Original Articles
The Emergence of Conspirituality
By Charlotte Ward & Prof. David Voas
Abstract
The female-dominated New Age (with its positive focus on self) and the male-dominated realm of conspiracy theory (with its negative focus on global politics) may seem antithetical. There is a synthesis of the two, however, that we call ‘conspirituality’. We define, describe, and analyse this hybrid system of belief; it has been noticed before without receiving much scholarly attention. Conspirituality is a rapidly growing web movement expressing an ideology fuelled by political disillusionment and the popularity of alternative worldviews. It has international celebrities, bestsellers, radio and TV stations. It offers a broad politico-spiritual philosophy based on two core convictions, the first traditional to conspiracy theory, the second rooted in the New Age: 1) a secret group covertly controls, or is trying to control, the political and social order, and 2) humanity is undergoing a ‘paradigm shift’ in consciousness. Proponents believe that the best strategy for dealing with the threat of a totalitarian ‘new world order’ is to act in accordance with an awakened ‘new paradigm’ worldview.
FALSE DICHOTOMY: IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE IN CONSPIRACY THEORIES YOU BELIEVE EVERYTHING THE GUBERMINT SEZ #ZDay #Zeitgeist #TZM #TVP #RBE
— The Most Goodest JimJesus🤘🏴💰🍕 (@JimJesus) March 10, 2012
@tzmglobal These are the #Google Search suggestions for the #Zeitgeist Movement. Not at all surprising. pic.twitter.com/hPLXeVWRKu
— 𐑒𐑪𐑥𐑮𐑨𐑛 ·𐑛𐑱𐑝𐑦𐑛 ☭ (@polyglot84) November 18, 2013
