THE two words "conspiracy theory” have been bandied about throughout the world for decades. However, it has been ramped up even more since the start of the Covid-19 epidemic.

We will return to that aspect later.

What is a conspiracy theory? It is a belief that some secret but influential organisation is responsible for an event or phenomenon. Also, a theory that asserts that a secret of great importance is being kept from the public.

As I mentioned earlier, it is not a new concept, but I did not realise exactly how far back it goes. Interesting words are found in the Bible in Isaiah 8:12, 13 (English Standard Version): “Do not call conspiracy all that this people call conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. But the LORD of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread."

Okay, modern day conspiracy theories are anything but religious. More sacrilegious, perhaps!

Let us consider a few examples of them to give clarity to the unitiated. The biggest one to me because I had lived through the incident and it was a humongous feat. It happened in July 1969, when Apollo 11 was launched by the United States and NASA, and it marked the first time that man had landed on the moon.

The theory is that the moon landing was staged and the footage shown on TV was actually filmed in a Hollywood studio. Fact or luna(r)cy?

A few years earlier, another incident occurred which birthed a conspiracy theory - which prevails until now.

On November 22, 1963, John Fitzgerald Kennedy , commonly known as JFK, the 35th president of the United States, was assassinated while riding in a presidential motorcade through Dallas, Texas. A former US marine, Lee Harvey Oswald, was arrested for the deed. He was fatally shot two days later in the basement of the city’s police headquarters.

What is the conspiracy theory? It is that Oswald did not act alone in shooting JFK, but rather the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) or some other groups were in collusion.

It is now 2025 and it is still making news.

Recently re-elected US President Donald Trump had the long-closed classified files regarding the assassination declassified and open to public scrutiny. Much more information was uncovered in the files, but nothing to prove the long-standing theories as correct.

In 2011, in the Twin Tower attack, the US government was alleged by conspiracy theorists to have allowed the 9/11 attacks to succeed.

Eish…The US is deluged with conspiracy theories. Is there any reality left? We need to ask the Orange Knight a.k.a. Trump Vadar a.k.a. Donald McDuck.

Have you heard of Area 51?

Talking about lunacy-here we go: it is the common name for a highly-classified United States AirForce facility in Nevada. Previously used for testing new aircraft it has now descended to the ranks of folklore. Theorists believe that it is used to study and prove the existence of extra-terrestrial beings. And hold on to your hats – extra-terrestrial beings that have been captured are purported to be housed in this facility.

I now wonder is this where ET lives?

The Matrix was a highly-successful movie series starring Keanu Reeves. It created a new way of thinking that conspiracy theorists have lapped up eagerly. Any inexplicable phenomenon these days is attributed to The Matrix. Apparently, that explains everything.

How do we refute these theories? God Almighty, another subject common among conspiracy theorists, made us with a brain and the ability to think for ourselves. So let's not be what is now called “sheeple” and go along with whatever we hear. Think and reason for yourself.

It has been said that conspiracy theories thrive and flourish, especially during times of widespread anxiety or uncertainty. A classic case of this is the Covid-19 pandemic. Hoax was the explanation for the outbreak. Even science was called into question. The popular view was that sinister forces purposefully created the virus. There were so many theories flying around that it caused the Director-General of the World Health OrganiZation (WHO) to say that the pandemic has now become an “infodemic” because of so much of false information being circulated.

Then came the issue of THE VAX. The question became: "Should I or shouldn’t I?"

Among the many theories was that taking the vax would enable (dare I say?) The Matrix or some other nefarious organisation to read our minds and thoughts. That made me make my decision to get vaxxed. If some fool is stupid enough to want to enter my mind and read my thoughts, it serves him bloody right!

#conspiracy-theory

Man on the moon-just luna(r)cy?