Christians have all the more reason to “test the spirits.”

Hussein’s weapons of mass destruction led to the invasion of Iraq.

Granted, there are many conspiracy theories that make virtually no impact on the daily lives of most people. Whether rock star Kurt Cobain was murdered by the CIA or killed himself (the common view) is one example. Likewise, the theory Adolf Hitler is still alive and living in Brazil does not shake economic stability in our nation or individual bank accounts.

However, other theories can have huge personal and social consequences. Think of the human grief and anger over denial that the 2012 killings at the Sandy Hook Elementary School really happened. False conspiracy views about Covid-19 have led to some great calamities, both medical and financial.

While not all conspiracies impact Christian faith, some do.

The most obvious examples for me right now are from a book I just finished editing, Evangelical Civil War (Equal Time Books). This book is about the extreme divisions among evangelical Christians worldwide over Donald Trump. Conspiracy theories play their part in all sides of these nasty divisions. For example, check the internet for disputes about Russian collusion, Obamagate and all things related to QAnon. (There is even a new church devoted to using teachings from QAnon to interpret the Bible.) These are real and powerful conspiracies for many Christians, whatever their political views.

Conspiracy theories increase in times of chaos and uncertainty. Instead www.FaithToday.ca/ReligionWatch.