Conspiracy theories ∙∙

Conspiracy theories ∙∙

Early on Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, “They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” –

John 20:1-2

Matthew 28:11-15

 11 Now, while they were on their way, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all that had happened.

 12 And when they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers,

 13 and said, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.’”

 14 “And if this should come to the governor’s ears, we will win him over and keep you out of trouble.”

 15 And they took the money and did as they had been instructed, and this story was widely spread among the Jews and is to this day.

Despite overwhelming scientific evidence, a small but vocal group of people around the world believe that the Earth is flat. Claims that the earth is round are either an unproven theory or a deliberate deception. Polls conducted by YouGov America in 2018 and FDU in 2022 revealed that up to 11% of Americans may hold this belief (theconversation.com).

How is this possible?

While it might be easy to dismiss “Flat Earthers” as a mildly amusing curiosity, we mustn’t underestimate their influence. We ignore their arguments at our peril. Polls indicate that conspiracy theories often overlap, sometimes leading to radicalization. Understanding how Flat Earthers share and defend their beliefs can shed light on why these ideas are so resistant to debunking (Carlos Diaz Ruiz, The Conversation).

Conspiracy theories hold a certain allure, often appealing to those who crave the thrill of possessing secret, forbidden knowledge. This exclusivity can make believers feel more intelligent or more enlightened than others, complicating efforts by loved ones to change their minds.

Indulging in conspiracy theories can be exhilarating, even intoxicating, often transforming into a celebrated movement or campaign. “Unfortunately, many conspiracy theory believers are thrilled by the opportunity to feel like they have access to forbidden or secret knowledge – a chance to seem smarter than others. It certainly adds to the appeal and immediately undermines the efforts of loved ones trying to pull them out” (News Literacy Project)

“One strategy they use is to take sides in existing debates. People who are deeply attached to one side of a culture war are likely to wield any and all arguments (including truths, half-truths, and opinions) if it helps them win. People invest their identity into the group and are more willing to believe fellow allies rather than perceived opponents – a phenomenon that sociologists call neo-tribalism.”

“The problem arises when people internalize disinformation as part of their identity. While news articles can be fact-checked, personal beliefs cannot. When conspiracy theories are part of someone’s value system or worldview, it is difficult to challenge them” (Tomas Nilsson).

In my upbringing, my community firmly believed that Jesus Christ was neither the Messiah nor the Savior of the world—a notion dismissed as a myth invented by others. It wasn’t until I researched for myself that I discovered His true identity and chose to believe in Him.

When did this supposed conspiracy start? It was on the third day after the crucifixion when Jesus’ tomb was found empty.

Luke 24:1-3

 1 But very early on Sunday morning, the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared.

 2 They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance.

 3 So they went in, but they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus.

How can this possibly be explained?

The disappearance of the dead body can only be accounted for in two ways. The first possibility is that the body was stolen. The second possibility is that the Lord Jesus Christ was resurrected from the dead, as He had predicted.

Mark 16:6 The angel said, “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body.

The religious leaders would have none of this. It didn’t fit their agenda. So they concocted a story, and a conspiracy theory was hatched. Remains in place down through the centuries.

Matthew 28:11-15

 12 And when they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers,

 13 and said, “You are to say, “His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.”

 15 And they took the money and did as they had been instructed, and this story was widely spread among the Jews and is to this day.

REFLECT & PRAY

“One of the common failings among honorable people is a failure to appreciate how thoroughly dishonorable some other people can be, and how dangerous it is to trust them” (Thomas Sowell).

Father, thank You for the empty tomb and the resurrection. Please help me to discern and dismiss conspiracy theories that are baseless and without merit.

INSIGHT

The spin doctors wove their web of deception, bribing soldiers to concoct a false narrative about the events. The tale they spun was questionable. Under Roman law, guards who fell asleep on duty faced execution, yet they claimed to have been sleeping. If they were indeed asleep, wouldn’t the noise of the massive stone being moved have woken them?

“The elders gave the soldiers instructions about the lie they were to tell the public. It is ironic that the thing the elders feared (theft of Jesus’ body by the disciples, the reason they posted soldiers at the tomb) became the story they concocted to explain the empty tomb” (Richison).

As with many conspiracy theories, this one had obvious flaws. It’s almost laughable that the soldiers were told to spread the rumor that Jesus’ disciples stole his body while they were asleep. If they were asleep, how could they possibly know what happened to Jesus’ body? Matthew recorded this narrative with a touch of irony and humor, highlighting how absurd it was to believe the rumor that Jesus’ disciples had taken his body (UBS).

“Anyone who stole the body would have taken the body in the graveclothes. Yet the empty graveclothes were left in the tomb in an orderly manner. This was hardly the scene of a grave robbery” (Wiersbe).

Interestingly, no one ever produced Jesus’ dead body. If the aim were to debunk the resurrection and disprove the nascent, emerging church, displaying the dead body would have sufficed.

The spin doctors wove their web of deception, bribing soldiers to concoct a false narrative about the events. The tale they spun was questionable. Under Roman law, guards who fell asleep on duty faced execution, yet they claimed to have been sleeping. If they were indeed asleep, wouldn’t the noise of the massive stone being moved have woken them?

“The elders gave the soldiers instructions about the lie they were to tell the public. It is ironic that the thing the elders feared (theft of Jesus’ body by the disciples, the reason they posted soldiers at the tomb) became the story they concocted to explain the empty tomb” (Richison).

As with many conspiracy theories, this one had obvious flaws. It’s almost laughable that the soldiers were told to spread the rumor that Jesus’ disciples stole his body while they were asleep. If they were asleep, how could they possibly know what happened to Jesus’ body? Matthew recorded this narrative with a touch of irony and humor, highlighting how absurd it was to believe the rumor that Jesus’ disciples had taken his body (UBS).

“Anyone who stole the body would have taken the body in the graveclothes. Yet the empty graveclothes were left in the tomb in an orderly manner. This was hardly the scene of a grave robbery” (Wiersbe).

So, what actually happened?

Jesus was crucified and buried, and He rose from the dead on the third day. This resurrection is a cornerstone of the Christian faith. The resurrection affirms that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of the world.

1 Corinthians 15:57 Thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.

HE IS RISEN!

HE IS RISEN INDEED!

¯\_(ツ)_/¯10-16-2

© Dr. H 2024