Why Do Christians Believe Conspiracies So Easily?

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. The problem with conspiracy theories lies in the difficulty of proving them untrue. People of faith are particularly susceptible to the conspiracies associated with Qanon, which claims that Donald Trump is waging a secret war. New research reveals that people of faith are particularly susceptible to the conspiracies associated with Qanon.

Christians who consider themselves “biblical literalists” and believers who agree with Christian beliefs are more susceptible to believing such disinformation. The rise of the internet and COVID-19 has exacerbated the issue, with white evangelicals, the most religiously devout group among those surveyed by YouGov, being particularly susceptible to supporting QAnon and believing other conspiracy theories. Religion, especially evangelical Christianity, seems to play an outsized role in this division, acting as an accelerant to wild rumors, conspiracy theories, and conspiracy thinking.

The false conspiracy theory known as QAnon is moving from fringe Internet chatrooms into mainstream politics. A Republican congressional candidate in the US has been accused of supporting QAnon. As pastors, we must ask: How have we arrived at the place where millions of Christians have placed their faith in these theories, which have been proven to be false?

Research shows that white evangelicals are more likely to believe in the conspiracy theory known as QAnon than any other religious group. We illuminate conspiracy rumormongering by viewing it through the lens of Christian psychology. We propose that at the core of the anxiety surrounding conspiracy theories lies the belief that people who believe in God are also susceptible to such disinformation.