel 15:12​

    Baasha conspired against Nadab...

    "And Baasha the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him; and Baasha smote him at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines; for Nadab and all Israel laid siege to Gibbethon." - 1 Kings 15:27​

    40 Jews bound themselves together to kill Paul...

    "And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy." - Acts 23:13​

    There's another dozen plus instances of conspiracies in the Bible, then of course there was that incident where the Jews conspired to kill the only truly innocent man ever to walk the earth. Then you have the premise that the devil and his folks are lying, conniving wretches, that we wrestle with the rulers of the darkness of this world, that there is no new thing under the sun and when you get to the back of the book you start reading about things like mystery Babylon and I've got to wonder...how is it possible for Bible-believing Christians to think there is no such things as conspiracies?
     
    #14 Rufus_1611, Jun 12, 2007
  15. Bro. Curtis

    Bro. Curtis <img src =/curtis.gif>
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    Slap yer mug up on here, and let us judge ! I bet you are cuter than me.:laugh:

    I'm not saying there are no conspiracies. But for me, this 9/11 conspiracy is lunacy. And it has been completely debunked, with fact. That's what this article addresses.

    Reason #5 is evident, here, a lot.

    I've also noticed a very uncomfortable anti-Israel bias when it comes to most conspiracies. It seems like a democracy in that part of the world deserves our support.
     
    #15 Bro. Curtis, Jun 12, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 12, 2007
  16. Rufus_1611

    Rufus_1611 New Member

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    As you wish (notice the feathers)...

    [​IMG]

    Surely it has not.

    Much of this information is hidden in plain site. It's not about acting special or whatever, it's about trying to wake people up.

     
    #16 Rufus_1611, Jun 12, 2007
  17. carpro

    carpro Well-Known Member
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    Originally Posted by carpro
    Most conspiracy theories are just another form of paranoia.

    The good news?

    It's treatable.




    Hey!

    If that's all it takes, I suggest you give it a try.:thumbs:
     
    #17 carpro, Jun 12, 2007
  18. James_Newman

    James_Newman New Member

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    Unfortunately it has many adverse side affects, such as constitutional intolerance and moral myopia.
     
    #18 James_Newman, Jun 12, 2007
  19. Rufus_1611

    Rufus_1611 New Member

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    I tried it. The side effects were more than I could bear.
     
    #19 Rufus_1611, Jun 12, 2007
  20. rbell

    rbell Active Member

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    Thanks to the magic of the internet, I found Rufus' picture.

    [​IMG]

    (everyone pauses for an "awwww" moment)

    :laugh: :wavey:
     
    #20 rbell, Jun 12, 2007
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