Letter: Christians are no more prone to conspiracy theories than any other big group

Ted S. Warren, Associated Press

I really don’t believe the so-called “research polls” in a recent Deseret News article (“Why would Christians embrace conspiracy theories?” March 28). It is sort of risky trying to postulate that people of faith (including Christians) are supposedly more inclined to believe conspiracy theories.

Personally, I don’t think that a person’s religious faith makes them bigoted, unless they are in the majority, and fear “change” or being displaced. Only then do people tend to get paranoid. They may fear that their “dominant-status” is threatened.

In the United States, it is simply a matter of numbers: Christians comprise the majority. Any big group is prone to gossip. When gossip is mixed with fear or uncertainty, you have created a conspiracy theory that will spread like wildfire. Let’s try to quell conspiracy fears and seek justice via solid, rational proof and evidence.

James A. Marples

Provo

from Deseret News https://ift.tt/3dyt7pS