What’s a conspiracy theory you actually find believable?
On Conspiracy Theories and Discernment
Since antiquity, conspiracy theory has been a tool of propaganda—wielded by politicians, academics, journalists, and businessmen alike to manufacture sensational headlines, chase personal fame, consolidate power, or amass wealth.
Yet belief in a conspiracy theory is not necessarily a sign of intellectual deficiency. More often, it is an expression of powerlessness or hopelessness—a cry from those who feel excluded from the centres of trust. For distrust is not a modern invention; it is rooted in human nature itself.
As the world grows harsher, it deploys conspiratorial narratives to amplify distrust, foment disorder, and mobilise hatred across continents. Whether historical or trending, global or regional, these theories find fertile ground—and are now amplified indiscriminately by the internet.
But conspiracies are not merely theoretical. They occur in daily life. We have read of small-scale collusion—like doctors in private clinics conspiring with patients to issue fraudulent COVID-19 vaccination exemptions. And we have seen the grander scale of deception—as with Purdue Pharma, whose executives and owners actively misled doctors and the public about the addictive dangers of OxyContin. These are not theories; they are greed made manifest.
Greed fertilises conspiracy, and greed, as Scripture reminds us, is rooted in sin (1 Timothy 6:10). It entangles itself in manipulation, control, and destruction—whether in the pursuit of political power or market dominance.
For my part, I have never believed in any conspiracy theory. I place my trust in facts, testimonies, and lived experience—some of which have indeed unveiled conspired manipulations and scheming plots. Yet I also recognise the psychological harm that conspiracy theories inflict. As the Chinese proverb warns: “Mistaking the reflection of a bow in a wine glass for a snake.” They create invisible enemies, breed self-panic, and erode our grip on reality.
Ideally, conspiracy theories should be removed from the internet as tumour cells are excised from the body. But we must take care not to misjudge facts as conspiracy—for Scripture counsels: “Do not call everything a conspiracy that this people call a conspiracy; do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it” (Isaiah 8:12).
May the Almighty Lord grant us the wisdom of discernment. And may this poem help us choose the right side to stand.
—
✨ Love the False, Shun the True ✨
Living in this era,
Lies are beautiful.
The more lies are told,
The false becomes real.
People believe in lies
But do not love the truth.
Fallacy seeks to reign;
Truth is twisted askew.
Wisdom turns to nonsense;
Folly gains the stage.
Truth is often cruel—
The true path must be lonely.
What others discard,
I will not abandon.
Courage empowers me.
Through practice,
I gain mastery
To distinguish good from bad.
To choose the true or the false—
The one who discerns is wise.
—✨
en yan hua fang 