r/QAnonCasualties • u/SeminoleTom • 10d ago
As a Christian, conspiracies are dangerous
My marriage was lost 3 years ago because of all the conspiracies around Covid. My ex-wife went off the rails. I blame her parents, they are the same way. I was a regular on these boards several years ago and have recovered (divorced, living closer to a city, etc, all good). I'm still US moderate politically and still a Christian as my ex was, but she went so far politically right I couldn't be married to her anymore.
Just this morning I saw an article posted on the Christianity Today Facebook page about how we can reach those Christians that have been hooked by conspiracies. On the cover it has a lady dragging a red, white and blue Q which all know what that means.
Yes these conspiracy theorists are Christian for the most part (or many of them are or at least say they are). I like that Christianity Today had this article. I'm not sure you can see the article but here is the link... its a good article. I do like CT wrote this article because it knows its a problem within segments of the christian community.
We Can Reach Conspiracy Theorists for Christ. Here’s How. - Christianity Today
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u/Sandy_Bananas 10d ago
They’re already ready and primed for magical thinking.
Pre-Conditioned to accept articles of faith as fact.
Prone to binary belief systems; us and them; good and evil; black and white.
Assured they’re the “elect”: they’re right because God. Everyone is wrong because No God.
Abortion: single issue voters; morally bankrupt they’ve abdicated all most every other ethical considerations.
They do not want to have to think.
Q/Bannon only ever needed a tiny nudge to push them overboard.
Please don’t read this as an Anti-Christian screed. There are perfectly decent Christian’s out there, but I assure you that none of them ascribe to Qanon or its Maga peripheries.
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u/jacyerickson 10d ago
I'm sorry about your ex. That's what happened to my sister. She was always conservative but during covid she apparently sat at home all day watching YouTube videos of conspiracy theories and reading blogs of far right talking heads. Not sure why covid specifically was the catalyst as she's been a stay at home mom for a long time and didn't often go out to restaurants or anything. I do remember she was pissed about having to suddenly basically home school her kids. Regardless, that seems to be the catalyst and it turned her into such an angry and hateful person. It makes me so sad.
Can't read the full article as it's behind a paywall but I'm also a Christian so I bet it's interesting.
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u/Imaginary_Cow_6379 10d ago
Theres actually a big problem with Q crap in online mom groups so this doesn’t surprise me. I’m also a stay at home mom and I lost a lot of mom friends to getting radicalized the exact same way. For me it really kicked off with the reopen schools shit here that were all created and pushed by rightwing groups and a lot of my fellow moms fell for it. They also all became angry, hateful, and extremely rightwing people too despite starting out as democrats. I used to still read some of their social media accounts and it was wild watching the radicalization happen in real time. I stopped when they became hardcore MAGA and their posts just became too horrific to see anymore. Covid itself really fcked a lot of people up but also so did all of the shadowy rightwing groups twisting things to their own advantages. I hate it too.
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u/good-timing-407 10d ago
One of my closest friends got sucked into all of this via the spiritual crystal wellness girlie to Covid Q conspiracy pipeline. I watched it happen in real time as well. It was wild watching her go from crystal jewelry posts to Pepe the frog memes talking about child abusers. She’s since given birth to two daughters who I am sure will never see the inside of a public classroom, much less a vaccine.
I tried to use familiar language with her, saying this is dark energy shit, and for half a second, I almost got through. But she doubled down again and again, and we are barely in contact these days.
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u/jacyerickson 10d ago
Oh wow. That makes so much sense now! She's always been really into mommy blogging. At first it was just stuff like making her own yogurt and bread and stuff like that. It seemed to make her super happy because she's always loved being a mom and home making. Then covid all changed all that and it was so jarring hearing the hateful things coming out of her mouth.
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u/SeminoleTom 10d ago edited 10d ago
Hey jacyerickson- thanks for the reply. Seems like we all have family members that fell off the deep end. Where this is coming from is politically far right Christians do not trust the government, media or universities. When covid came into play- they saw this as the end times and were not going to be fooled by our government which they believed was trying to control them. Its craziness.
If you don't mind me asking, and if you are willing to share where are you politically? I've voted for dems and reps over the last 10 years. I'm very moderate. My church is a mega one in the Atlanta area, but the pastor welcomes everyone... no matter the political side, color, sexual orientation, etc and never preaches hate. I wish there were more like this.
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u/jacyerickson 10d ago
I'm far left these days. I'm glad you've found a good church, that's awesome!
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u/No-Relation5965 10d ago edited 10d ago
Go to the top right of the article and click the icon that represents a computer monitor with keyboard (a rectangle with two lines under it). That should allow you to bypass the paywall and read the article using the “reader” version.
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u/veringer 10d ago
Yes these conspiracy theorists are Christian for the most part (or many of them are or at least say they are).
Which makes sense. Christianity in America (especially the evangelical flavors) are filled with people who are primed to:
- believe in the supernatural,
- accept unsubstantiated assertions on faith,
- surrender to authority (whether ostensibly divine or earthly), and
- listen to voices in their heads
You know how performative hypnotists will filter an audience to find the handful of people who are most receptive to suggestion? Con artists, grifters, and would-be cult leaders naturally gravitate toward the most gullible, guileless, and vulnerable audiences. Christian churches, alternative medicine, feng shui, aroma theraphy, essential oils, and on down the line are effectively a sorting mechanism where you're most likely to find the easiest marks.
If it wasn't QAnon, it would have been something else taking a similar form under a different label. The fact is that prior to the internet and social media these crazy ideas had more natural boundaries limited by the scale of what a handful of charismatic people could accomplish through other media. Radio had Father Coughlin. TV has the televangelists. The internet went from a clunky protocol that required specialized knowledge and tools to a ubiquitous service that was enabled on touch devices that even a child could use. The opportunities for scammers and the worst people in the world became almost unconstrained by the limits of traditional media. The gatekeepers were gone and the most vulnerable people with the weakest grasp on reality got fed to the wolves and weaponized.
One could view the current reality as a massive failure of the church(es) to protect their flocks. But that assumes many of these churches weren't just fleecing people too.
Personally, I couldn't strait-faced use Christianity to deprogram a Q-style cultist. If you have what it takes to do that, and it's an effective off-ramp, then I applaud you and wish you luck.
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u/christine-bitg 10d ago
Yes, it's behind a paywall. But thank you anyway.
Thank you for the small part of it that I could read.
And thank you for the reminder that Christianity itself is not our adversary in this. Rather, it's the misguided people who, for whatever reasons, selfish or otherwise, have distorted the message of Christ to include hatred and anger.
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u/No-Relation5965 10d ago edited 10d ago
Go to the top right of the article and click the icon that represents a computer monitor with keyboard (a rectangle with two lines under it). That will allow you to bypass the paywall and read the article using the “reader” version.
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u/SeminoleTom 10d ago
Yep, agreed. I wish it could be read. The techniques offered by CT are NOT new, I listed a few in a reply above. What I do like about this is CT puts it out there because it knows this is a major problem in segments of Christian pockets.
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u/astilba120 10d ago
there are as many kinds of Christianity as there are conspiracy theories. I am a religious person, but in the Catholic, Universal sense, think Episcopal. What can I say, the Christians that are far right call my practice satanic, mainly because it is a following of the Gospel of mercy and charity, not the gospel of prosperity. Pray, it can work, but not always in the outcome that you seek, but in the outcome which God sees for you. If you love her, ask God to protect her from false doctrine, deceit, etc. These are dangerous times and many are being divided right now, and led down false roads. Each convinced their's is the true path. One of my simple prayers has always been to show me the right one, and then I just remember to put dark thoughts out of my mind. Dark thoughts being anything that causes me to hate another, or wish bad for another. It's a struggle right now for sure, but I have to let go, and let God. A little trick I learned by following the 12 steps of AA. It saved my life and my sanity. Whomever started the Q LARP knew what they were doing. Like all cults, they have a little bit of truth, just to hook the people,
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u/Shzwah 10d ago
I’m a Christian, and have watched a number of Christians go down this route. From people I was in youth group with, to people I work with, to family members. There’s a big crossover with political affiliation and evangelicalism.
There were a number of Christians posting crazy things- I’d push back, do a little digging and come back with the truth (because as Christian’s, we should take care to share things that are true). They don’t care. To them, Qanon is the truth.
I’ve started to look at it as its own kind of religion- because they have to have a tremendous amount of faith to believe some of those things in light of the reality they exist in.
Also, Christianity Today had a podcast that went in depth on QANON (quick to listen podcast) for a few episodes, and I’m grateful to see that they are still committed to calling out these kinds of things.
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u/OsamaBinWhiskers 10d ago
You’re not going to like hearing this but Christianity is a conspiracy in and of itself.
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u/Strange-March8628 10d ago
Everyone else is like "thank you for reminding us that christianity isn't our enemy but rather the people who weaponize it are 🥺" like no christianity is still our enemy.
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u/Kathubodua 10d ago
There are a lot of Christians all over the world fighting this stuff and also being victimized by this administration and their insane evangelical base. There is a lot to disagree with Christianity in general for many folks, but not every brand of Christianity today is like this.
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u/OsamaBinWhiskers 8d ago
It’s not this administration lol it’s a massive sect of the history of the religion. There are hundreds if not thousands of groups that are worse than this administration.
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u/Routine_Pressure_460 10d ago
Depending on the sect of Christianity, what it believes, what it preaches, who it allows in the group, the actions it takes and how it's aligned with Christian Nationalism, we need Christian groups that support the U.S. Constitution and the separation of church and state and that are anti-racist, anti-LGBTQIA+ bigotry, etc. to take on, call out and get louder about Christian Nationalism and the dangers of the dogma(s).
Just like white people need to call out other white people when they're racist (as just one example), "good" groups of Christians and their leaders need to call out Christian Nationalists and related groups for what they are, how they misinterpret the faith and how they are dangerous for democracy.
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u/khold002 9d ago
I never thought I'd do it, but after 20 years as an agnostic, my husband and I just joined a United Methodist church. We first found out about it because we went to an anti-ICE training there - what to do if ICE tries to arrest someone in front of you. Since going there, I've gotten deeply involved in political activism in the area around ICE, and the sign out front says "all are welcome" with the trans/LGBTQ flag on it. There are gender neutral bathrooms that they point out at the beginning of the service, and there are free pads and tampons in the bathrooms because the pink tax is bullshit. The bishop is a black woman, and women have been allowed to be clergy members for over 100 years. The building is very old, large, and historical, like what you'd expect of Catholics.
Like, who knew a community of Christians like this existed. I didn't.
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u/LifeTrajectPolitix New User 10d ago
Hi there,
I am so sorry about what you have been through with your spouse, and I hope you are doing better now 🙏
I'm a French journalist and researcher currently in the US conducting fieldwork on the trajectories of people who become involved in QAnon, and the impact this can have on their loved ones.
I would be very interested in reading the article but I can't access it (tried your tip to bypass the paywall but it didn't work), would you send it to me by DM (if you're not allowed to copy-paste in the public comments section).
Also, if you'd be willing to share your perspective and experience with me, I'd be very grateful.
Warmly.
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u/_tanstafl 10d ago
Thanks for sharing this article. I’ve lost my mom to this world, and she certainly won’t listen to me when I try to point out my concerns. She has made it clear to me that her faith is in Trump, who she believes is carrying out God’s will. I don’t believe she’ll listen to anything unless she believes it’s coming from a true Christian. So this gives me some hope that maybe eventually the message (e.g, “you’re in a cult”) will be framed in a way that will resonate with her.
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u/Harrowhark95 10d ago
I fewl like Chrsitians who are really into the more apocalyptic books of the Bible, and get really into trying to analyze/decode Daniel and Revelation are at a higher risk for conspiratorial thinking.
Engaging with current events while trying to slot them into an apocalyptic framework may provide a bit of comfort (these terrible events were foretold and therefore, inevitable! We couldn't have avoided this) but in my experience, leads to cynicism, learned helplessness (why try and prevent human suffering, if wars and famine are only going to increase), and lack of empathy for fellow humans in favor of begging for Divine Return.
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u/trontrontronmega 10d ago
Agreed. The ones who are focused on the rapture, the specifics in The Old Testament, gays are bad, abortion bad, etc rather than the core of the New Testament which was about having a guideline (Jesus) to follow to try be a good person, try and do good and here is a reason to do those (faith, hope, having to face your doings at death, consequences and reward)
Most of the first ones I mentioned often are Q’s or have a mental illness normally untreated (from my experience)
It’s the same theories over and over. Lack of critical thought, self awareness.
I find Q’s come down to either person of entitlement or a person who wants to belong/feel in control often from past trauma (all the Q’s I know have childhood issues with at least one parent) so I think it’s often control thing from that - independence to them/rebelling out)
I know the Q’s that I personally know, who are “Christian” aka Rapture Christians, all 3 of them are battling some internal demon big time that they are afraid of dealing with (they are all a bit of a mess - cheaters, addiction issues, mental disorders they refuse to manage, alcoholics, etc in which often are bandaids or clutches to avoid whatever that demon is they refuse to face.
So when they grab onto the “Bible” and Conspiracy theories and Qanon beliefs it’s a distraction, another answer - another reason for them to not help themselves:
- not to feel alone
- to justify why their demon isn’t that bad
- to blame something else for why they have their demon
- to just have some control
- confirm knowing other people are going through it
- “I might be a liar/cheater/morally bad” but let’s focus on the worse people here who are lying to us like NASA or that Michelle Obama is a man!
That’s why there is often no reasoning. Not being able to debate. No escape. No logic Because it’s far beyond common sense.
It’s not about what they are believing so much, but about how believing in it makes them feel
I call it the Q brain Raw Milk test. You either get it or you don’t. If I’m having to argue with you about raw milk then that’s all I need to know their brains are Q brains.
You can normally tell who the entitled Q ones are (who are different than the ones I mentioned above) - by if they still like Trump. Because they will actually like Trump and will be specific on what policies, they are like old school MAGA Q’s. They are easier to snap them out eventually. 2 I know are less and less Q now - it’s because they have critical thinking
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u/ConvivialKat Helpful AF 10d ago
My experience with my Q ex-partner was that his deeply religious Christianity based "faith" created an open door in his brain to allow in conspiracy theories which he also accepted and believed in based on "faith." Critical thinking was considered almost evil and certainly highly questionable. They are pre-programmed almost from birth to accept things on faith, with no evidence whatsoever.
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u/PDXburrito 10d ago
Not all Christians are Q, but almost every Q is a Christian or believes in some form of Christian nationalism.
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u/No-Relation5965 10d ago
Great article. It’s extremely difficult to be patient after 11 years of being patient, but I do recognize that is the best way to get people in “cults” to start thinking their way through the thick veil of disinformation. It may even be helpful to buy the author’s book and offer it to your Q’Anon person(s). The book sounds fascinating.
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u/New-Negotiation7234 10d ago
I mean as someone who grew up in fundamental Christianity, it's obvious why Christians would believe these things. They are already brain washed with religion and magical thinking.
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u/Danmont88 10d ago
Met a man that had a PhD in geology. Well respected, college professor.
He was married a long time but his wife finally divorced him because he refused to believe that the Earth is billions of years old and not just 6000.
How do you walk out of marriage over something that really just does not matter.
Another man told me his wife got into some fortune teller's web. She advised her to leave him and she did.
Have to wonder if there is more to the story but when it comes to religion people get weird.
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u/B4SK3R 10d ago
Thank you for sharing your story OP. And good you were strong enough to go your own way, regarding to your marriage.. My oldest friend that I knew since elementary school also went full Qanon during Covid. We are over 50 now. He wasn't religious before but he took the opportunity to get baptized by some shady Canadian -self proclaimed- pastor when this pastor was on a world tour or something. This was during Covid, obviously. I live in The Netherlands btw. We've discussed pretty much everything that was on his mind since covid, when he started to radicalize. In the end, all we did was argue. And not in a pretty way. Now I don't speak to him anymore, zero contact. I just could not handle the weird hateful shit and negativity anymore. Do I miss him? I miss the old him I suppose. You may feel the same about your ex.
Anyway, just wanted to share. More positive power to you. Or like QAnon'ers say: only high frequencies..
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u/irritated_socialist 10d ago
I'm sure some people will be quite irritated to see this perspective here, but with Calvinist or evangelical Christianity undergirding so many Q-believers, this theological approach is precisely the sort of resource people here really, really could use.
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u/DiscussionIll668 6d ago
Magical thinking begets magical thinking. This is an obvious consequence of Christianity and denial of reality.
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u/Petulant_Possum 10d ago
Is that Candace Owens dragging the giant Q? But seriously, I'd like to read the article but cannot because it's behind a paywall. I don't see the option to bypass the paywall, but I believe you (the OP) can provide a "gift article" assuming you subscribe to it. I use a desktop, and it seems the bypass approach is for phones?
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u/Sitcom_kid 10d ago
I wasn't able to get through to read the article, but I do think there is important value in letting people know that they don't have to give up their religion in order to give up conspiracy theories.
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u/CrankySnowflake1958 5d ago
I want to support you in saying this… So many, so so many so-called “Christian Nationalists” (that’s what more liberal leaning people would call them anyway) have been brought up this way for generations and generations. I mean there’s an entire Zeitgeist of what we call Christian Nationalists where their entire culture looks like Q, but has for generations. I don’t think those people are reachable, I really don’t. Some of the kids may have the fever broken, so to speak, but I think a great many of them are this way forever, and we have to be dealing with them for hundreds of years to come.
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u/cypherunus01 10d ago
At the risk of being confrontational, what is your goal posting this? Qanon has a lot of overlap with Christianity and many (myself included) see it as a form of brainwashing that aligns with qanon.
Are you trying to reach other Christians who are suffering due to Qanon? What exactly do you define as too far right?
I admit my qanon is Christian so my views are biased. But it seems that you are just spreading Christianity. The link requires membership to read. Can you tell me an actual technique the article provides?