We’ve all heard it: “Just trust in a higher power!” It’s the mantra of twelve-step programs, religious leaders, and anyone who thinks that a vague sense of divine intervention will magically solve your problems. But what if this whole idea of a “higher power” is just one big conspiracy theory, carefully crafted to keep us in line?
Now, before you get your pitchforks and holy water, hear me out.
Conspiracy theories are built on the idea that there’s a hidden force pulling the strings, controlling everything from behind the scenes. Sound familiar? A higher power is the ultimate puppet master, right? It’s the invisible hand guiding the universe, the reason for all things good and bad, but it’s also incredibly convenient. When things go well, we thank this power. When things go wrong, we’re told to trust it and stay the course. In a way, it’s the perfect scapegoat—and like any good conspiracy theory, it’s just vague enough to be unprovable.
Let’s dig into this. The higher power narrative requires complete surrender. You’re told you can’t control your life; you’re at the mercy of something greater. All you can do is believe and obey. It strips you of agency and, in many ways, responsibility. “It’s out of your hands,” they say. And for some, that might be comforting. But for others, it’s a clever way to keep them passive. Think about it—if you believe a higher power is in control, you don’t question the status quo. You don’t rage against the machine. You just accept your lot in life, hoping that somewhere down the line, everything will work out.
Doesn’t this sound eerily like the conspiracy theories we laugh about? Whether it’s reptilian overlords, shadow governments, or secret societies, the common thread is control. And what better way to control people than to convince them that they’re not really in control of their own lives? It’s genius, really.
Now, I’m not saying that faith or belief in something bigger is inherently bad. In fact, for many people, it’s a source of hope and comfort in hard times. But when we turn the concept of a higher power into an unquestionable truth, it starts to resemble the very conspiracy theories we scoff at. It becomes a tool of control rather than a personal belief. It turns spirituality into a waiting game, where you sit back and wait for this power to deliver you from your struggles instead of rolling up your sleeves and taking action.
In a way, it’s a perfect way to deflect personal responsibility. “Why work on myself when a higher power will fix everything?” Or worse, “It’s not my fault, it’s in the hands of the higher power!” You get a free pass to avoid doing the difficult work of self-reflection, change, and growth. After all, the higher power’s got your back, right?
But here’s the twist: just like most conspiracy theories, there’s no concrete evidence. The idea of a higher power remains speculative, unverifiable, and conveniently tailored to fit whatever narrative we need it to. And that’s what makes it so powerful—it’s so elusive that it can’t be disproven, but it also can’t be proven. Much like the Illuminati or the moon landing deniers, the higher power rests on the faith that something out there is pulling the strings.
So where does that leave us? Do we abandon the idea of a higher power entirely? Not necessarily. But maybe it’s time to question the way it’s used. Maybe it’s time to realize that we can reclaim our agency and still believe in something greater—without handing over our lives to a concept that, when misused, resembles a conspiracy more than a truth.
In the end, a higher power shouldn’t be a way to avoid taking responsibility for our lives. It shouldn’t be a grand narrative that excuses inaction or complacency. If anything, we should be empowered to live, act, and shape our destinies with or without the invisible hand guiding us.
Because maybe—just maybe—we are the ones pulling the strings.
by Dan Joyce
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