
Nearly half of U.S. adults have heard of the once-obscure QAnon. Twenty percent of them say this collection of far-right conspiracy theories birthed in online forums is good for the country, according to a Pew Research Center survey. But the vast majority disagree.
Conspiracy theories have a long history in America. But in the current era of misinformation and disinformation, experts monitoring QAnon and the influence its grand, unsubstantiated narratives have on believers warn of its dangers. A 2019 FBI report labels fringe conspiracy theories, like QAnon, a growing domestic terrorist threat in the country.
QAnon conspiracy theories have popped up on the divisive 2020 campaign trail and in the debates about how to combat the coronavirus pandemic. Some evangelical pastors also report that church members are spreading them on social media. Scholars and commentators have noted the parallels between QAnon claims and Christian beliefs. They also question whether these fringe ideas could become the foundation for a new religious movement.
This edition of ReligionLink features experts who may be able to help you cover the tangle of unfounded tales being spun today and the people who believe in them.
Background information
QAnon explained:
USA Today reports QAnon “baselessly claims that there is a ‘deep state’ apparatus run by political elites, business leaders and Hollywood celebrities who are also pedophiles and actively working against (President Donald) Trump.”
- Read “What to know about the far-right conspiracy theory” from USA Today on July 22, 2020.
- Read “What Is QAnon? The Craziest Theory of the Trump Era, Explained” from the Daily Beast on July 6, 2018.
- Listen to “Country of Liars” from Reply All on Sept. 18, 2020.
- Listen to “Introduction to QAnon” from QAnon Anonymous on Aug. 11, 2018.
Commentary on QAnon and religious belief:
- Read “Demons of the deep state: How evangelicals and conspiracy theories combine in Trump’s America” from The Conversation on Sept. 14, 2020.
- Read “Evangelicals need to address the QAnoners in our midst” from USA Today on Sept. 4, 2020.
- Read “QAnon Is a Wolf in Wolf’s Clothing” from Christianity Today on Aug. 26, 2020.
- Read “Is QAnon taking over America? Not so fast” from The Guardian on Aug. 18, 2020.
- Read “QAnon: The alternative religion that’s coming to your church” from Religion News Service on Aug. 17, 2020.
- Read “Why American evangelicals are so tempted by the easy assurance of conspiracy theories” from Religion News Service on June 5, 2020.
- Read “Evangelicals split on the notion of ‘fake news’ and QAnon” from the Knoxville News Sentinel on June 4, 2020.
- Read “The FAQs: What Christians Should Know About QAnon” from The Gospel Coalition on May 20, 2020.
- Read “The Church of QAnon: Will conspiracy theories form the basis of a new religious movement?” from The Conversation on May 18, 2020.
- Read “Failed Prophecies Won’t Stop Trump’s True Believers” from Foreign Policy on Nov. 8, 2018.
Further reading on conspiracy theories:
- Read “Florida Latinos swamped by wild conspiracy theories” from Politico on Sept. 14, 2020.
- Read “How QAnon and other dark forces are radicalizing Americans as the COVID-19 pandemic rages and election looms” from USA Today on Sept. 1, 2020.
- Read “How Real Conspiracies Inspired False Rumors About Flooding Black Communities With Fireworks” from Mother Jones on July 3, 2020.
- Read “You’re Living in the Golden Age of Conspiracy Theories” from Politico Magazine on June 17, 2020.
- Read “Shadowland” from The Atlantic on May 14, 2020.
- Read “How You’ve Been Conditioned to Love Conspiracy Theories” from Popular Mechanics on Dec. 17, 2019.
- Read “Exclusive: FBI document warns conspiracy theories are a new domestic terrorism threat” from Yahoo News on Aug. 1, 2019.
- Listen to “The Satanic Panic” from You’re Wrong About on May 2, 2018.
Related research
Surveys:
- Read “Most Americans who have heard of QAnon conspiracy theories say they are bad for the country and that Trump seems to support people who promote them” from Pew Research Center on Sept. 16, 2020.
- Read “Report: Americans Pessimistic on Time Frame for Coronavirus Recovery” from Daily Kos/Civiqs Poll on Sept. 2, 2020.
Additional resources:
- Read “Managing the COVID-19 Infodemic” report from the World Health Organization.
Potential sources
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Marc-André Argentino
Marc-André Argentino is a doctoral candidate at Concordia University and his research looks at how extremist groups use technology to further their causes. He is studying the growth of the QAnon movement, including the emergence of what he considers to be a QAnon church.
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Michael Barkun
Michael Barkun is a professor emeritus of political science at the Maxwell School at Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York. He is the author of A Culture of Conspiracy: Apocalyptic Visions in Contemporary America and Religion and the Racist Right: The Origins of the Christian Identity Movement.
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James Broderick
James Broderick is an English professor at New Jersey City University and co-author of Web of Conspiracy: A Guide to Conspiracy Theory Sites on the Internet.
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Angelo Carusone
Angelo Carusone is the president and CEO of Media Matters for America. The progressive research nonprofit analyzes conservative misinformation in the media. The group is monitoring QAnon support among politicians.
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Rachel Hope Cleves
Rachel Hope Cleves is a history professor at the University of Victoria, in British Columbia. Her studies include conspiracy theories in public life.
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Karen M. Douglas
Karen M. Douglas is a professor of social psychology at the University of Kent. She studies beliefs in conspiracy theories.
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Adam M. Enders
Adam M. Enders is a political science professor at the University of Louisville. He studies conspiracy beliefs, political polarization and misinformation.
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Mark Fenster
Mark Fenster is a law professor at the University of Florida. He wrote Conspiracy Theories: Secrecy and Power in American Culture and The Transparency Fix: Secrets, Leaks, and Uncontrollable Government Information.
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Eduardo Gamarra
Eduardo Gamarra is a politics and international relations professor at Florida International University. He is also the director of the school’s Latino Public Opinion Forum.
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Phil Howard
Phil Howard is director of the Oxford Internet Institute and author of the book Lie Machines: How to Save Democracy from Troll Armies, Deceitful Robots, Junk News Operations, and Political Operatives.
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Filippo Menczer
Filippo Menczer is a computer science professor at Indiana University Bloomington and the director of the school’s Observatory on Social Media.
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Joanne Miller
Joanne Miller is a political science and international relations professor of the University of Delaware. Her areas of expertise include political psychology, misinformation and conspiracy theories.
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Alex Newhouse
Alex Newhouse is a researcher at Middlebury College’s Center on Terrorism, Extremism and Counterterrorism, where he looks at right-wing and online extremism as well as religious fundamentalism.
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Brendan Nyhan
Brendan Nyhan is a government professor at Dartmouth College. His areas of study include fake news, fact checks and digital media literacy.
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Josh Pasek
Josh Pasek is a professor of communications and media at the University of Michigan. His areas of expertise include misinformation and misperceptions.
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Nancy L. Rosenblum
Nancy L. Rosenblum is a professor of ethics in politics and government at Harvard University. She co-authored the book A Lot of People Are Saying: The New Conspiracism and the Assault on Democracy.
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Ed Stetzer
Ed Stetzer holds the Billy Graham Chair of Church, Mission and Evangelism at Wheaton College and serves as executive director of the school’s Billy Graham Center for Evangelism. He was formerly the executive director of Lifeway Research, a division of Lifeway Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. He blogs on a variety of subjects related to American evangelicalism for Christianity Today.
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Patricia A. Turner
Patricia A. Turner is a professor of world arts, culture and African American studies at UCLA. She wrote the book I Heard It Through the Grapevine: Rumor in African-American Culture.
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Joseph E. Uscinski
Joseph E. Uscinski is a professor at the University of Miami whose research includes conspiracy theories. He co-authored the book Conspiracy Theories: A Primer, which examines why people believe in them.
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Travis View
Travis View is a conspiracy theory researcher and a co-host of the podcast QAnon Anonymous.