Interest in understanding and responding to conspiracy theories has exploded in recent years. This article seeks to engage with a range of scholarship utilizing a practical theological methodology in order to discern an appropriate response. Because conspiracy theories often produce division in congregations, as well as isolate the conspiracists from their faith community, responding in a wise manner is clearly important. This article first surveys some of the theory and research related to the topic and then discusses the connections between religion and conspiracy theories. It then moves to recommend that a “pastoral” response, including a focus on caring and maintaining sense of belonging, is preferred to a rationalist response, aimed at convincing the conspiracists that they are wrong.

中文翻译：

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会众中的阴谋论：牧师的回应

近年来，人们对理解和回应阴谋论的兴趣激增。本文试图利用实用的神学方法与一系列学术研究进行接触，以便辨别出适当的回应。由于阴谋论经常在会众中造成分裂，并将阴谋论者与他们的信仰团体隔离开来，因此以明智的方式做出回应显然很重要。本文首先调查了与该主题相关的一些理论和研究，然后讨论了宗教与阴谋论之间的联系。然后它建议“田园式”回应，包括关注关怀和保持归属感，优于理性主义回应，旨在说服阴谋论者他们错了。