Comparative Studies in Religion and Society - 15: A Culture of Conspiracy

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What do UFO believers, Christian millennialists, and right-wing conspiracy theorists have in common? Michael Barkun explores this connection in a compelling examination of contemporary American conspiracism. While many are aware of the obsession with conspiracies surrounding events like the Kennedy assassination and the 2001 terrorist attacks, Barkun reveals how these conspiracist worldviews intertwine with fringe beliefs, including UFOs, Nostradamus, and the Illuminati. He traces the genealogies and permutations of these ideas, highlighting their spread among subcultures via the Internet and mass media. This new style of conspiracy thinking reflects broader changes in American culture. Barkun, a leading expert, provides a comprehensive look at a range of material—from inner-earth caves and government black helicopters to alien abductions and secret New World Order cabals—that often goes unnoticed. By analyzing literature from religious and political sources to New Age and UFO publications, as well as popular culture phenomena like The X-Files, he illustrates the current surge of millennarian activity in America. His work emphasizes the significance of understanding why these beliefs are infiltrating more mainstream segments of society.