Conspiracy Theorists and the Meaning of Life
You may think of conspiracy theorists as pessimistic shut-ins, wearing tinfoil hats and wallowing in paranoia. This isn’t always true, but it’s the stereotype that people have in their heads. In general, non-conspiracy theorists view conspiracy theorists as pessimists. But in fact, there’s a quiet and naive optimism about the perpetually paranoid.
Bringing Order to the World
The world is a crazy and chaotic place, and as humans we’re constantly searching for a meaning behind it all. Some people find that meaning in organized religion; some find it through trust in the scientific method, and others learn to let go of the search entirely. Conspiracy theorists, on the other hand, find meaning through paranoia. Whether it’s belief in the Illuminati or the lizard people or just the US Government, conspiracy theorists think that someone is out there pulling the strings, keeping the world running according to their will, instead of just having random events happening without purpose.
A Seductive Idea
Conspiracy theories can be very seductive, especially since we know that conspiracies really do happen. This makes it a good middle ground between Science and Religion. Think about it. Religion explains almost everything, but with no real evidence. Science provides evidence, but doesn’t explain everything. Paranoid conspiracy theories provide a balance of evidence and meaning. And because conspiracies theories cover that “middle ground” between faith and empiricism, it’s easy to fall into a slippery slope. First you start with a known conspiracy, such as Watergate. Then you move on to a controversial but plausible conspiracy, like the assassination of JFK. Finally, you move into the realm of full-on conspiracy theorists, where every policy decision is made by a dozen people in a smokey room. Or maybe aliens in a spaceship. The extent of such conspiracy theories is limited only by your imagination.
As for me, I think it’s best to let go of the search for meaning. Finding the meaning of life is like grasping onto sand. The harder you try, the more it eludes you.
interesting comment towards the end there,
I find being a conspiracy enthusiast calming to my mind.
everyone is entitled to their own beliefs and conspiracy theorists know this better than anyone.
Why is it that they have a bad name for themselves? Because they pushed their beliefs too hard and some even spend their lives trying to find the evidence.
That is where I like what you said about them having a balance between religion and science.
In terms of the meaning of life; I don’t think there is one.
Although there are almost 7billion other people living lives just as complex as our own, we all strive for the same thing; all third world countries live to survive and all first world countries work to live. There really is no big picture. we are a bit of a plague to this planet.