What Makes Evangelicals Think That Conspiracies Are True?

Conspiracy theories are not inherently problematic or dangerous just because they have not yet been proven true. For example, Watergate began as a conspiracy theory and after evidence mounted, it proved to be a fact. However, the problem with conspiracy theories lies in their difficulty to prove. Research shows that white evangelicals are more likely to believe in the conspiracy theory known as QAnon than any other religious group.

Some evangelical circles have incubated and spread conspiracy theories for years, part of a movement called Christian nationalism that researchers call a threat to American society. The most active conspiracy theories in North America include the so-called ‘great replacement theory’.

Conspiration theories about COVID-19 concern the origins of the coronavirus and the belief that the pandemic situation is being used by those in the church. Christian nationalism and biblical literalism independently predict conspiracy thinking, but the effect of Christian nationalism increases.

The goal of QAnon, Chaos, and the Cross: Christianity and Conspiracy Theories is twofold: 1) to explain why evangelical Christians are more likely than other groups to believe in these theories, and 2) to investigate the reasons behind the rise in belief in conspiracies during times of crisis.

There has been a significant overlap between Christian fundamentalism and millennialism in the United States since the early twentieth century, and belief in conspiracy theories has increased. One prominent theory is that Americans who have no religious affiliation find themselves attracted to other causes, such as the Q craze.