Should devotees believe conspiracy theories about say the origin of the corona virus?
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Should Devotees Believe Conspiracy Theories About, Say, the Origin of the Coronavirus?
Question: Should devotees believe conspiracy theories about, say, the origin of the coronavirus? And is it that, in general, devotees are more likely to believe such conspiracy theories?
Answer:
First, let’s address the term “conspiracy theories.” The phrase itself is semantically unhelpful and often used to dismiss any theory one disagrees with or disapproves of. Historically, some theories initially labeled as “conspiracy theories” have later been proven true. Conspiracies are a fact of life; people can be not only vicious but also diabolical, employing elaborate means to harm others. Even in the Ramayana, Sita was abducted through a conspiracy by Ravana.
In today’s highly opinionated world, certain unacceptable ideas can be easily dismissed by being labeled as “conspiracy theories.” However, the way the term is used nowadays often implies a vast, elaborate network of people conspiring to do something considered untenable by mainstream thought. For example, the theory that the coronavirus is transmitted through 5G networks is dismissed by mainstream scientists, and demonstrably false, as the disease exists in many parts of the world where there is no 5G infrastructure. We should use evidence and logic to challenge such claims.
Should Devotees Believe Them?
There is no “should” in the sense of a prescriptive mandate from our devotional texts regarding belief in conspiracy theories. As devotees, our primary goal is to develop love for Krishna, and we follow time-honored bhakti texts for this purpose. These texts provide our “shoulds.” Beyond that, many other aspects of life are not mandates and depend on individual nature.
The devotee community is diverse, with people from various backgrounds and dispositions. Some may be more inclined toward conspiracy theories, while others are less so. If influential devotees spread certain conspiracy theories, their followers might conflate their material opinions with their spiritual position. Devotees guide us in spiritual matters, but even the most advanced devotees are not omniscient. Just as one wouldn’t necessarily invest their life savings based solely on a devotee’s financial advice, we must exercise critical thinking.
Even Krishna asked Arjuna to deliberate deeply on His message before making a decision; He does not demand or approve of blind following. Unfortunately, some people come to religion because they find the responsibility of thinking too complicated and prefer to be simply told what to do. Such individuals might be more vulnerable to conspiracy theories, which, in this context, are defined as theories with weak evidence, weak reasoning, and requiring a highly improbable collusion of many people with diverse interests.
Are Devotees More Prone to Believing Them?
It is difficult to make a categorical statement about whether devotees are more likely to believe conspiracy theories compared to the general community without specific statistical surveys. Our limited observations can lead to skewed hypotheses.
It’s important to remember that the experiences we have with certain devotees’ ideas do not necessarily reflect the beliefs of the entire devotee community or even a large part of it. While some psychological analyses might explore why certain people are more prone to conspiracy theories, the validity of such analyses must be assessed according to time, place, and circumstance.
Sometimes, fear can make people susceptible to manipulation. While the bhakti tradition emphasizes approaching God with love, some individuals may approach Him out of fear. Those consumed by fear might be more prone to believing seemingly authoritative figures, especially in a complex world where anyone with reasonable intelligence can construct a plausible-sounding case for anything, which those untrained in critical thinking might not be able to refute.
Logical thinking is a skill that some possess naturally and others develop through training. Just as a skilled sword fighter can defeat an unskilled opponent regardless of their virtue, anyone can construct a seemingly reasonable case for a person untrained in critical reasoning. This is why, for example, in some parts of the Western world, even educated people believe the Earth is only a few thousand years old, convinced by books that make a seemingly strong case.
Conclusion
The world is complex, and while we must use our intelligence to navigate it, we also need to recognize that our intelligence may not always be sufficiently trained to discern complicated issues. Unless there’s a very strong reason to advocate for or accept a conspiracy theory, it can be viewed as a distraction from our spiritual growth. Getting caught up in unnecessary controversies, including those surrounding conspiracy theories, can be detrimental.
If some devotees passionately believe in conspiracy theories, and you are not emotionally invested either way, it’s often best not to spend much time on it. Such ideas should certainly not be presented as if they are integral to Krishna consciousness. If mainstream individuals associate bhakti with these theories, their rationality might lead them to dismiss bhakti as irrational. Conspiracy theories are personal opinions of certain devotees.
If you are not passionate about confronting them, focus on your Krishna bhakti. If you feel disturbed by a particular conspiracy theory that is agitating people’s minds, seek perspective from devotees well-versed in logic and reasoning, and perhaps encourage them to address the issue.