How Conspiracy Theories About Coronavirus are Helping People Cope
What is it about tragedy that breeds conspiracy theories? This has been my question since the pandemic began. What is about theories that force people to turn to it when disaster hits? It seems every time there is a disaster, there are also conspiracy theories right around the corner. I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about this and my conclusion is this, conspiracy theories bring security. Look, just like anyone else,I am not a fan of conspiracy theories, especially the dangerous ones. But I think in dealing with coronavirus, I am developing another feeling towards it.
Here is my pitch, we need to give people the freedom to believe their conspiracy theories about the coronavirus without debunking it. But, if you feel the need to, debunk it with kindness and understanding. I have come to the realization that people NEED to believe in these theories. People are finding value in having reasons and answers, whether it makes sense to me or not.
Many Christians are saying that it is God who is punishing the whole world for our sins, and so they need to repent before the world can be put back in order. This theory helps people feel in control, it makes them think they have a say in what is happening. The people who believe this may stop things they consider sinful and adopt a kinder attitude, be more generous, and for their own benefit, connect with God even more. This belief is bringing people all around the world together. I have seen people joining several prayer lines, fasting together and sharing the word of God together more than ever on social media. So for some, community and oneness keep them sane and this theory is giving them that.
Another theory I have heard is that people in higher positions created the virus in the lab and decided to infect people to keep the population under control. But also, to create vaccines and sell it at high price in order to profit and keep their position in power.
Similarly, people believe that this is something the Chinese orchestrated to destroy other nations and be in power.
There is something about having someone to blame that brings comfort and understanding. When you know or think you know the source of your pain or dissatisfaction, you are able to shift the attention of what you’re feeling and direct the focus towards the party to be blamed. In this scenario, we are all so fearful and quite frankly clueless as to how this could be happening, so to point fingers allows us to be distracted by our own feelings and channel them into anger towards people in high power or Chinese people.
There are people who are of the thought that young people cannot be infected and so this whole social-distancing thing does not apply to them. Some people think that people living in hot climates cannot be infected and people with more melanin in their skin cannot be infected. Some may laugh at this, but excluding yourself from something as dangerous as the coronavirus, simply put, helps you sleep at night.
When I was thinking about writing this post, my intention was to share about how there are no solid answers for the CoronaVirus, and how we all just need to surrender to this unknown thing. I wanted to share about why these theories are irrational and quite dangerous. Especially the ones blaming Chinese people which have put many of their lives in danger. But to what end? there are many articles doing that. And if you’ve met or spoken to anyone who has a strong belief in something, you know that changing their point of view is a lost cause and not effective.
Also, in this time where people are looking for answers, I think people are finding solitude in these conspiracy theories and the question to myself is, “who am I to steal your peace?” I am in no way condoning violence against Chinese people or calling this virus an awful name such as Chinese Virus. Neither am I okay with people speaking for God or thinking they don’t have to STAY HOME. My case is that we allow people to feel comforted by whatever it is they believe so long as it is not harming anyone.
Do you have any theories about the coronavirus?
