Reasons not to believe in conspiracy theories

Conspiracy theories are the heart and soul of tabloids. They thrive on them because many people believe everything they see on TV and what they read in magazine or newspaper. Tabloids rely on false information and doctored photographs showing that this or that celebrity is dying or fooling around. Some of these stories are reworked and put out again to attract more suckers willing to part with the coin for salacious pandering.

On the other hand, we all know that governments lie to us and hide the truth. Politicians instinctively fail to tell the truth because they know what the voters want to hear, and it's not necessarily the truth. If there is any conspiracy to believe it is that one cannot rely on the government in case of a true catastrophe. Governments don't really care for their citizens. The only reason they do anything is to acquire support and votes.

Religion has a straightforward way of dealing with this, as indicated in these two biblical references:

"Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain." (1 Corinthians 3:18-20)

"And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie." (Revelation 22:10-15)

Basically, God is telling man to stop being a fool and pretending to be wise, as in thinking that we know everything.

Science, on the other hand, has a different approach. As I've said before science needs proof and verifiable data. This is where most conspiracy theories break down. They have no real data or proof, or the data is interpreted incorrectly.

Many conspiracy theories are downright insane. They involve people communicating with aliens on extraterrestrial planets or traveling to these planets. As we know, that is currently impossible, unless these people are psychics and are capable of teleporting. Yeah, right!

A good example of conflicting data is in the JFK assassination. There is credible evidence for a second shooter, but at the same time there is good evidence that Oswald was the only shooter.

Another example is the evidence that UFO's exist based on very reliable testimony from professional astronauts and pilots. And yet, there is no verifiable evidence that any UFO's ever landed on Earth.

Conspiracy theories are traditionally used to rationalize evil. People that propose these theories believe that everything is a plot by evil forces, which is usually associated with a government or a secret society. Conspiracy theories are endemic of attempts to use epistemology instead of scientific method. In other words, they assume that all significant events have a significant cause and philosophize about what the cause might be. In most cases, these theories have a psychological basis, and in some cases it involves a populous reaction to an assassination or a catastrophe. It's just the way it is.

Thanks for reading.