Roger Passman-Fischel 
How falsehoods undermine reason and fuel hatred
1. Conspiracies and Prevarications: Conspiracy Theories Begin with Incredulity
Conspiracies and Prevarications often arise from incredulity masquerading as evidence. Take the “ancient alien” theory. Proponents claim that extraterrestrials built the pyramids because early humans lacked the technology. The argument rests not on facts but on disbelief: “I cannot think of another explanation, so aliens must have done it.” While this theory may seem harmless, the same formula feeds far more dangerous ideas.
Consider Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene’s claim about “Jewish space lasers” controlling world events. This theory extends centuries-old antisemitic conspiracies, such as the “Protocols of the Elders of Zion,” which falsely accuse Jews of plotting global domination. Such myths perpetuate hatred and violence, drawing on the same incredulity that powers less harmful ideas.
2. Conspiracies and Prevaricationsas Tools of Control
Throughout history, Conspiracies and Prevarications often arise from incredulity masquerading as evidence. Religious leaders, political figures, and demagogues have exploited misinformation to manipulate populations. In 1096 C.E., Pope Urban II encouraged Christians to embark on the First Crusade. He claimed that God promised them absolution and heaven in return for killing “infidels.” This divine mandate was, at best, dubious.
German knights traveling to the Levant stopped to massacre Jewish communities along the Rhine. They justified their atrocities with antisemitic conspiracies, including the blood libel myth, which falsely accused Jews of murdering Christian children for ritual purposes. These slanders, fabricated to dehumanize Jews, became tools of oppression. But the underlying reason for this genocide lay in the words of Pope Urban II who invited crusaders to slay the non-believers in Jerusalem. For the German knights, the non-believing Jews were heathens just like the Muslims so why not practice here?
3. Misinformation’s Enduring Power: Conspiracies and Prevarications
Centuries later, the fabricated “Protocols of the Elders of Zion” provided Nazi Germany with a pretext for genocide. Adolf Hitler used this debunked text to justify the Holocaust, manipulating widespread antisemitism to rally his followers.
Similarly, modern conspiracy theories like QAnon drive radicalization, spreading baseless claims about secret cabals and global plots. These lies corrode reason, feeding hatred and distrust.
4. Conspiracies and Prevarications: The Rise of Authoritarianism
Today, authoritarian movements exploit conspiracy theories to erode trust in institutions and undermine democracy. Former President Donald Trump’s rhetoric exemplifies this. His false claims about election fraud galvanized an attack on the U.S. Capitol. As Trump prepares for a potential return to power, his conviction for financial crimes echoes Adolf Hitler’s rise in 1930s Germany. Both figures leveraged misinformation to rally disillusioned supporters and challenge democratic norms.
5. Conspiracies and Prevarications: Why Facts Matter
In an age of rampant falsehoods, facts serve as our last defense against tyranny. Rational discourse and evidence-based decision-making protect societies from the dangers of incredulity and hate. When conspiracy theories dominate, truth and reason give way to bluster and prevarication, leaving nations vulnerable to authoritarianism. Conspiracies and Prevarications lead down a dark trail where roadblocks to truth run amok and communities are ripped apart as they become entrenched in the lies leaving them separated from those for whom reason and verifiable truth is a primary focus of their ability to navigate the world. In the words of the early Union solidarity song, “WHO’S SIDE ARE YOU ON?”
Sources Cited
Pipes, D. (1997). Conspiracy: How the Paranoid Style Flourishes and Where It Comes From. Simon & Schuster.
Popper, K. (2002). The Open Society and Its Enemies. Routledge.
Lipstadt, D. (2011). The Eichmann Trial. Schocken Books.
Bronner, S. E. (2019). A Rumor about the Jews: Antisemitism, Conspiracy, and the Protocols of Zion. Oxford University Press.
Snyder, T. (2017). On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century. Crown.
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Suggestions for Further Reading
Douglas, K. M., et al. (2019). The Psychology of Conspiracy Theories. Examines the cognitive biases fueling conspiracy beliefs.
Sunstein, C. R., & Vermeule, A. (2009). Conspiracy Theories: Causes and Cures. Analyzes how conspiracies spread and persist.
Hannah Arendt (1951). The Origins of Totalitarianism. A seminal work on authoritarianism and its reliance on false narratives.
Gottfried, P. E. (2004). The Strange Death of Marxism. Explores ideological shifts and conspiracy theories in modern politics.
Lipstadt, D. (2016). Denial: Holocaust History on Trial. A powerful argument against historical denialism.
Barkun, M. (2006). A Culture of Conspiracy. Investigates the link between UFOs, extremism, and conspiracy theories.
Kermode, F. (1967). The Sense of an Ending. Discusses how narratives shape our understanding of events.
Shermer, M. (1997). Why People Believe Weird Things. A skeptical look at the allure of pseudoscience and conspiracies.
Snyder, T. (2022). The Road to Unfreedom. Tracks the rise of authoritarianism in the West.
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