the truth is out there....

[andrew]

here's a link to an article on conspiracy theories:

http://www.thepsychologist.org.uk/archive/archive_home.cfm?volumeID...

seeing as the bartender has left the pub i say we go for the single malt and toast the lone conspiracy theorist's out there who are not all bad according to this article.....

[Edward theurj Berge]

I read the first few paragraphs and found this quote interesting:

"...a belief in conspiracy theories was more likely to emerge among those who felt powerless, disadvantaged or voiceless, especially in the face of catastrophe....conspiracy theories fill a need for certainty."

I'd expand this to include most theories of everything, religious or philosophical. Everything has to have meaning, a context that delimits it so that we can feel safe and confortable with some control of things. In effect God or the world conspires to make life nice for us. Then there are existential and postmetaphysical views based on acceptance of uncertainty and indeterminism that allow us to let go of this archaic need and place the responsibility solely on humanity to do the best we can to mitigate random chance.

[andrew]

very good point edward! i've long thought that all religion was conspiratorial in one sense or another....i'm enough of an existentialist to also agree with your last statement:)