Ok, bear with me... Mankind is developing a new type of religion: conspiracy-theorism.

[usonian]

9. I don't think it's a religion. More a psychological reaction.

Religions are more complex. Spare you the detail to avoid controversy ...


So here's a good article and I'll just quote a bit.
Read it. It's simple and to the point.
I'd like to quote more but rules don't allow it and Wikipedia is way too complex.


Why Do People Believe in Conspiracy Theories?
The need to find order in a confusing world.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/talking-apes/201801/why-do-people-believe-in-conspiracy-theories

The researchers found that reasons for believing in conspiracy theories can be grouped into three categories:

• The desire for understanding and certainty
• The desire for control and security
• The desire to maintain a positive self-image

This seems to explain a lot of it:


IMO: The turn away from religion, in our times, has a lot to do with (how to say this politely?) the hypocrisy of some so-called religious groups and leaders who preach one thing and seek the opposite for themselves, be it secular power or other sleaze.

Many of us (being neither scholars nor theologians) became aware of this phenomenon courtesy of "Elmer Gantry" --- the novel by Sinclair Lewis in 1927 and the movie in 1960.