Why Do Conspiracies Have so Much Appeal?

[really?]

I was just reading the 9/11 conspiracy thread and it got me to wondering this. Why it does it seem that nearly all paranormal forums and many of the people that believe in the paranormal also will argue, take to heart what and agree with the conspiracy mongers ? What draws such persons to such cloak 'n' dagger ideas and specifically 9/11?

[NinjaPuppy]

[ProfWag]

[NinjaPuppy]

[ProfWag]

[Scepcop]

[really?]

[ProfWag]

[Craig Browning]

To look at things in an exceptionally simple way, human beings have an innate need for some kind of "bad guy" that creates all the world's problems, be it a devil, demons, dragons, gnomes or various secret societies... like the Vatican

Religious Fundamentalist (fanatics) seem to be able to find the devil everywhere they look EXCEPT in their own actions, thinking or existence. But then the fanatics from group A (let's call them the Baptists) will claim such evils exist "inherently" in group B (we'll call them Catholics) even though they both claim to follow the same basic premise of "spiritual" thinking... but as we all know Christianity can be made into most any sort of expression depending upon personal bias and the need to side-step the act of "knowing yourself" and "getting honest with god" ... Christians don't assume responsibility, it's all the devil's fault!

BUT (and holding to the Abrahamic theme) we can see the same contentions and finger-pointing made by the fanatics of Islam towards Judaism or Christianity et al. And contrary to the assumptions of some, Buddhism has it's multitude of fringe thinkers as well, including the rather arrogant expression it displays on the public front, of "having their shit together" and projecting a smugness about it

One of the things I've studied since high school has been religious history and how the duplicity of "the church" has been constant, especially when it comes to rhetoric and accusation. If you review the claims, charges, etc. put out by the early Protestants towards Rome you will see nearly the same words used as are today thrown towards Gays & Lesbians as well as Islam and Democrats. Between the like of Ireaneus (sp) and Caesar you will find a plethora of "stock phrases & charges" that have been superimposed on every perceived "evil" out there when the core truth is, it's just different and don't play the game by the rules the arrogant bullies want to imposed on everyone but themselves.

It all comes down to what I said in the first line here... human beings simple seek out something to blame and likewise, something to be afraid of. Just turn on your TV set and listen to all the commercial; notice how nearly every one of them exploit FEAR on some level, be it fear of aging, disease, long term suffering from an accident, identity theft... the list is extensive but the foundation is always the same... we thrive by fear.

In most instances FEAR is best defined as False Evidence Appearing Real in that 90% of what we are "seeing" or "accepting" isn't genuine fact but assumption or aspersion.

Were the NAZI's really evil?

Sure, they did some horrible things.. .some of them... most of them were forward thinking people however that were strongly patriotic, seeking to reclaim national pride. Granted, there was a racial problem... but when exactly did the racial issues and persecutions finally get outlawed here in the states? When did Human Rights come onto the forefront of the U.S./European agenda? When was American forced into accountability for what it did to the native inhabitants of this conquered land and how they've been treated for most of the past 400 or so years?

We're all hypocrites and again, we all are susceptible when it comes to finding treachery where it isn't.

[Indigo Child]

I personally think conspiracy thinking is one of the highests acts of critical thinking. They challenge conventional explanations,
and force one to think outside of the box. A good conspiracy theory brings many assumptions into question.

The simplest reason conspiracies appeal is because we all know that deep down things are not as they seem. Looks deceive.
Often this presumption is right as well. Such as in the war in Iraq, we all knew from the start the real agenda in Iraq was economic
and stratgic, and not moral or about WMD. Similarly, all we know that what governments reveal publically, is not the whole picture
or real, for there are processes that go on behind the curtains we are not privy to. The involvement of rich bankers and industrialists
in formenting government policy, even in sponsoring wars is very clear. It is also very clear from history how governments can and do
create plans to enslave their own public, to control population and feed them propoganda.

What is really ironic though, as soon as a conspiracy theory is proven, it is called history. Hitler orchestrating the terrorist attack on the Reistad
building and blaming it on domestic terrorists was a conspiracy theory at the time, now it is widely reported as historical fact. Prior to the exposure
of Enron, accusing Enron of illicit practices was conspiracy, now it is historical fact.

In the future 9/11, UFO, NWO and paranormal conspiracy may well join the ranks of historical fact.

In my opinion if you do not think conspiracy, then you are not a critical thinker, and are naive and gullible.

[ProfWag]

[Indigo Child]

[ProfWag]

[ProfWag]

[Indigo Child]

You have never heard of the theory that Al Qaeda is a CIA creation before?

By the way what are you trying to prove by showing me an excerpt from Osama Bin Laden on
how it was formed? That it is not a CIA creation, because he says something else lol