Discerning leaders should be wise to recognize the growing need to confront conspiracies in their midst and to equip believers to engage loved ones and friends who have come to believe some of the fake news flying around.
One of the clearest memories from my time in school was learning of the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Although it was a fascinating story, what remains indelible was my father later grinning and saying that was only the “official” story. In reality, Kennedy was killed by the CIA.
Although my dad was only joking, I was completely sold. Being told that there were secrets waiting to be unraveled hit every button in my imagination. I quickly embraced the magic bullet theory and to the day I die I’ll remain committed to the magic loogie theory.
This is what conspiracy theories were for most: fun speculation that only a distant fringe group took seriously. However, recent years have flipped this script. No longer on the periphery, conspiracy theories have been weaponized in what is already an intensely politicized and polarized American culture.
Most disconcerting, conspiracy theories have burrowed their way into the broader evangelical church.
It is telling that for all we produce at the Wheaton College Billy Graham Center, Ed’s recent article on the damage conspiracy theories are having on our Christian witness was one of our most widely viewed articles ever.
This is becoming a far greater issue than many are willing to admit. Indeed, in a 2018 poll we conducted through the BGC Institute, we found that 52 percent of evangelicals by belief and 46 percent of self-identified evangelicals strongly agreed that the mainstream media produced fake news.
Both the popularity of conspiracy theories and the frustrations of those trying to combat its spread speaks to the problem often left unsaid by Christian leaders. Many shared Ed’s article because they are concerned about friends and loved ones who are beginning ...
from Christianity Today Magazine https://ift.tt/2yCtsqR
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