why are conspiracy theories so popular?

[nailit]

Are they akin to religious belief? For example David Icke 'preaches' to sell out crowds of thousands about reptile rulers with no more evidence for this than followers of God (in whatever shape or form) have for their belief. Conversely, religions have always had their own conspiricy theories, eg: satan is decieving humanity.
Conspiricy theorists and religionists seem very much the same to me as they both like to think that they are privy to information which is hidden from the rest of mankind without any substantial proof to back up their claims.

[woofgang]

because the truth is generally boring, nobody likes to think that life is random and there are always folk who like to feel better about themselves by claiming to know more than the rest of us.
Try Terry Pretchett's Guards! Guards! about sad secret societies

[ludwig]

All of the conspiracy theories are instigated by the secret cabals that rule the world to keep people distracted and prevent them discovering the real truth about what's going on.

[andy-hughes]

Conspiracy theories depend on the size of the concept behind them.

They can be planet-wide - climate change for example, or individual, the death of Elvis or Diana, but they are never small because they must involve a concept that is ultimately beyond convincing proof.

If you can raise a theory about something that chimes with human conciousness, and taps into fundamental insecurities about powers over which we have no control - governments, climate, the Royal Family, what ever, then you can expand it by using human nature, which is always to look for certanties and the security they bring.

It is human nature to enjoy rational explanations, and the seed that the rational explanation is wrong, even without firm facts and evidence to back up that contradicition can blossom into a conspiracy theory.

My personal belief is that religion and conspiracy theories occupy exaxtly the same area of human experience and thought - the need to find an order and a reason for the things that concern us all.

Proof is never going to be found - with that the theory, or the religion would vanish, but the definition of faith is the ability to hold a belief that cannot be proven. That balance between firm belief and absence of evidence is what makes religion work - and conspiracy theories can ride on that identicl psychology.

Somehow, the essence of faith and belief suts the human psyche - without that feeling of comofrt and support that minds gain from those factors, neither religion of conspiracy theories would exist - but they do, and have done so since man's ability to think cohernetly about aspects outside simple survival.

Since our mental sophistication is only ever going to grow, you can rest assured that these twin comfort zones will continue to grow as well.

[sith123]

i know that people believe in the illuminati. watch this. If you go on google and type in itanimulli (illuminati backwards) look what it comes up with. The government agencys website ;) Just something i found interesting.

[naomi24]

Why are conspiracy theories so popular? Because people are suspicious and they want answers – and so what they don’t know, they make up.

Andy-hughes, //Since our mental sophistication is only ever going to grow, you can rest assured that these twin comfort zones will continue to grow as well.//

I disagree. With the growth of mental sophistication, the ability to rationalise becomes more prevalent and therefore the requirement for religion and for conspiracy theories diminishes.

[Mick-Talbot]

why are conspiracy theories so popular?



They're not

[andy-hughes]

naomi24 - you would think so wouldn't you? But I believe human nature is far more deeply rooted and influential than surface sophistication.

We haven't managed to shrug off the need to stimulate our 'fight-or-flight mechanism, which we no longer need to eat and survive, so we have roller coasters and horror films instead.

Sophistication will always be superficial, emotional needs live on for ever.

[naomi24]

andy-hughes, //you would think so wouldn't you?//

I do think so. I imagine few who have elected to discount religion through a process of rational thought would give credence to outlandish conspiracy theories - or to horror films for that matter.

[nailit]

Interesting answers guys, thanks.
sith, the itanimulli / illuminati thing is a well known internet hoax http://www.projectmaj...licom-mystery-solved/
naomi and andy, your opposing viewpoints raise an interesting question (to me at least...).are we, as a species, becoming more or less gullible as time goes on?
Is there something inherent in us that WANTS to believe in things that cant be proven?

[andy-hughes]

naomi24 - your past post appears to link conspiracy theories and religion in a way which I did not - that you believe in both, or neither, which I think is not a valid argument.

I don't think that rational people believe in horror films. My point was that people enjoy the articifical stimulation of our embedded fight/flight mechanism which is no longer required, but still attracts 'safe' stimulation. That illusttration was to underline my belief that certain aspects of the human psyche, including a need to believe in conspracy theories, is so deep rooted, it has yet to trancend the evolution that has brought us to the point at which we are now as a species.

[naomi24]

andy-hughes, copied and pasted from the original question. //Conspiricy theorists and religionists seem very much the same to me as they both like to think that they are privy to information which is hidden from the rest of mankind without any substantial proof to back up their claims.//

Since the question concerns a possible similarity between belief in religion and a tendency to believe conspiracy theories, I addressed the question.

//your past post appears to link conspiracy theories and religion in a way which I did not - that you believe in both, or neither, which I think is not a valid argument.//

No, that is not a valid argument – but it isn’t what I said. I think it unlikely that those who have elected to discount religion - through a process of rational thought - and that is all important - would for one moment consider giving credence to outlandish conspiracy theories. Perhaps, however rational people may believe they are, some feel the need to attract ‘safe stimulation’, as you put it, but in my opinion that doesn’t apply to the truly rational - and I think that is evidence of the positive onward march of evolution. Perhaps we should conduct a straw poll of atheists here to ask how many of them believe in conspiracy theories? Any offers?

It’s a ‘No’ from me.

[naomi24]

Nailit, //Is there something inherent in us that WANTS to believe in things that cant be proven? //

I'm not ignoring your question. It's a big one - and I'm thinking about it. I'll get back to you.

[bigbadmarty]

Its a "no" from me too .
Actually find it quite annoying when these morons claim men didn't land on the moon or the twin towers was an insurance job .

[jno]

There was a massive conspiracy theory in the 1970s that the president of the USA himself had authorised burglary of his opponents' offices, then instigated a coverup involving the government, was spying on his enemies, was taping everything anyone said in his offices... and after a big newspaper investigation, it all proved to be true, and he had to resign.

The fact that Watergate really was a conspiracy involving the highest officers of the most powerful nation on earth has given a big boost to all subsequent conspiracy theories.

[Mick-Talbot]

They are not popular though, billions of people in the world but not that many conspiracists by comparison.

You don't shout about not have a conspiracy theory do you....

[sith123]

oh, thanks nailit :)

[naomi24]

Birdie, //The phrase 'conspiracy theory' [CT] has been hijacked by the mainstream media and Governments to mean a 'crackpot idea'. The sad fact is that some CT's are more than likely to be true but because they are labelled as such, the mainstream media pooh-pooh them.//

I agree, but since the question specifically mentions reptilian rulers, I assume we’re talking about ‘crackpot’ ideas rather than real situations that leave us with unanswered questions.

[EDDIE51]

How does David Icke explain that 'commoners' and therefore 'Non lizards; have married into the Royal family and been able to produce children?
I don't belive his views by the way, I think that even he knows it is total b8llocks but it makes him a lot of money so he keeps on about it.

[naomi24]

Nailit, //Is there something inherent in us that WANTS to believe in things that cant be proven?//

No, I don’t think it’s inherent. It’s learned behaviour. For example, religious books have taught us that human beings are somehow special and that by obeying specific rules and carrying out certain rituals, they can transcend the laws of nature by escaping death. A comforting idea that people want to believe - so they do.