A conspiracy theory claims Bill Gates plans
to insert microchips into a Covid-19 vaccine, which would facilitate tracking
people. The chip insertion is false and malicious gossip; however, Christians
are passing the ominous story around. Why do they do this? That’s what I want
to consider.
Normally, I wouldn’t pay much attention to
such a story, but it caught my attention because I am writing about Pentecostal-Charismatic
Christians and psychotherapy. And I remembered joking about how nice it would
be to insert a memory card into my brain to help my memory. That quip didn’t go
over well with some Christians.
Chips and Route 666
For those who are not familiar with Pentecostal
theologies, they include versions of eschatology (teachings about end times)
that refer to humans identified by a mark of a beast, which is listed as 666 in
the book of Revelation. Contemporary fundamentalist writers (not just Pentecostals)
look at technological advances like RFID chips and other microchips that will
make it easy to identify us for nefarious purposes.
Here’s
the Bible quote about the beast.
And he causeth
all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in
their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell,
save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast:
for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and
six. (Revelation 13: 16-18, KJV)
Fearful Faiths Explanation
Some Christians who have advised others to
be courageous and go out as usual during the Covid-19 pandemic proclaim that “God
has not given us a Spirit of fear.” Ironically, these same Christians are
fearful of the dreaded events of the end times, including being forced to wear
the beast’s mark.
They believe God is powerful, but they also
believe Satan and his demons have a lot of power. Fear prompts people to warn
others of pending disaster. The ultimate disaster is an eternity in hell. They
don’t want to go to hell, and they don’t want their loved ones to go there
either. It’s bad enough to experience the loss of a parent, spouse, or child,
but to think that person died without salvation and is thus doomed to hell and damnation
is far worse. After all, the blessed hope includes being re-united with one’s
family in the afterlife.
Fearful Times Explanation
Truly, the Covid-19 engenders fear of death.
By now, many know someone who has died of the disease. As I write, there is no
cure and no vaccine. Despite government restrictions and advice, many people
are out and about, which only adds to the level of anxiety for oneself and
loved ones who take the threat seriously. Sensitive people have their threat
level enhanced by constant news coverage. In this context, it is natural for
people to turn to religion for words of comfort. However, when God is not
protecting Christians from infection, suffering, or death and God is not
healing Christians, then the world can appear to be a more threatening place.
It is one thing for Christians to say they
believe they will go to heaven when they die: It’s another thing to be at peace
about one’s own death or that of a loved one.
The bottom line is the constant reports of
infection and death can intensify faith-based fears and prompt warnings of
pending evil such as the Gates-Chip story.
How Can Such Falsehoods be Stopped?
Barriers
Emotionally instilled beliefs rarely change
by providing information; so, it will be difficult.
Disasters evoke end times hyper-alertness,
which enhances the recognition of potential supernatural-natural connections. I
think this is especially true when evil seems to be winning over good. Thus, another barrier to ending such falsehoods.
Possibilities
Some Christians might be dissuaded from
passing along a false story because they see themselves as honest people who
care about the truth. However, it is often difficult to change the beliefs of
human beings simply by providing information. The fact that they posted or
shared the story reveals a part of their belief system and likely their fear as well.
Some Christians might stop sharing, if they
are informed of the falsehood because they don’t want to appear ignorant;
however, that won’t eradicate the fear from their brains. Beliefs about the end
times carry a powerful mix of fear and anticipation, as mentioned above.
Some Christians might give up such fear-based
beliefs when they are converted to less fear-based faith traditions that focus
more on love and caring than fear and scaring. This conversion can be difficult
because it may entail giving up family and friends and a place called “home” for
decades.
What did Bill Gates say or do?
The conspiracy theory draws from a couple
of sources to create the false chip insertion story. The Gates Foundation has given
millions to fund research into a vaccine for the deathly Covid-19 virus. Bill
Gates also spoke about digital certificates which some people apparently do not
understand. Digital certificates are electronic identities to authenticate people
on the internet. They are not physical identities. If you are interested in
details, see this factcheck.org
link.
I write about Psychology and Religion
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