What do neo-Nazis, New Age enthusiasts, and other religious groups have in common? Read the article to find out.
By Elin Brimheim Heinesen
Belief in conspiracy theories is essentially a projection of one’s own fear. The recent rapid rise of conspiracy theories reveals how fearful and mentally stressed many are about the current state of the world, especially with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The powerlessness in the face of uncertainty makes people gravitate towards something fantastical to occupy their minds. Initially, it feels better and safer to be in the company of like-minded individuals who share these fantasies rather than confronting the harsh reality. However, this is akin to peeing in one’s pants for warmth—it only brings short-lived comfort. This situation is ideal for QAnon, which offers an abundance of imaginative, fantastical conspiracy theories for people to delve into. These conspiracy theories eerily resemble those propagated by the Nazis in Germany, where the aim was to create chaos to pave the way for dictatorship and bring Hitler to power.
Uncertainty Drives People to Seek Answers Down Rabbit Holes
It’s challenging to find footing now that the global coronavirus pandemic has turned life upside down. No one remains unaffected by the pandemic, but it has had different impacts on different people. Some have chosen to live healthier lives, while others have done the opposite. Some may have strengthened ties with family and friends, while others have isolated themselves. Some have slowed down and perhaps reconsidered their work life and life in general. Meanwhile, others shut their eyes and hold onto what was before corona.
The pandemic has revealed much about us as humans, unearthing truths about ourselves and society as a whole that we were previously unaware of. If ever there was a golden opportunity to examine oneself and focus without distractions and excuses, this has been the time. Yet, many have done the exact opposite. They have refused to acknowledge reality as it is and have tried to gain a foothold in all the uncertainty by diving into so-called “rabbit holes” to seek answers in various conspiracy theories.
It’s not surprising that belief in conspiracy theories has gained more traction during the pandemic. It was expected, as in a way, it is easier to convince oneself that a conspiracy is the “truth” than to sit amidst the chaos caused by the pandemic and realise that our society is quite vulnerable, and we have far less control over life than we thought. This quickly makes people frightened and eager to, somehow, achieve certainty about how things fit together.
Who Is Most Driven By Fear?
This has been a frightening time, where the entire world has lived with a threat that is difficult for individuals to comprehend and grasp. The need for a firm anchor has therefore been immense. But the problem is that when people are scared and eager for certainty, they are also easier to mislead.
Some have chosen to trust that science and authorities will figure out the best ways to solve the problems. Others have a strong distrust of all authorities and prefer to believe in what they can make sense of themselves – even if it means denying reality. Although their “certainty” is based on something untrue, this “certainty” still provides them with something firm to hold onto, offering some form of comfort.
Many accuse others of living in fear and being “sheep” who blindly follow others, without considering whether they themselves might be suffering from fear, which they try to deflect by projecting it onto others. Perhaps they are unconsciously even more driven by fear. For some, it’s the fear of losing control. For others, it’s the fear of having to give up their habits and do something different for the benefit of the community. They are more afraid of the inconvenience of making changes for a period than of the actual threat.
Perhaps the people who wear masks and stay home the most are actually the bravest and most considerate, and truly aware of the reality that we are all in this together, and that we all have an influence on each other. Who knows?
Difficult to Communicate When Beliefs Differ
Misinformation, fake news, and emotional manipulation have always been used throughout human history to mislead people. Historically, this has led to beliefs such as thinking black people are not real humans. It has made parents burn their own children, convinced they were witches. And it has driven people to support religions or other beliefs that led them to kill others and even themselves.
Deceptive fake news and misinformation are spreading across the globe via the internet at an increasing rate. It has never been easier to disseminate false news. This has made it harder for people to distinguish between truth and falsehood. Personal opinions are given more weight than facts because everything becomes a matter of personal belief. People gather in echo chambers with others who share the same beliefs, reinforcing each other without truly questioning these beliefs. It seems more important to feel part of a faith community. Belief is mistaken for fact. And facts are mistaken for belief.
This is a dangerous path, as it creates division. When different groups do not believe in the same facts, it becomes very difficult to communicate and agree on anything. For humanity to emerge well from the corona era, it requires that people become better at distinguishing between misleading fake news and real facts, so that we can have a somewhat common factual basis to build upon.
Magical Thinking and Escapism
The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us how unprepared humanity is, both mentally and organisationally, when global crises arise. It is not easy for governments and health authorities to manage the situation when so many people prefer to believe in pseudoscience they read or hear about on the internet, rather than trust the millions of individuals who have dedicated their lives to research—whether it concerns public health, epidemics, and so on.
Convincing people of facts is difficult when so many would rather find meaning and comfort in extreme communities or religious groups that reject scientific facts and often replace them with fanciful conspiracy theories. For many, it is enticing and appealing to feel part of religious, political, and/or nationalist groups—online or in real life—where they hear the answers they want and are given a common enemy to unite against. This is characteristic of so-called tribalism.
However, the truth is that much of it is based on guesswork, hearsay, and wishful thinking. In reality, it is an escape from reality, fuelled and promoted by magical thinking and emotions that people use to comfort themselves. Essentially, it is a means to evade responsibility.
Safer to Be in an Alternate Reality Than in the Real World
People seem more divided than ever these days, but the extreme sides are not as distant from each other as they appear. Many religious and politically extreme movements veer so far to the right or left that they meet again on the opposite end of the spectrum. Groups that seem incompatible – such as the neo-Nazi movement and the New Age movement – actually agree on many conspiracy theories and deny facts in their cognitive dissonance. This is why so many different groups united in the insurrection against the US Congress on 6 January 2021.
Although most people are grounded in reality and find themselves somewhere between the extremes, today’s tense religious and political climate serves as a reminder of the importance of moderation and choosing the middle path. It is in this balanced approach where the chance of finding truth is greatest. And it is here where one is least susceptible to cognitive dissonance, which often leads people into extreme movements they would normally reject. Movements driven by pure emotion rather than reason – and by fanciful stories rather than truth.
In this world, people feel like participants in an action film about good versus evil, believing they are the chosen ones called to save humanity from a hidden enemy—a secret global organisation aiming to enslave people under an evil, all-controlling elite.
However, belief in conspiracies actually reflects personal fears. The rapid rise of conspiracy theories lately reveals how fearful and mentally affected many are by today’s global situation, especially with the coronavirus spreading. The powerlessness in the face of uncertainty drives people to seek something distant from reality to surround themselves with. Initially, it feels better and safer to be with like-minded individuals in this imagined reality, rather than facing the real one. But it is like trying to warm yourself by wetting your trousers. It only brings temporary comfort.
Creating an “Us Versus Them” Mentality
The current situation unfortunately resembles the time before the Second World War, where fascism and various religious movements merged in almost the same way we see with the QAnon movement today. It is no secret that Hitler, Hess, Himmler, and many other leading Nazis – much like many who support QAnon conspiracy theories – were particularly interested in occultism, shamanism, alternative medicine, organic and vegetarian diets, homeopathy, and even “anti-vaxxing,” alongside many other things we now associate with the New Age movement.
In their strategy to win followers and brainwash people, Hitler and the Nazis – like QAnon – specifically used the belief in secret societies. Their method was to deliberately spread fear by disseminating false, incorrect, and misleading propaganda, creating an enemy image of a specific group in society – the Jews. Today, it is prominent Democrats and Hollywood actors in the US who are the targets.
“Hitler and his Nazi followers sold the German people a simplistic supernatural idea and conspiracy theory, attributing all of the nation’s problems to a secret global elite of monsters/bloodsuckers/devils – in other words, the Jews. The remarkable, radiant warriors of the Nazi party would triumph over the Jews in a worldwide battle, after which a golden age of peace and love would follow. The Nazis firmly believed in conspiracy theories such as The Protocol of the Elders of Zion, which Hitler deemed authentic, but which was actually written and disseminated by the Russian Tsar’s intelligence service around 1900 to turn the Russian people against the Jews.”
– Jules Evans, Nazi Hippies.
That is how the Nazis created an “us versus them” mentality, convincing the populace that it was a religious war—that Jews were truly a threat to the German state and only a strong leader, Hitler, could free the people from this ‘dangerous enemy’. The swastika was originally a symbol of peace. Hitler also persuaded his followers that journalists, scientists, and doctors were enemies of the people, much like Donald Trump does today, because they posed the greatest threat to his absolute power. Therefore, it was crucial to undermine their credibility as much as possible.
QAnon Uses the Same Strategies as the Nazis
Today, we see both right-wing extremists and people from various faiths believing in the same thing – encouraged by Trump and QAnon, who use strategies similar to those of the Nazis. This movement often comprises white supporters, many of whom believe in “white supremacy.” They claim to be religious or spiritual in some way – believing that a secret group of celebrities and Democrats in the US rapes and eats children to live longer, and that Trump is the hero who has come to save the world from these demons.
The supporters have frequently used the hashtag Save The Children, despite several hundred organisations that actually work to protect children decrying this. One would think that organisations dedicated entirely to helping children would welcome this new support, but they do not. This is because it is merely a slogan QAnon uses to attract followers, disrupting the real child protection work that aid workers carry out every day.
We have seen people praying for Donald Trump, whom they believe has come to bring “Christ consciousness” into the world. They believe this even though he is a selfish, pathological liar with 26 allegations of sexual assault, a racist history, and a long list of misdemeanours too extensive to cover in this article. Everything Trump has done as president is not necessarily evil, no, but even the most brutal dictators sometimes do something good. It does not make them any less brutal. In any case, it is not hard to see that Trump lacks empathy, social awareness, and consideration for others. It is certainly difficult to claim that his behaviour represents love or inclusion.
Scaring People Into Losing Trust in Everyone But the Leader
Why is it that both far-right extremists and New Age followers, who seemingly have little in common, are staunch Trump supporters? One reason is that with Trump in power, these individuals feel validated in their own narcissism. Their shadow sides, previously shamed and suppressed, have been forgiven through Trump’s unwavering, shameless embrace of his own and others’ flaws. This liberates them in a certain way. Their primal instincts are awakened by an alpha male who makes their sense of powerlessness feel at home under his dominion.
It’s crucial to understand the psychology behind this mindset that many people find themselves in today, marked by fear, hatred, division, and conflict. A mindset that Trump and QAnon have actively amplified by conjuring enemies. We’ve seen this pattern repeat throughout history, where various leaders have led people astray from their hearts and minds, deliberately scaring them into losing trust in everyone but the leader. This makes it much easier for him to manipulate and control the masses.
The leader claims to want to free the people from precisely what he himself promotes with a hidden, yet entirely deliberate and well-planned strategy, aiming to establish a hierarchical autocracy with the leader at the top as the all-powerful, absolute ruler.
Millions Deceived by Q?
All it took this time was an anonymous person calling themselves Q to push the first stones, starting an avalanche that almost led to a coup. The QAnon movement grew significantly as unscrupulous individuals, intoxicated by power, saw opportunities in the QAnon movement to exploit and gain control over others. These individuals know how to articulate in a way that enchants ordinary, otherwise good people, causing them to support and become loyal followers who can be made to do almost anything.
Many believe that QAnon is essentially about a psychological experiment aimed at deceiving millions of people worldwide. The experiment has demonstrated how easy it is to brainwash and manipulate people’s emotions when they are afraid. It has shown us how effortlessly a cult can be established, convincing people to blindly believe whatever they are told.
Fraud and Deception Exist, But They Aren’t Necessarily Conspiracies
When people consistently criticise and attack all experts, researchers, doctors, psychologists, and journalists while praising alternative practitioners and underground journalists without questioning them, it doesn’t indicate that these individuals are thinking independently, as they might believe – or that they are particularly “awake” and aware. No, it suggests that their viewpoints are driven by emotions and fear rather than reason and facts.
It’s irrational to reject all expertise from millions of people worldwide who have dedicated their lives to researching and understanding their fields, simply because there are a few mistakes among them. Do experts make mistakes sometimes? Yes. Do they occasionally behave selfishly? Yes. But who doesn’t, from time to time? Of course, everyone does.
Are there companies that exploit others to make money unethically? Absolutely. But aren’t there also people within various faith groups who do the same? Yes, it happens.
Are there officials who lie and accept bribes? Absolutely. But aren’t there also fraudsters and liars within faith groups who do exactly the same? Yes, there are.
Do sensationalist media distort the truth to grab attention, making it unrecognisable? Yes, absolutely. But does this mean that all media always do this, and that one can never trust any media? No, of course not.
If one wishes, it’s not hard to find people everywhere who cheat and deceive, are corrupt, or are poorly informed. People are people, no matter where you go.
The existence of individuals guilty of unethical behaviour does not prove that the entire industry or profession they belong to is based on or supports such conduct. It merely shows that these individuals act in that way. Similar behaviour can be found in any context. This is no excuse to immediately cast suspicion, doubt, or distrust on the entire profession these people work in.
Alternative Sources Can Manipulate Information Just as Much as Other Sources
The truth is that the healthcare sector, research institutions, and major reputable media outlets, which disseminate knowledge to people in different countries, are subject to much more stringent control and monitoring than random pseudo-scientific websites on the internet—including the dark web.
QAnon convinces its followers that all the well-known and respected news services around the world are part of a global conspiracy. This belief persists despite the fact that news is continuously being written and disseminated every second by millions of employees working at thousands of media outlets in hundreds of countries. For QAnon supporters, it is almost an automatic reaction to believe that if news is reported by recognised news services, then it must be false—implying that all the millions of staff working for these media outlets are liars who cannot think for themselves and are controlled by a secret organisation. Conversely, if news comes from alternative sources, which often do not even reference any sources, it is deemed true and worth believing.
The truth is that independent alternative media can manipulate and lie just as much as established news media can. An example of this is the misleading documentary “Plandemic,” produced by Mikki Willis, who is known for spreading false news and conspiracy theories. The film claimed, among other things, that wearing masks made the coronavirus more active. There is no scientific evidence for this claim, yet many millions of people believed it and shared the message further.
With deliberate editing, cutting, and music, ‘documentaries’ can easily create a distorted image intentionally to provoke a specific emotion in viewers. Television is a powerful medium, and those who wish to misuse it can easily employ psychological and emotional manipulation to convince people that the fake news conveyed by the film is real. However, this does not mean that it actually is.
They Do Not Trust Experts, But Often Use “Expert Opinions” to Convince Others
For example, a doctor who has become unpopular among colleagues and wants to regain attention might post a video claiming that coronavirus isn’t a real pandemic. People share the video, saying, “Look! A doctor says this!” This actually reveals that they acknowledge medical expertise is significant. Doctors spend many years becoming experts, so we can agree that expertise matters.
But why are doctors used to increase the credibility of a claim only when they say something agreeable? Why not listen to the millions of other doctors who say the opposite? Why are a few extreme doctors so convincing, especially when they’re not even experts in the diseases they discuss? Why not trust what the overwhelming majority of doctors, or those who are actual experts in the field, are saying?
Most people know little about how medicine works or how scientific health research is conducted. Without education or instruction in these areas, it’s incredibly arrogant to believe that something heard or read online is more accurate than what people who have dedicated decades to studying health science are saying. These experts have rigorously investigated, tested, and evaluated countless research findings.
Reality Surpasses Religious Beliefs
The next time you need life-saving surgery, would you choose someone who is not a certified doctor and has no training in surgery? The next time you urgently require dental care, would you trust someone who has never treated teeth before and bases their methods on something they read or heard about on the internet?
It should be self-evident that the answer is no. Yet, people repeatedly distrust professionals while embracing alternative “anti-mainstream” propaganda from individuals who often have no education or expertise in the field they discuss so confidently.
Our society punishes experts because so many have started to see conspiracies everywhere. They fear that everyone is lying to them and that society is meticulously controlled by corporations and institutions, which in turn are puppets of a secret world order. This is not to say that money has no influence, that some people don’t abuse their power, or that companies never make mistakes or act unethically. Of course, these things exist. But we must be careful that fear and paranoia do not lead us to reject all the research and knowledge that could genuinely help us—for instance, the knowledge that face masks with 100% certainty reduce the spread of coronavirus.
How quickly do the same people, who refuse to take science seriously, call 112 and get taken to the hospital by ambulance when they face a medical emergency? Even “The Law of Attraction” queen, Esther Hicks, who spent years convincing people that we can heal ourselves with our minds, ended up sending her husband, Jerry Hicks, for chemotherapy until he sadly died of cancer. To this day, it’s hard to find direct information on this because it contradicts everything “The Law of Attraction” teaches.
This is just one example of how reality surpasses people’s religious beliefs. Of course, one can believe whatever they want, but in the end, science and truth prevail. Just ask the “breatharians” who died because they were misled into thinking they could live on “prana” (air) and nothing else.
The Greatest Conspiracy is Our Own Illusions
Just as we look back and shake our heads at what people used to believe, I think future generations will shake their heads at us and our current beliefs. For humanity to survive, it must develop its judgement. The pandemic has shown us how much work we still have ahead.
It must be exhausting to live in constant fear and paranoia, thinking the entire world is the victim of a secret plan. But the greatest conspiracy is, in fact, the one our illusions create when we convince ourselves that so much is different from what it appears to be – and that there’s always something sinister hidden behind.
Is it any wonder that society isn’t perfect? The society we know is entirely new. 99.9% of human existence today is vastly different from the life of past generations. We grow up seeing only the world as it is now. When this is all we know, we act as if this is completely normal. But in reality, we are the first generation to live in a society that looks exactly like this.
Is it any wonder that we are still in the process of figuring everything out? Is it any wonder that all activities within communication, economy, energy, and knowledge sharing are relatively new and therefore not fully developed? Yes, people are exploited and lied to, but are we sure it’s always done deliberately or as part of a grand plan? People are figuring out what is right and wrong in many new contexts they didn’t know much about before. For that reason, mistakes happen, and hopefully, people learn from them. Not everything that goes wrong is necessarily a sign of ill intent.
Our Ancestors Who Wxperienced the Black Death Would Turn in their Graves.
One day, an epidemic with a far higher mortality rate than the coronavirus pandemic will emerge, and we will not easily overcome it—at least not based on our experiences with COVID-19. It is easy to forget the past we have never lived through ourselves. We have never experienced life before the medical advancements we benefit from today, and before the vaccines we currently have.
Once, people endured a horrific period when a single epidemic—the Black Death—killed between 50 and 60 percent of everyone in Europe. That would be equivalent to around 370 to 400 million deaths if it happened today. If we witnessed millions of deaths around us, we would undoubtedly have a different perspective on the scientific and medical progress we now take for granted.
The hundreds of millions who lived back then, and who died or lost loved ones to diseases that modern medicine easily conquers, would turn in their graves if they knew that future generations would develop technologies, knowledge, and medicines capable of saving millions of lives, only for people to refuse to use this knowledge because they did not trust or respect doctors and scientists. They would be appalled that uneducated, ignorant, or misled individuals seeking attention online could call those who trust science “sheep”.
Narcissism and Self-centredness Have Increased Significantly
Let’s be clear: Most people who wear masks do not do so out of fear. It’s about ethics – doing the right thing. It’s about protecting and considering others, and being willing to make a minor sacrifice compared to what many others have had to endure or go without.
However, the truth seems to matter little to those who refuse to wear masks, claiming it infringes on their “freedom.” Doing exactly as they wish is paramount to them. In other words, they seek to evade responsibility and rely on unfounded beliefs, devoid of scientific or factual basis. Heaven forbid they should be forced to scrutinize themselves and their convictions, even though it would be most beneficial for them. No, that is too difficult and demanding.
The coronavirus pandemic has revealed a significant increase in self-centredness and narcissism in our divided world. Many behave like wounded children, afraid to be alone for fear of confronting their own dark sides. They prefer engaging in various events and spreading a deadly disease rather than facing silence and staying home in peace and solitude. It has become evident that people are desperate for recognition and acceptance from others, even if it means potentially harming others or putting lives at risk.
People Who Believe They Are Enlightened Are Often the Most Blind
Recently, as a deadly pandemic has raged on, we have seen instances of celebrities and privileged individuals—including so-called ‘influencers’, yoga teachers, spiritual guides, and others who claim to be ‘awakened’—using their privileges to travel to impoverished countries, ostensibly for ‘self-development’ and ‘expanding their consciousness’. They shamelessly flaunt their adventures on Instagram, boasting about how ‘free and independent’ they are among the colourful local populations they visit. These photos are posted as a slap in the face to those who have sacrificed so much to protect others at the risk of their own lives and health.
While the self-proclaimed ‘awakened’ attended various events for their own pleasure or ‘self-development’, nurses and other frontline workers laboured tirelessly, around the clock for extended periods, to save lives. They are the true heroes. Not the so-called ‘awakened’ who selfishly demand the ‘freedom’ to do exactly as they please, without consideration for others.
What if being ‘awakened’ and ‘expanding one’s consciousness’ actually meant truly understanding the issues one holds strong opinions about? Educating oneself doesn’t merely mean reading a few online articles that confirm pre-existing beliefs and then sharing these articles on social media.
In reality, it takes years to educate oneself and even longer to become an expert in a field. But for some, it seems sufficient to read a few articles found online, perhaps engage in some ‘deep’ conversations in an echo chamber group where members incite and validate one another, and then fervently defend this poorly-founded viewpoint. This has nothing to do with genuine research—and it is neither ‘awakened’ nor particularly ‘consciousness-expanding’.
Conspiracy Theories Are Created to Make People Easier to manipulate
When I look around and see people who willingly wear masks to protect others, I do not see fear. I see compassion. I see empathy. When I see people refusing to wear masks where required, I see selfishness. I see children in adult bodies having tantrums. I see people saying, “I don’t care about your life.” They might think they are fighting for freedom, but I see more a group of selfish individuals concerned only with themselves and their own needs.
Those who are claimed to be so wise and “awake” deceive themselves into believing that others are the naive and gullible ones being fooled. But in reality, it is they who do not realise that all these conspiracy theories, such as those about the New World Order and the Illuminati, which they believe in, are precisely created to keep people trapped in fear and distrust of experts and science, so they more easily submit to spiritual manipulators, whom they then blindly follow instead – like the so-called Q.
The tragic part is that people seeking “truth” in groups that build their community on enemy images and hatred (such as QAnon) do not find peace – only more fear, hate, and conflict.
Be Present if You Want to Make the World a Better Place
The COVID-19 period has been challenging and revealing. You might have lost touch with some friends or drifted away from communities that were once significant in your life. It can feel like a tough loss, but perhaps it’s not the worst that can happen. This might simply reflect the personal growth you’ve experienced during this time. Perhaps you’ve merely freed yourself from old ties and viewpoints you’ve outgrown, and your purpose feels clearer today.
Now, you have the chance to prioritise what’s truly important to you. It may be time to enrich your life in a less self-centred way and genuinely strive to become a better person. Not just seeking an out-of-touch ego boost in dubious groups that only isolate you and foster discord and conflicts.
If life on this planet is to have any meaning in these times, it must be about being present—not avoiding what is, but embracing it and learning from it. In short, being here and now on earth. Not placing yourself above or below anyone or anything, but simply being with what is. Stop believing those who create baseless fear just to gain power over you. And stop giving attention to those who don’t care about you at all—only about having control over you.
If you really want to expand your awareness and make the world a better place for yourself and others, be present in the moment, trust others more, don’t get lost in mental webs, but observe the world as it truly is—not as a paranoid conspiracy theorist tells you it is.
The content of this article is partly based on this article: https://www.elephantjournal.com/2020/12/how-covid-exposed-the-narcissism-of-the-new-age-community/. Larger sections are loosely translated or rewritten from passages in the aforementioned article. Also, see this article: https://www.justsecurity.org/72339/qanon-is-a-nazi-cult-rebranded/.
