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Secrets, Plots & Hidden Agendas: What You Don't Know About Conspiracy Theories
Were the government actions at Ruby Ridge and Waco "planned executions?" Has the national debt been deliberately increased to give international bankers control over the country? Is there a secret organization of top political, economic, military, and religious leaders whose goal is to control the entire planet? The people who answer "yes" to such questions are not just extremists; they number in the millions, wear suits, and pay their taxes. News of conspiracies has spread broadly by the Internet, by declassified government reports, by prominent leaders who publicly favor global government, and by interpretations of Bible prophecy. But what is the truth? In this book, Paul Coughlin uncovers the facts about prevalent conspiracy theories and discusses the reasons that so many people believe them to be true.
226 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 1999
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 11, 2016
Conspiracy Theorists both make me laugh (unintentionally) and, in large doses, give me a headache. They seem so intent on believing that they disregard 99.999% of the evidence and focus on some obscure 0.0001% data point.
It gets even worse. I've seen interviews where they refuse to acknowledge when an expert -- a person who actually have the training and experience to interpret the evidence in totality -- explains how the Conspiracy Theorists' data and. or interpretation is wrong.
And yet, the truth causes Conspiracy Theorists and their followers to dig in their heels deeper. And insult those of us who are actually thinking -- considering evidence sources, and accepting only high-quality, verified facts as evidence. Calling us "sheeple" for "sheep" + "people."
Problem is, the people who earn a living stoking people's fears enrage people over nothing. So while Alex Jones wrings his hands about the feds using Jade Helm 15 to impose martial law in the south, people freak-out. Inevitably, the conspiracy is exposed as a hoax when exposed to reality. Just like when nothing happened during jade Helm 15.
Conspiracy Theorists hoodwink their followers -- perhaps through knowingly lying, perhaps through honestly-held beliefs that smack of paranoid delusions -- into ignoring real-life tragedies, which are often less "explosive," though often just as deadly. Like Flint, where children were poisoned to save a few dollars. Or the on-going tragedy of cops shooting minorities without provocation, with smart phones capturing video that verifies what minorities have known all along: cops are more aggressive when dealing with minority criminals versus white criminals.
BTW. I love conspiracy in fiction. Thrillers, the "X-Files," Thomas Pynchon, etc. But when accusations based on 0.0001% of the data is presented as non-fiction, I have to draw the line. Just because something CAN BE a conspiracy does not mean it is.
One last counter-argument. Consider that a mainstream journalist who could source, document and prove even one of these over-arching conspiracies was true, they'd become instantly famous -- think the fame Woodward and Bernstein attained for Watergate. And for a poor-paying, anonymous occupation that journalism proves for most of its practitioners, that boost in income and profile means something.
For content and the generally confused way Coughlin locates, presents and analyzes data, I wold give this zero stars. But since the Good Reads algorithm does not count zero-stars, I'm giving this one-star.
Disclaimer: I am reading this as background for a fictional character I am including in a novel. He's a good-guy who is effective even though his head is rife with Conspiracy Theories.
It gets even worse. I've seen interviews where they refuse to acknowledge when an expert -- a person who actually have the training and experience to interpret the evidence in totality -- explains how the Conspiracy Theorists' data and. or interpretation is wrong.
And yet, the truth causes Conspiracy Theorists and their followers to dig in their heels deeper. And insult those of us who are actually thinking -- considering evidence sources, and accepting only high-quality, verified facts as evidence. Calling us "sheeple" for "sheep" + "people."
Problem is, the people who earn a living stoking people's fears enrage people over nothing. So while Alex Jones wrings his hands about the feds using Jade Helm 15 to impose martial law in the south, people freak-out. Inevitably, the conspiracy is exposed as a hoax when exposed to reality. Just like when nothing happened during jade Helm 15.
Conspiracy Theorists hoodwink their followers -- perhaps through knowingly lying, perhaps through honestly-held beliefs that smack of paranoid delusions -- into ignoring real-life tragedies, which are often less "explosive," though often just as deadly. Like Flint, where children were poisoned to save a few dollars. Or the on-going tragedy of cops shooting minorities without provocation, with smart phones capturing video that verifies what minorities have known all along: cops are more aggressive when dealing with minority criminals versus white criminals.
BTW. I love conspiracy in fiction. Thrillers, the "X-Files," Thomas Pynchon, etc. But when accusations based on 0.0001% of the data is presented as non-fiction, I have to draw the line. Just because something CAN BE a conspiracy does not mean it is.
One last counter-argument. Consider that a mainstream journalist who could source, document and prove even one of these over-arching conspiracies was true, they'd become instantly famous -- think the fame Woodward and Bernstein attained for Watergate. And for a poor-paying, anonymous occupation that journalism proves for most of its practitioners, that boost in income and profile means something.
For content and the generally confused way Coughlin locates, presents and analyzes data, I wold give this zero stars. But since the Good Reads algorithm does not count zero-stars, I'm giving this one-star.
Disclaimer: I am reading this as background for a fictional character I am including in a novel. He's a good-guy who is effective even though his head is rife with Conspiracy Theories.
June 19, 2016
Why did I listen this? Because I have an unhealthy obsession with conspiracy theories. Seriously. I love them. I think that they are so much fun to play with and manipulate to create new 'realities' all from the comfort of your own home.
Anyway. This book was not what I was hoping it would be... I was looking for a book that was written by some sort of a crack pot who actually believes this sort of stuff. Those are the fun ones. What I found instead was a brief overview of several well known conspiracy theories, followed by a critique of that conspiracy theory from a Christian perspective. Eh. It was all right. Not really the fun I was hoping for. And the refuting was lackluster at best.
Still, I made it through. Which is more than I can say about some books.
Anyway. This book was not what I was hoping it would be... I was looking for a book that was written by some sort of a crack pot who actually believes this sort of stuff. Those are the fun ones. What I found instead was a brief overview of several well known conspiracy theories, followed by a critique of that conspiracy theory from a Christian perspective. Eh. It was all right. Not really the fun I was hoping for. And the refuting was lackluster at best.
Still, I made it through. Which is more than I can say about some books.
July 25, 2024
A CHRISTIAN CRITIQUE OF VARIOUS "CONSPIRACY" THEORIES
Paul Coughlin is a freelance writer and radio show host, who has also written books such as 'No More Christian Nice Guy Study Guide,' etc.
He wrote, "the John Birch Society believes that the national debt has been deliberately increased in order to ruin America... These conspirators include the Federal Reserve under the leadership of Alan Greenspan, who was a protege of the late Ayn Rand and accepts libertarian economic theory---neither of which fits into a New World Order globalist philosophy." (Pg. 37)
He asserts, "many Christian conspiracy theories are altered anti-Semitic conspiracy theories that have been cleansed, for now, of their original intent to blame (Jewish persons) for the bulk of the world's problems." (Pg. 84) He notes that Pat Robertson's book The New World Order cites a racist and anti-Semitic author, Eustace Mullins. (Pg. 94)
He approvingly notes, "(Rush) Limbaugh is perhaps one of America's most influential and passionate opponents of irresponsible conspiracy theories, and the Christian conspiracy community knows that Limbaugh has the ear of numerous conservative evangelicals who might otherwise believe their end-times conspiracy theories..." (Pg. 124)
He observes that Matthew 24:32-33 "is interpreted by (Hal) Lindsey and others to prophesy the rebirth of the nation Israel, fulfilling a number of Old Testament prophecies... But nowhere in this chapter of Matthew, or in the entire Bible, does the Bible conclusively reveal that Israel is symbolized by a fig tree." (Pg. 144)
This is an excellent "corrective" to many trends that have circulated within the evangelical community for decades.
Paul Coughlin is a freelance writer and radio show host, who has also written books such as 'No More Christian Nice Guy Study Guide,' etc.
He wrote, "the John Birch Society believes that the national debt has been deliberately increased in order to ruin America... These conspirators include the Federal Reserve under the leadership of Alan Greenspan, who was a protege of the late Ayn Rand and accepts libertarian economic theory---neither of which fits into a New World Order globalist philosophy." (Pg. 37)
He asserts, "many Christian conspiracy theories are altered anti-Semitic conspiracy theories that have been cleansed, for now, of their original intent to blame (Jewish persons) for the bulk of the world's problems." (Pg. 84) He notes that Pat Robertson's book The New World Order cites a racist and anti-Semitic author, Eustace Mullins. (Pg. 94)
He approvingly notes, "(Rush) Limbaugh is perhaps one of America's most influential and passionate opponents of irresponsible conspiracy theories, and the Christian conspiracy community knows that Limbaugh has the ear of numerous conservative evangelicals who might otherwise believe their end-times conspiracy theories..." (Pg. 124)
He observes that Matthew 24:32-33 "is interpreted by (Hal) Lindsey and others to prophesy the rebirth of the nation Israel, fulfilling a number of Old Testament prophecies... But nowhere in this chapter of Matthew, or in the entire Bible, does the Bible conclusively reveal that Israel is symbolized by a fig tree." (Pg. 144)
This is an excellent "corrective" to many trends that have circulated within the evangelical community for decades.
March 9, 2019
This is a survey of many of the lunatic fringe groups and conspiracies around in the 90s. I could never believe that people believe some of the things they believe were it not for the Father of Lies (John 8:44).
NOTE: I'm stingy with stars. For me 2 stars means a good book or a B. 3 stars means a very good book or a B+. 4 stars means an outstanding book or an A {only about 5% of the books I read merit 4 stars}. 5 stars means an all time favorite or an A+ {Only one of 400 or 500 books rates this!).
NOTE: I'm stingy with stars. For me 2 stars means a good book or a B. 3 stars means a very good book or a B+. 4 stars means an outstanding book or an A {only about 5% of the books I read merit 4 stars}. 5 stars means an all time favorite or an A+ {Only one of 400 or 500 books rates this!).
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews