What is a conspiracy theory and why do such theories exist?

According to Wikipedia (yes, not the most reliable source but bare with me), a conspiracy theory is “an explanatory proposition that accuses two or more persons, a group, or an organization of having caused or covered up, through secret planning and deliberate action, an illegal or harmful event or situation.”

Was 9/11 a government scam? What is Illuminati and does it exist? What about Pearl Harbor? Did the German’s know what was going on in World War II?

Some of the “best” conspiracy theories:

1. 9/11 was planned by the U.S. Government to  give reason to start war in the Middle East – look into this video from the onion:

http://www.theonion.com/video/911-conspiracy-theories-ridiculous-al-qaeda-says,14222/

2. Sandy Hook was all a hoax:

3. Everyone who is “everyone” is in the Illuminati.

4. Jesus and Mary Magdalene were married.

5. JFK assassination was part of a broader scheme: a punishment by the CIA for the Bay of Pigs.

6. USA “created” Ebola.

7. The real Paul McCartney is dead.

8. Secret Societies (like the illuminati) control the world.

9. The moon landings were faked.

10. Holocaust Revisionism: the Nazis were not powerful enough to kill 6 million Jews.

11. The CIA created AIDS to get rid of Homosexuals and African Americans.

So what is the likelihood of these theories being true? Well one could argue that there is some truth to every rumor, but what is the point of a conspiracy theory? If it can’t be proven why even think of them as a possibility?

Are we all living a lie?

Stay tuned…