Beware of Today's Gnostic Heresy and the Addiction to Conspiracy Theories

The infodemic that worsens the pandemic is bolstered by a number who love conspiracy theories. I would suggest that all of us study the science that explains the psychology behind the belief in conspiracies theories, here in the psychological research at the American Pschological Association and in the Addiction Center's article on Conspiracy Theory Addiction.

In a nutshell, there are three psychological factors that motivate people drawn to conspiracy theories: 

1. Epistemic motive: the need for knowledge and certainty during a time of uncertainty, especially for those who have less tolerance for uncertainty. And they don't know where to look for reliable sources, and they don't have the tools to distinguish between good and bad sources. They tend to look for information that confirms their beliefs. 
2. Existential motive: The need to feel safe, secure and in control, for they feel anxious, disillusioned, threatened, powerless and not in control; 
3. Social motive: the desire to feel good and have a high self-esteem, together with the need to stand out, having information that others don't have. They have distrust of authority, lower self-esteem and lower levels of interpersonal trust. Some studies have associated this tendency with narcissism--an inflated sense of importance of the individual or the group.

Distrust of authority

I am sure that there are conspiracy theories that hit the mark, i.e. they are true. However, the distrust of validly invested authority is concerning. Because non-submission to authority can wreak havoc in society. As the Catechism states: "Human society can be neither well-ordered nor prosperous unless it has some people invested with legitimate authority to preserve its institutions." 

Thus, the Catechism continues with this categorical Biblical teaching: "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore he who resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment." 

This strong language is needed because society can easily descend into chaos if authority--both civil and ecclesiastical--is subverted. And good Christians cannot, in anyway, take part in dismissing authority that commands no sin. 

Self-confirming certainty and Gnosticism

Complicating matters is that other root of conspiracy theories: self-confirming need for certainty. I would say that this is connected to the present-day heresy of Gnosticism. An old heresy, it has returned with destructive force, as the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith and Pope Francis himself have warned. 

"Gnosticism is one of the most sinister ideologies," teaches Pope Francis, "because, while unduly exalting knowledge or a specific experience, it considers its own vision of reality to be perfect. Thus, perhaps without even realizing it, this ideology feeds on itself and becomes even more myopic....When somebody has an answer for every question, it is a sign that they are not on the right road."

This is today's challenge which we should not run away from. If the 70s and 80s were beset with the heresy of Marxist Liberation Theologies, our time has this evil falsehood--surely promoted by the Father of Lies--which we have to avoid and confront. 

Because of its power and subtle way of seeping into our lives, we should have the courage to ask ourselves the question, have I fallen into some form of Gnosticism? Have I become an unthinking consumer and propagator of posts from people who are against the Pope, the bishops and legitimate civil authorities? Have I become so sure of them, that this has led me to distrust and disobey authorities, civil and ecclesiastical, and so becoming an accomplice in creating disorder in society and in the Church?

If you have this problem, then ask God for help and if needed, look for help, even some psychological intervention. "Conspiracy theory addiction," states the Addiction Center, "can cause long-term psychological and social harm to an individual. Therapy that centers on personal goals and strategies to achieve these goals can have a powerful impact on improving a sense of control and empowerment."

There are also articles on How to Talk to Loved Ones who are Victims of Conspiracy Theories, here and here. 

You might also be interested in this article: Is there a moral obligation to get vaccinated? 

Is there a moral obligation to get vaccinated?

A friend emailed, "Is getting the COVID-19 vaccine a moral obligation?"  He also said, "I  am not willing to risk my family with the side effects, given the limited knowledge that I have  about it."  

REPLY: This is my opinion and not a dogma, since there are no dogmas in temporal matters. 

First off, the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith has stated: "vaccination is not, as a rule, a moral obligation and that, therefore, it must be voluntary. In any case, from the ethical point of view, the morality of vaccination depends not only on the duty to protect one's own health, but also on the duty to pursue the common good. In the absence of other means to stop or even prevent the epidemic, the common good may recommend vaccination, especially to protect the weakest and most exposed."

This duty to help end the pandemic becomes even more acute once we realize that it is causing harm to millions, not just as a cause of sickness and death, but also as a cause of extreme poverty, undernourishment, mental illness, deficient education, etc. 

Authorities are in agreement

This is one of the reasons why both civil and ecclesiastical authorities agree that people have to get vaccinated. A month after the CDF statement, the Pope himself said: "Morally everyone must take the vaccine. It is the moral choice because it is about your life but also the lives of others.” 

While he was not talking ex cathedra, still he was speaking as the Vicar of Christ.  And to the Pope, we owe, said St. Josemaria, "the most complete obedience." Remember that Jesus told Peter that whatever he binds on earth is bound in heaven. Bishops who are also "vicars of Christ," and bishops conferences, have echoed the need to be vaccinated. 

Why obey?

From the above, I personally feel a duty of obedience--a virtue that I love because as a theologian I know from the Bible that we are all saved due to the obedience of one man and one woman vs. the disobedience of one man and one woman. We share in this co-redemption as other Christs by obeying God's representatives: all persons in authority. 

Obedience--free, voluntary and intelligent--is the greatest moral virtue, according to St. Thomas, because our will is the greatest thing we can offer to God. It is, says Benedict XVI, the authentic content of love--the most important virtue of all, that by which we are going to be judged. 

Still, we obey not just because of our faith, but because it is reasonable to obey the authorities. All persons in authority, civil and ecclesiastical, are ordinarily supported by the best experts within that community. The governments in the whole world, which are unanimous in calling for vaccinations, are advised by the top medical experts of the world. These top medical experts, the brightest in each country, have spent their entire lives studying these matters, unlike us who get to spend a part of our time checking what the internet says. They have studied all the aspects of the vaccines, their safety and effectiveness as against other possible solutions. The Roman Curia which advises the pope also has the best minds in the whole Church. 

This is the great boon we enjoy--as compared to the three magi who had to seek the advice of Herod and his advisers. And despite Herod's depravity, he and his advisers gave the right advice because they were the competent authorities. 

Studying the millions of people who have been vaccinated and those who were not, the competent medical authorities say that the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks. 

Infodemic and the search for true information

Part of the problem of the pandemic is the "infodemic." That is why it is very important to look for the most reliable sources of information and keep on reading them: WHO, CDC, Mayo Clinic, John Hopkins, Harvard, etc. Take note that the latter--hospitals and universities--have independent funding, so they are not beholden to "Big Pharma." 

This infodemic makes it difficult to practice the virtue of prudence--the real cause of virtue. That's why the Catechism tells us to get "the advice of competent people," in order to make good decisions. The truth sets us free, while falsehood--which abounds at this moment--can throw us off the right path. 

You are free to discern your own case

Here I am speaking of general ethical principles that I personally follow. Still, St. Thomas teaches, a teaching reiterated by Pope Francis in Amoris Laetitia: “Although there is necessity in the general principles, the more we descend to matters of detail, the more frequently we encounter defects…  In matters of action, truth or practical rectitude is not the same for all.” 

The general principles above will apply differently to each person, because each person's particular circumstances--allergies, medical background, etc--are unique. So you have to freely discern what God is telling him to do through your own conscience.  

Anyway, I repeat that this is my reasoned opinion and I respect others who think differently. 

Danger of Covid and the safety of vaccines: high-risk vs. low risk

My friend replied: Someone commented, "It is easy to say 'the benefits outweigh the risks.... until it is your own child who is the casualty"... I thought: "What if St. Joseph was living in this day and age... would he have risked Mama Mary and the baby Jesus with the COVID vaccines?" For me the answer was "No, he would not risk Mama Mary and/or the baby Jesus even if the risk is 'very low'."  

REPLY: Since your main issue seems to be about not taking any risks, and you rightly choose St. Joseph as your model, here are some more considerations: 

St. Joseph also had to make a choice between a high-risk ruler, Archelaus in Judea and a low-risk ruler, his brother, Herod Antipas in Galilee, who would later kill St. John Baptist, and support the death of Jesus himself. Both were sons of the cruel Herod the Great who killed the innocents to stay in power. They were bad fruits of the same bad tree. 

To make that choice he had to get the facts, and the facts he gathered showed that Archelaus was really someone to fear: a tyrant and oppressor. Because St. Joseph was told to return to a place in Israel, he still proceeded even if there was some risk; so his preference was for the lower risk. This preference of avoiding high-risk Archelaus and choosing low-risk Antipas was later confirmed by an angel. 

Weighing the risks

Now re risks of dying of Covid vs dying of vaccine complications, please take these facts into account: 

• Unvaccinated individuals are 11 times more likely to die from Covid-19 - https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/unvaccinated-individuals-are-11-times-more-likely-to-die-from-covid-19-than-those-who-are-vaccinated-180978714/
• Nearly all COVID deaths in US are now among unvaccinated - https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-941fcf43d9731c76c16e7354f5d5e187
• Deaths due to vaccine complications are rare, and clotting due vaccines can now be cured - https://covid-101.org/science/how-many-people-have-died-from-the-vaccine-in-the-u-s/
• With the best science available, the WHO and the CDC have declared vaccines safe and effective. Billions have been vaccinated under intense scrutiny - https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety/safety-of-vaccines.html 

There are always risks in life since life is a series of choices. And so we have to study the facts with prudence, and practice the virtue of courage--choosing the right thing despite the risks. In the case of vaccines, the best experts have declared that there is hardly any risk, because the vaccines are not only effective but safe. 

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Note on the psychology behind Conspiracy Theories

The infodemic that worsens the pandemic is bolstered by a number who love conspiracy theories. I would suggest that all of us study the science that explains the psychology behind the belief in conspiracy theories, here in the psychological research at the American Pschological Association and in the Addiction Center's article on Conspiracy Theory Addiction.

In a nutshell, there are three psychological factors that motivate people drawn to conspiracy theories: 

1. Epistemic motive: the need for knowledge and certainty during a time of uncertainty, and they don't know where to look for reliable sources; 
2. Existential motive: The need to feel safe and secure, for they feel disillusioned, powerless and not in control; 
3. Social motive: the desire to feel good and have a high self-esteem, together with the need to stand out, having information that others don't have. Some studies have associated this tendency with narcissism--an inflated sense of importance of the individual or the group. 

There are also articles on How to Talk to Loved Ones who are Victims of Conspiracy Theories, here and here. 

For a deeper discussion of conspiracy theory addiction and today's heresy of Gnosticism, please see this article: Beware of Today's Gnostic Heresy and the Addiction to Conspiracy Theories. 

Centrality of Jesus Christ by Msgr. Fernando Ocariz

Objective of Formation: Identification with Christ. “Formation does not consist in acquiring information or filling ourselves with ideas. The objective of formation is identification with Jesus Christ.”

Everything to focus clearly on the Person of Christ: ponder like Mary all that refers to him. “We are eager..to see everything focus more clearly on his Person. With this desire to put yourselves more deeply into the Gospel, .. when speaking about the Christian life with your friends, you will transmit more brightly the marvelous news of God’s love for each person… I ask our Lady to teach us to keep and ponder in our heart, as she did, all that refers to Jesus (see Lk 2:19), so that we tread and help others to tread—each person where God is calling them—along paths of contemplation.”

Ask: Is Jesus the center of my life? In what way is Jesus the center of my spiritual life? Not only my life, but the center of my work, of my fraternity, my apostolic work…

Experience the love of Jesus Christ Crucified. “We can always be joyful even in our concerns and sufferings because the foundation of our joy is Jesus Christ…Each time we look at the Crucified, we experience the greatness of the love of Christ for us.”  

Who am I to Jesus Christ? “Who am I to Jesus Christ. I am someone loved immensely by Jesus Christ, object of his infinite and omnipotent love.”

Alignment with the Love of Jesus Christ not with ideas or spirit. “I would like to focus on some aspects of the centrality of Jesus Christ. In the first place, it is important that we see that our fidelity is fidelity to Jesus Christ. Fidelity to … norms, indications, even to the Law of God, we have to see them not as alignment with some ideas not even with a spirit, but with a love: the love of Jesus Christ. We do all our obligations for the love of Jesus Christ.”

Rooted in Jesus’ love for me singularly. “We are faithful to an idea and ideals only because they are a way to be faithful to Jesus Christ, who has given his life for us. St. Josemaria loved to comment: He loved me and gave his life for me. We have to be very rooted in the conviction that Jesus really has loved me and has given himself for me. He did not give himself to humanity in general but to each one singularly. [Pointing to each one] God loves you, you, you and me.”

Love like Christ and see Christ in others. “Also, very important to the centrality of Jesus is [love of others]: love one another as I have loved you. And how does Jesus love? We have to see Jesus in the others. Centered on Christ even in relationship with others. The same in apostolic work. Do all for Christ…See Jesus in each person and in each moment… Seeing the Lord in others helps us to forgive, to serve.”

Contemplate Christ: everything Jesus did has transcendental value. “Let us be contemplative souls. Let us think about Christ: let us look at Him and get to know Him a bit better every day…Everything Christ did has a transcendental value; it shows us the nature of God. Jesus makes it possible for us to know who God is and how God is. And who is God? God is Love.”

Encounter him in everything. Ask what impedes this. “We want to encounter Jesus continually at work, in our rest, in family life, in prayer and in all places. But perhaps we are distracted on our way…Many things make us lose sight of the goal of encountering the Lord in our concrete work, at rest, in family life. What takes away our speed in hurrying to meet our Lord?”

Shortest route: Mary and St. Joseph. “The shortest way to make Jesus the center of our lives is to go to Mary and St. Joseph asking them for help to know and love Jesus Christ more each day.”

Download the one-page evangelization flyer here.  

God's call to evangelize society through media

 

Teachings of St. Josemaria on the duty of influencing public opinion

"Go and make disciples of all nations...teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." (Mt 28:19-20)

Greatest enemy and dominant passion

The greatest enemy of God in the world is ignorance.

No son or daughter of Holy Church can live in peace, without feeling concern for the depersonalized masses…You have to be eager to make them happy.  

Our dominant passion is to give doctrine, the doctrine of Jesus...We want to lead people to Christ… May we have compassion on people eager for doctrine, truth and freedom. Filled with apostolic zeal for souls all over the world, we have to carry out the great charitable work of giving them the bread of good wheat—the bread of doctrine which Jesus will multiply in our hands.

Christians who work in media give doctrine, not to a small group of persons (as when you give a formation talk or a lecture), but like our Lord you preach to the multitude, in the open air.

Extraordinary importance of media

In former times, it was unthinkable that the written, spoken and visual word could be transmitted so quickly. Even less could we have foreseen such a worldwide and uniform influence as that imposed everywhere by media…That is why media is so extraordinarily important.

The people in media are educators, playing the role of teachers, often in a hidden or impersonal way. Millions of men and women surrender, almost unconditionally, their minds and even their consciences to them. Society sees them—rightly or wrongly—as having a doctrinal, scientific and even moral authority.

Because of the great good or harm they can do, I pray particularly every day for people who have this service as their profession.

To sleep in our social duty is suicidal

 “The Kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat.”  (Mt 13:24-25)

If weeds appear, it is because men have failed to respond…

The current situation is a sign of the tremendous failure on the part of the laity in their task of consecrating the world. It’s a sin of comfort-seeking, of suicidal absenteeism.

Each and every one to lead the media to God

The media in itself is good…When we think of these new developments [in communication], we can only have admiration and goodwill, with a desire to contribute all of us to lead to God, to return to our Lord this portion of creation.

It is good that people try to direct the media in such a way as to achieve greater freedom, to give the good doctrine of Christ, and to propose good solutions to the problems of mankind.

You have to give clear ideas on all temporal issues, on every aspect of human life: the family, civil society, the professions, entertainment, sport, science, education, art, fashion…

From all the professions, one can exert an influence on the media. On seeing the surpassing importance of this apostolate, your apostolic zeal will suggest to each one what way you can help.

God’s truth has to reach everywhere through publications, movies, radio, and TV [and other media]…And this task is yours.

You may be quite sure that, as this apostolate spreads sound doctrine through all the channels, the great problems of public opinion will be solved.

CBCP Pastoral Statement on the Year “Amoris Laetitia Family” starting March 19, 2021

Key points:

To celebrate the fifth anniversary of Amoris Laetitia, the Holy Father has called for a Year “Amoris Laetitia Family” (19 March 2021-26 June 2022). See its website here: http://www.laityfamilylife.va/content/laityfamilylife/en/amoris-laetitia.html

 

Goals of Pope Francis’s Year of Amoris Laetitia Family

 

1.      Experience the Gospel of the family as a joy

2.      Proclaim the sacrament of marriage is a gift, with power to transform human love.

3.      Families to become active agents of the family apostolate: “an effort at evangelization and catechesis inside the family”

4.      Make young people aware of the importance of formation in the truth of love and in the gift of self

Proposals of Vatican Dicastery on Family on how to Walk with Families this year:

1. Programs for marriage preparation

2. Formation of spouses to be aware of gift and grace of matrimony

3. Formation of parents on educating and understanding children under current challenges

4. Discussion on the beauty and challenges of family life. Society to recognize value of the family.  Networks of families that help struggling families.

5. Accompany couples in crisis, form them in resilience, see challenges as opportunities to grow in love.

6. Formation on how to fruitfully collaborate with families.

7. Promote a missionary vocation in families. Time in the family for formation in evangelization and missionary initiatives

8. Care of the elderly 

9. Young to discuss family, marriage, chastity, openness to life, the use of social media, poverty, and respect for creation (cf. AL 40). Spark young people’s enthusiasm to commit to great ideals. Children to be aware of Amoris Laetitia Family.

10. Prepare  X World Meeting of Families with catechesis and training

11. Initiatives to accompany wounded families

12. In-depth study of Amoris Laetitia – to be aware of concrete opportunities

Family Agenda of  Second Plenary Council of the Philippines (PCPII) of 1992 (30 Year Anniversary)

- in harmony with above proposals 

 

·       A continuing education for Filipino families in accordance with Catechesi Tradendæ and Familiaris Consortio

·       Family Life seminars like Pre-Cana, Pro-Life, Marriage Encounters

·       Spirituality of Marriage with Filipino Elements

·       Teams to promote effective care and counseling of families

·       Families as countersign to antilife culture

·       Pro-life spirituality of the family

·       Programs for those in broken homes and families

·       School and family cooperation for formation in Christian values

·       Prevent exploitation of women and children

·       Formation of Filipino family in Christian values; Care after Marriage

·       Attention to homosexual individuals 

 

Jesus as Father in the Bible and in St. Josemaria

A friend just referred me to this post of Bishop Pablo David, where he uses the explanation of a devotee of Jesus the Black Nazarene to explain a common way of referring to Jesus as "Nuestro Padre." The explanation is that Jesus is a priest and we call priests "Father." 

I've been thinking of this issue too, since many children and many Filipino Catholics call Christ "Papa Jesus". 

There are two theological sources that I know that calls Jesus "Father." 

First, the Bible itself. Since it is God the Holy Spirit himself who speaks through the biblical words, it is interesting to note that God calls the child who is born (and this can only be Jesus) "everlasting Father" in Isaiah 9:6. This article tries to explain Isaiah's use of the word Father in terms of Jesus' divinity. 

Second, St. Josemaria calls Jesus "Father" in this quote from his Way of the Cross: 

Before you start working, place a crucifix on your desk or beside the tools you work with. From time to time glance at it... When tiredness creeps in, your eyes will go towards Jesus, and you will find new strength to continue with your task.

For that crucifix is more than a picture of someone you love —parents, children, wife, sweetheart... He is everything: your Father, your Brother, your Friend, your God, the very Love of your loves. (bold and italics added) 

To explain these two sources, we have to look at the meaning of the word Father. Clearly, they are not confusing God the Father and God the Son. But they are using a broader meaning of the word "father".

St. Paul calls himself the "father" of those whom he has evangelized (1 Cor 4:15). This verse is usually used by Catholics to defend the use of the word "Father" to refer to Catholic priests. It is truly an integral part of Catholic doctrine that there are people who are "spiritual fathers". 

As in the case of St. Joseph, father is a term that is applied to someone who is the lead educator and protector; someone who engenders a person's way of life; the founder of an institution and a family.