America’s growing fixation on conspiracy theories sparks concern
America’s growing fixation on conspiracy theories has become a major concern, according to long-running surveys and peer-reviewed research.
Polling from the Chapman University Survey of American Fears showed that conspiracy beliefs are deeply embedded in U.S. society. The 2025 edition questioned respondents on more than 65 fears, including government secrecy and conspiracy-related themes.
Earlier versions of the survey consistently found that a majority of Americans endorse at least one conspiracy theory, ranging from alleged government cover-ups to claims involving extraterrestrials and secret global organizations.
Researchers warn that the normalization of conspiracy thinking has reshaped political discourse and deepened divisions. The Chapman research team repeatedly noted fears tied to government and hidden plots remain among the most persistent categories in its findings.
What the study found
The study concluded that Christian nationalism and biblical literalism were each independently associated with higher levels of conspiracy thinking. Researchers found a “positive association,” between these belief systems and the likelihood of endorsing conspiracy theories.
One of the most significant findings was that biblical literalism amplified the effects of Christian nationalism.
Brooklyn Evann Walker, a political science professor at Hutchinson Community College, explained to PsyPost, “Using survey data, we find that the sense of a threatened nation inherent in Christian nationalism and the anti-elite tendencies in biblical literalism amplify conspiracy thinking, and that the two have especially strong effects when they occur together.”
Walker also told the outlet that support for conspiracy theories tied to COVID-19 and the 2020 election “are not a one-off,” suggesting those who held such views were more likely to believe future conspiracy narratives.
Groups most likely to embrace conspiracy thinking
A peer-reviewed study published in the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion in May 2023 examined why conspiracy beliefs and distrust in government have become entrenched among certain Americans. The research was conducted by Walker and Abigail Vegter.
The study analyzed data from the 2019 Chapman University Survey of American Fears, focusing on 1,219 respondents who identified with Christian nationalism or biblical literalism.
Participants were asked about their agreement with statements suggesting government involvement in secret plots — including claims related to alien encounters, the moon landing and the Illuminati.
Walker said she and her co-author were motivated by the surge of conspiracy narratives surrounding COVID-19 and the 2020 presidential election.
“Like many, we were deeply affected by the sharp divisions, fueled by conspiracy theories, that arose around COVID-19 and the 2020 presidential election,” she explained.
Walker added that conspiracy narratives “gained traction in religious communities that tended towards biblical literalism.”
Additional national data on Christian nationalism
The Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) released updated findings in 2025, showing 29 percent of Americans either adhere to or sympathize with Christian nationalist principles — an unchanged amount from 2023.
PRRI reported that two-thirds of respondents in this group agreed with the belief that God ordained Donald Trump to be the winner of the 2024 election, while more than one-third said Americans “may need to resort to violence in order to save our country.”
Limitations and ongoing concerns
Walker and Vegter acknowledged limitations in their research, including a modest sample size and the exclusion of some psychological variables. Still, their findings align with broader national polling that shows conspiracy beliefs remain widespread across the United States.
