Self proclaimed knights

The story of Don Quixote is interesting because it is recognizable. The story is not only madcap, but speaks of situations that we ourselves can succumb too. No one is immune from misjudging things. It happens in everyday life, we create our own worldview and are influenced by the opinions of the people around us. In addition, there are personal fears and insecurities, experiences and many other influences. What do you think made Don Quixote slip into a parallel world and consistently reinterpret reality?

What is truth and what is poetry? This is not always easy to recognize. This world is complex and every human being is challenged to somehow classify this complexity. Failing that, parallel worlds may become a necessity. They can serve as a protective mechanism.

Self-proclaimed knights like Don Quixote still exist today in a figurative sense. When we adopt a worldview that is teeming with conspiracies and supposed enemies, we do the same thing as Don Quixote once did: we read the chivalric novels until we firmly believe that everything is so, and suddenly we find ourselves in a different movie. The help of friends (in the novel: the village priest and the barber) always brings Don Quixote back home in the story. Only at the end of his life, however, does he realize how abstruse his supposed enemy images were.

The fight against windmills

Similar to Don Quixote, we can also build up non-existent enemy images and drift into a kind of parallel world. I think this happens with many a conspiracy theory, which is exceptionally popular at the moment. This is not about justified criticism or insecurity, but about projecting fears onto other people, institutions or governments. It is irrelevant whether the theories are true, whether they are disproved, because they spring from deep personal issues. A justified criticism can be discussed, but conspiracy theories are of a completely different nature. A projected fear is usually irrational. If you want to believe something, you believe it, even if everything speaks against it. Don Quixote sends his regards.

Don Quixote not only believed something, but he also thought that he had to act. He got his knight’s gear ready, saddled his old horse and rode off. His changed worldview has driven him to behave in a new way. Likewise, there are countless people today who share conspiracy theories uncritically on social media. They are the new evangelists and are always in real distress over the intransigence of the rest of the world. However, with a pronounced following, they are in a kind of parallel world, even if they don’t see it that way themselves.

Just as this post is not about Don Quixote, it is not intended to be a refutation of conspiracy theories. There are far better sources on the Internet for both topics. Ahmad Mansour, a Muslim psychologist in Germany, says in a conversation with Rabbi Daniel Alter about conspiracy theories that this is “a battle for people’s minds and souls.” I mention the conspiracy theories here because of the personal processes that thus become visible. One can clearly see that people’s insecurities are projected outward. This is what distinguishes legitimate criticism from conspiracy theories.

Don Quixote does not look inward, but projects his whole world outward. Likewise, conspiracy theories project all fears onto easily comprehensible external things: the enemy images (Bill Gates, the government, the pharmaceutical industries, the Jews…). Through these images of the enemy, a simplification of the complex reality takes place. Conspiracy theories thrive especially well today because there is a lot of uncertainty. The “alternative facts” of conspiracy theories offer a simplification of complexity and thereby relieve the mind. The fact that completely irrational conclusions are drawn in the process is not noticeable. The forces with which we bend our world into shape are strong.

Conspiracy theories are not all bad. What is crucial is the recognition that they serve a function for those who believe in them. That is completely value-free. For followers, there are tangible benefits to believing in it. The complexity of the world can become unbearable and conspiracy theories offer a way out. The complexity is presented in a simplified way. There are “culprits” and “perpetrators” while one becomes a “victim” oneself. This is easier to deal with, it seems. Perhaps stress can be better channeled this way. Critical, of course, remains the rejection of any reason, or the fading out of scientific knowledge. There are hidden benefits for followers, and they are to be taken seriously.

The conversation is important. Empathy is important, as is critical questioning. However, it is not a conversation that can only be met with facts; it is just as much about the feeling of life and overcoming insecurity. Here the Bible and Christian communities have much to offer. Under the heading of solidarity, we can share and absorb critical thoughts with people as well as create a much better sense of life with lively community. No one is perfect. All of us are looking for a way in this life.

Christian conspiracy theories

The characteristics of a conspiracy theory, diffuse fears and projection onto external villains, have long existed in the Christian environment. Some consider the biblical message itself to be such a projection. In my opinion, however, this does not do justice to the differentiated and multifaceted statements of the Bible.

Somewhat more often, it can be seen that some communities or groups organize themselves like sects, putting the world or certain other churches or religions as “the evil ones” or as “of Satan”. One’s world of faith is like a refuge from the evil world. Perhaps this cannot be directly put down as a common conspiracy theory, however there are comparable mechanisms. Inside the community are the good guys, outside the community are the bad guys. We understand and they do not understand. This is an illusory world and evil is projected outward.

Is God in control of everything?

How we understand the world has something to do profoundly with our self-image, but also with our image of God. If we adhere to a theology that is closed to the salvation and correction of the world, then this is a completely different starting point than if we know a God who will one day be all in all through grace and judgment (1 Cor. 15:28). It does matter what we believe, because it affects our life in this world. It is also about whether we trust God with everything or not. If we let ourselves be guided by the Bible, we will find a joyful message in which God’s grace in Christ Jesus is presented so comprehensively that He reaches the goal with all people (1Tim 4,9-11).

The Gospel does not teach that we must hide from reality. Jesus Christ came to work in the real complex world and let the lives of ordinary people be transformed by God’s grace. This does not require alternative facts, but the proclamation of a good news, in which an almighty God ultimately leads everything to good. That is the goal. This is something you can trust.

However, there is still a great contrast between the complex reality and this goal (Rom 8:22-24). It will not be easy or remain easy for everyone to stay away from “alternative facts.” We are standing in a “broken world”. We ourselves feel that. There are no easy solutions. The complexity of this world requires that we sometimes have to wait until solutions are found. For some things, there will be no solution in our lifetime. Whether we are therefore at peace with ourselves, with this world and with God can be a challenge. However, encouragement and foresight for one’s own understanding may be found in God’s Word.

Sobriety requires us to distance ourselves from our own views at times. We regularly need a break from Corona news, from conspiracy theories, from melancholy and stressful situations. Sobriety sometimes manifests itself simply in turning off the media, putting on your running shoes and going for a walk in the woods. It’s often amazing the restorative effect it can have. Maybe you can sit somewhere in the sun and read the story of Don Quixote to relax.

Related links

• Don Quixote: Scans of the original edition (Part 1)
• Don Quixote: Online Text (Spanish/German)

The beginning of the story

“In a place in La Mancha, the name of which I will not remember, there lived not long ago a squire, one of those who have a spear in a lance rack, an old tart, a gaunt horse and a greyhound to hunt with. A bowl of soup with a little more cow meat than mutton in it, most evenings meat pie made from the leftovers from lunch, pitiful bone scraps on Saturday, lentils on Friday, a squab for good measure on Sunday – that consumed a full three-quarters of his income; the rest went for a doublet of plush, pants of velvet for the holidays with accompanying slippers of the same fabric, and the weekdays he treasured the honor of wearing his native peasant cloth – but of the finest! He had with him a housekeeper, who was over forty, and a niece, who was not yet twenty; also a servant for field and house, who saddled the horse as well as took the garden shears in hand. The age of our nobleman was close to fifty years; he was of strong physique, lean in the body, scrawny in the face, an eager early riser and friend of the hunt. It has been said that his surname was Quijada or Quesada – for in this there is some discrepancy in the authors who write about this case – although from probable conjecture it can be assumed that his name was Quijano. But this is of little importance for our story; enough that in its narration it does not deviate from the truth by one point.”