Conspiracy theories are a lot like Gnosticism - Kenneth Tanner

Conspiracy theories are a lot like Gnosticism.

They claim that only an enlightened few know what is actually going on in the world and what almost everyone else knows is a lie; that the knowledge available to the average person on the street is unreliable.

The true believer who spreads these conspiracies is like the member of a mystery cult: in the “know” no matter how disconnected from important events he or she may be, no matter how unreal their imagined scenarios are in the face of realities.

And by implication, most people trying to make their way in the world and care for their families, who have almost no time for anything but work, and precious little time for reflection, have not the first clue (again, according to the conspiratorially-obsessed).

Only the most centered and widely-informed persons can resist the temptation to superiority, false certainty, and preoccupation that often follows this phenomenon.

The theories prey on those who live in understandable apprehension (in moments like this one) and increase the every day anxiety of many. Conspiratorial whispers and broadcasts are a scourge, as destructive on human trust and brotherhood as a virus to the human body.

I cannot believe how many who trust in Christ are manipulated and misled in their daily lives by what is so often nonsense.

And obsession with wild speculations steals energy from the sort of practical imitation that the Spirit empowers in us when we take time to contemplate the life of Jesus: care for the stranger, the prisoner, the sick, the hungry and thirsty, the naked, the sex slave, the widow, and the orphan. It’s sexier to tell others about a fearsome secret cabal that controls everything and everyone.

The good news is that the Gospel — the things that God has done to make the world right again, what God has done to secure everyone’s future — is public information, available to everyone. And this Gospel, this Love, casts out fear.

The Gospel says over and over and over again, “Do not be afraid.”

I don’t deny the possibility of conspiracies. They certainly do occur and can have devastating consequences even when involving only a few: the assassination of Lincoln, for example.

But conspiracies are not stronger than Love and often fail to achieve their ultimate ends because the wounded God, publicly executed in the most shameful manner, is the true Lord of history.

This crucified, human God, who is yet alive and embodied beyond death, has been given the guardianship of the cosmos, not temporary rulers and plotters who forget that they are but blades of grass, here today and mown down by death tomorrow.

Again, I am not suggesting that conspiracies do not in fact occur but they don’t for the Christian replace the story of the wounded God who loves the world that he makes and who dies for love of the world as the true story of the world, whatever temporary evils might preen or posture or imagine they control the destiny of anyone or anything.

God is never an agent in evil, so there is much that occurs in this world that has nothing whatsoever to do with his will. And we can, like God, be victims of evil.

Christians trust that God is orchestrating an end to evil where his total victory on the cross somehow makes all things well, and converts the greatest human and demonic conspiracy, our rejection and murder of God, into an infinite good that brings permanence to the cosmos and life without end to human nature, and that is why we fear not.

While some things that seem far-fetched end up being true we do not orient our lives to speculations or explanations that give us a sense of control amid chaos or that sell us insider information to combat anxiety amid uncertainty. Instead, we trust a public life and a public execution that reveal the world’s true story.

The gospel is the best possible news in a perplexing time. There is evil and randomness and we are not in control but genuine Love has conquered and overcome darkness by self-giving, co-suffering humility.

Love is revealed, not secret or hidden, and Love wins.

Comments

[Katie Skurja]

So good, Kenneth.
"Love is revealed, not secret or hidden, and Love wins." Amen and amen.

[Michael Rans]

Thanks Kenneth. I agree with your article and wrote my thoughts on this topic here: https://medium.com/cruciformity/what-does-the-bible-say-about-false-reports-and-conspiracy-theories-b3db30c193f4 where I compare conspiracy theories with bearing false witness.

[Gerard]

Thank you Kenneth! Greetings from the 🇳🇱

Love and recognize your perspective, beautiful intention of your writing:

Again, I am not suggesting that conspiracies do not in fact occur but they don’t for the Christian replace the story of the wounded God who loves the world that he makes and who dies for love of the world that he makes as the *true story* of the world, whatever temporary evils might preen or posture or imagine they control the destiny of anyone or anything.

God is never an agent in evil, so there *is* much that occurs in this world that has NOTHING whatsoever to do with his will. And we can, like God, be victims of evil.

Yet, the Christian trusts that God is orchestrating an end to evil where his total victory on the cross somehow makes all things well, and converts the greatest human and demonic conspiracy, our rejection and murder of God, into an infinite good that brings permanence to the cosmos and life without end to human nature, and that is why we fear not.

Love is revealed, not secret or hidden, and Love wins.