Deny. Deflect. Dismiss. Defame. Deride.
Calling something a “conspiracy theory” is nothing new.
Politicians, news organizations, indeed, all people try to point others away from TRUTH.
Watch our Truth in Two video to find out why (full text below).
Be wary when politicians and newsrooms cry “Conspiracy!” It may just be true.
Subscribe to “Truth in Two” videos from Comenius (here). Mark is President of The Comenius Institute (website). Dr. Eckel spends time with Christian young people in public university (1 minute video), hosts a weekly radio program with diverse groups of guests (1 minute video), and interprets culture from a Christian vantage point (1 minute video). Consider becoming a Comenius patron (here).
Picture Credit: Luke Renoe, Snappy Goat, Wikipedia
FULL TEXT
Taxi drivers are well known for promoting their views on topics of passion for them. I have had numerous cab rides where I was captive to a few far-fetched theories. Mel Gibson was an exact match for such a cab driver when he starred in the 1997 film Conspiracy Theory. Gibson’s character seems quite deluded from the outside. The viewer is set up to think “He’s a mad man!” His sources of information are suspect. He lives in an apartment full of newspapers, floor to ceiling. His friends, those he has, see him on the street and walk the other way.
He is duped by multiple conspiracies, until one day, a conspiracy he’s followed turns out to be factual. The hapless hoarder turns into a wanted man by a shadowy group who want to eliminate the taxi driver for exposing the nefarious consort. The movie Conspiracy Theory becomes a thriller, leaving the audience to wonder, “Could what I think is a joke, turn out to be real?”
Far more serious for our everyday lives is when politicians or media personalities label another point of view as a “conspiracy theory.” When a politician wants to deflect an investigation or potential impropriety, they will say, “That’s just so-and-so’s conspiracy theory.” Depending on the news source, commentators will promote or attack what some politician calls a “conspiracy.” Deflecting blame or distracting attention away from what we need to investigate is a notorious political ploy.
But then again, how often do we deflect responsibility, not wanting our wrongdoing exposed? At the Comenius Institute we believe media and politicians should be held to account for their words and works. Proverbs gives us the option: despise transcendent counsel or accept wisdom God embeds in His creation. Conspiracies are often obvious but sometimes people cry “Conspiracy!” when we are really looking at the truth. Sometimes cab drivers are right.
For Truth in Two, this is Dr. Mark Eckel, President of the Comenius Institute, personally seeking truth wherever it’s found.