Difference between revisions of "Conspiracy theory"
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| − | + | A '''conspiracy theory''' is a belief that the official report on a major event is inaccurate or blatantly false in order to cover up an unattractive occurrence. Generally, conspiracy theories are dismissed by the public as nonsense. Some of the most notable are: | |
| − | + | *The theory that the [[Apollo 11]] lunar landing, commanded by Neil Armstrong, On July 20, 1969 was fake. | |
| − | + | *Various [[9/11 conspiracy theories]]. | |
| − | + | *The [[JFK]] assassination conspiracy theory. | |
| + | *The [[George W. Bush]] presidential campaign conspired to rig the election in 2000. | ||
| + | *The [[Vast right-wing conspiracy theory]] of [[Hillary Rodham Clinton]]. | ||
| + | *The theory that a [[neocon]] [[cabal]] controls the [[George W. Bush|Bush Administration]] and is responsible for the [[War in Iraq]]. | ||
| + | *The idea that all paleontologists are falsifying evidence to make the Earth appear [[Young Earth Creationism|older than 6000 years]] | ||
| + | *The [[Jews]] are [[Anti-Semitism|conspiring to destroy civilization]]. (Very popular theory in [[Europe]] from the [[Middle Ages]] on, seems to have lost a lot of currency outside the [[Middle East]] since the [[Holocaust]].)<ref>[http://newint.org/features/2004/10/01/conspiracism/ "ZOG Ate My Brains"]</ref> | ||
| + | *The theory that the Iraq War was started by [[Big Oil]] in order to gain access to cheap [[petroleum]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Common elements of Conspiracy Theories== | ||
| + | Who's blamed for everything may change, but most destructive conspiracy theories believe the same things: | ||
| + | |||
| + | * The world is divided into 'Us' and 'Them'. We're GOOD, They are EVIL. | ||
| + | * Our opponents are evil and subversive... possibly not even human. | ||
| + | * "They" are causing '''all''' our troubles – WE are blameless and without fault. | ||
| + | * Time is running out and we must act immediately to avoid disaster! | ||
| + | <ref>[http://newint.org/features/2004/10/01/conspiracism/ "ZOG Ate My Brains", again]</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | Conspiracy theories provide an important element of certainty in a world that seems random and perverse. Believing that a small, evil group controls everything is actually more reassuring to some minds than believing [[Coincidence theory|things just happen by random circumstance]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==References== | ||
| + | <references/> | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Category:Conspiracy Theory]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Terms]] | ||
Revision as of 12:35, September 17, 2008
A conspiracy theory is a belief that the official report on a major event is inaccurate or blatantly false in order to cover up an unattractive occurrence. Generally, conspiracy theories are dismissed by the public as nonsense. Some of the most notable are:
- The theory that the Apollo 11 lunar landing, commanded by Neil Armstrong, On July 20, 1969 was fake.
- Various 9/11 conspiracy theories.
- The JFK assassination conspiracy theory.
- The George W. Bush presidential campaign conspired to rig the election in 2000.
- The Vast right-wing conspiracy theory of Hillary Rodham Clinton.
- The theory that a neocon cabal controls the Bush Administration and is responsible for the War in Iraq.
- The idea that all paleontologists are falsifying evidence to make the Earth appear older than 6000 years
- The Jews are conspiring to destroy civilization. (Very popular theory in Europe from the Middle Ages on, seems to have lost a lot of currency outside the Middle East since the Holocaust.)[1]
- The theory that the Iraq War was started by Big Oil in order to gain access to cheap petroleum.
Common elements of Conspiracy Theories
Who's blamed for everything may change, but most destructive conspiracy theories believe the same things:
- The world is divided into 'Us' and 'Them'. We're GOOD, They are EVIL.
- Our opponents are evil and subversive... possibly not even human.
- "They" are causing all our troubles – WE are blameless and without fault.
- Time is running out and we must act immediately to avoid disaster!
Conspiracy theories provide an important element of certainty in a world that seems random and perverse. Believing that a small, evil group controls everything is actually more reassuring to some minds than believing things just happen by random circumstance.