New World Order conspiracy theory spans the religious-secular divide

Evidence

In sum, New World Order theory claimed to provide an overarching explanation for contemporary politics by fi tting all events into a single scenario: a diabolically clever and unscrupulous secret organization was in the process of seizing control of the world. As the preceding chapter discussed, this scenario appealed to both religionists and secularists. The former saw in it the end-time events associated with the Antichrist, while the latter regarded it as confi rmation of their fears of elite domination. To the extent that both groups found such ideas compelling, New World Order became a generic, “ecumenical” conspiracy theory, which—at least in its overall confi guration—could be shared across the religious-secular boundary. — Michael Barkun, A Culture of Conspiracy, 346

Thus, New World Order came to connote an impending world dictatorship in which the Antichrist would seize control through a combination of co-opted international organizations and marvels of electronic surveillance. But simultaneously, a second conception of the New World Order had arisen, growing in this case from secular roots.

The secular version of the New World Order foresaw an equally bleak future, also dominated by expanding tyranny. In this case, however, the source of domination was not the power of Satan but an evil cabal that sought absolute power over the world’s people and resources for its own selfi sh reasons.

— Michael Barkun, A Culture of Conspiracy, 264

Categorization

• XREF: The ‘ecumenical’ conspiracy spanning religious-secular lines parallels how millennialist and elite-domination fears converge in other theologies of history. — connects to: Diverse millenarian movements are unified by a shared conspiracy theory. — Michael Barkun, A Culture of Conspiracy: Apocalyptic…, 240; New World Order theory spreads fast because racism is optional packaging — Michael Barkun, A Culture of Conspiracy: Apocalyptic…, 600; UFO belief pulled New World Order conspiracism out of political exile — Michael Barkun, A Culture of Conspiracy: Apocalyptic…, 1081 (+5 more)
• corroborated: 3 independent passages support this claim — Michael Barkun, A Culture of Conspiracy: Apocalyptic…, 346; Michael Barkun, A Culture of Conspiracy: Apocalyptic…, 264

Broader Connections

• New World Order theory unites religious and secular audiences #corroborates (0.92) — Michael Barkun, A Culture of Conspiracy, 397