Conspiracy Theories

Superstition is a bit of an inconvenience for those who like to journey out in public. Various psychoses ranging from anxiety to agoraphobia can make someone suspect that everyone has ulterior motives. Some people look for signs that the sky is falling or ancient calendars that tell them when the world will end. You can be the most objective and logical person, but even then there can be a desire to see a pattern in the madness, a reason for the chaos.

This is something I plan to research in the near future. Theories of chaos versus order, in my mind this has nothing to do with religion because the search is not for the answer to “why.” The search is for the answer to “how.” How do stories and people interlock and what is the effect on the general population. For example, the man (that term is used exceptionally generously) who killed half of his family at his son’s birthday party in Grand Prairie was actually only one of several shootings that took place across the nation, not even to include the horror in Oslo. Why is that? Was it the cycle of the moon? The angle of the sun on the earth? What made at least 4 killers strike on the same weekend? Is there a sign there? Is it providence or coincidence?

Most of the population could probably consider this as a random attack. I do not believe that the murderers were acting in tandem, but I do lend an ear to the crazy banter that there could be a driving force behind the timing of everything. The chaos theory implies that although every facet of an environment and intended action can be known there is no absolute way to determine the outcome. (My very preliminary study... that is). I do not attempt to philosophically disprove almost 150 years of study, testing, and the conclusions of minds much smarter than my own, but I do have a feeling that there is something to find underneath coincidence. Not why they happen, but how they are linked together.

I think I will begin my research in three main fields, and I will need help with recommendations:

1. The Chaos Theory – to have a better understanding of what it is, what it applies to, and what studies have been done with it.
2. Mysticism – to have a grasp on the theories and practices of “seers.” I’ve always been interested in the teachings of shamans and healers. It’s exceptionally difficult to find scholarly studies on the topic though. Most books focus on the attempt to re-create the acts; I just want to know how it works.
3. History of Criminology – There seems to be a pattern in the psychoses of violent, criminal minds. History can lend some insight to timing and environment, but I would like to have a better understanding of the circumstance surrounding events that can be viewed as earthshattering, striking, or at least, similar.

I don’t have access to a college library anymore, so I would appreciate any recommendations. Truthfully outside the UNT library I’m not even sure where to look for scholarly articles and studies on these topics. If you know of a good reference section I would appreciate it. I will probably go to Recycled Books on the square in Denton for sure to check out their 3 stories of books. Any help is appreciated!