As a correlary to the occult evangelization conversation, it might be worthwhile to shift gears into conspiracy theory. Both conspiracy theory and the occult are gaining a lot of ground right now, and we see lots of people championing both (myself included). There’s a big difference between the two though. With trying to turn people on to occultism in whatever form, there’s an implicit promise of a reward. If it’s a magickal path, then there’s the promise of learning particular skills and techniques for the manipulation of reality. If nothing else, it includes the rather nebulous idea of “spirituality” as an ultimate goal. What’s the nature of the reward for somebody to “convert” to conspiracy theory? Paranoia, mountains of research and endless speculation? An inability to talk to people about any of it for fear of looking crazy?

People are always talking about how both conspiracy and occult stuff offer “alternatives” to the mainstream and how offering alternatives in and of itself is a worthwhile goal. But can we get more specific than that in articulating to would-be converts what the real benefits of shifting their worldview are? And can we do it without resorting to vague platitudes like “freedom” and “individuality”?

Maybe a simpler and better question to ask before all this other stuff though is what’s the difference between the occult approach to life and the conspiracy approach? In some ways they seem very different and in others they seem closely connected, almost inseparable. And perhaps this is why we’re seeing so much cross-over between cutting-edge conspiracy theory and the occult. One of the most obvious trends, of course, is for conspiracy theorists to try and pinpoint occultists as the bad guys, operating secret cabals to take over the world and destroy the lives of innocent (Christian) peoples. Is there an occult or alternative religious path that might support people spirituality who are working in conspiracy theory? I’ve always thought gnosticism offered some useful insights and metaphors in that regard - seeing as it’s sort of a “religious conspiracy theory” at it’s core.

Anyway, I’m not totally sure what the right questions to ask are in this area, but I feel like those are enough to get the ball rolling…