A culture of conspiracy : apocalyptic visions in contemporary America / Michael Barkun.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Barkun, Michael.

Series:

Comparative studies in religion and society ; 15.

Comparative studies in religion and society ; 15

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Millennialism--United States.

Millennialism.

Conspiracies--United States.

Conspiracies.

Human-alien encounters.

United States.

Human-alien encounters--United States.

Physical Description:

xii, 243 pages ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

Berkeley : University of California Press, [2003]

Summary:

With a calm approach and scrupulous academic bearings, Barkun navigates through the history of conspiracy theories from the cosmic to the comic, from Biblical prophecy to Internet alerts. Millennial dreams, apocalyptic nightmares populated by agents of the Antichrist, space aliens, and acolytes of the New World Order fill this colorful study.

Contents:

The nature of conspiracy belief

Millennialism, conspiracy, and stigmatized knowledge

New world order conspiracies (I) : the new world order and the illuminati

New world order conspiracies (II) : a world of black helicopters

UFO conspiracy theories, 1975-1990

UFOs meet the new world order : Jim Keith and David Icke

Armageddon below

UFOs and the search for scapegoats (I) : Anti-Catholicism and Anti-Masonry

UFOs and the search for scapegoats (II) : Anti-Semitism among the aliens

September 11th : the conspiracists' response.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 221-238) and index.

ISBN:

0520238052

OCLC:

51305869