In the wake of the tragic assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk on September 10, 2025, in Utah—a shocking event captured in real-time footage and mourned across political lines—the internet has once again become a breeding ground for deception. Just days after the incident, QAnon adherents flooded social media with baseless claims that the murder was staged, complete with accusations of holographic projections and fabricated photos to simulate the violence. These wild QAnon conspiracy theories not only dishonor Kirk’s memory but exemplify build deeper spiritual malaise: the seductive pull of conspiracy theories that ensnare even the faithful, diverting them from truth and justice. As Christians navigating a world of “fake news” and fractured discourse, we must heed the biblical mandate for discernment, recognizing QAnon for what it is—a modern echo of ancient lies, peddled by the “father of lies” himself (John 8:44).
You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
The Endless Cycle of QAnon’s Debunked Deceptions
QAnon, the sprawling conspiracy network that emerged in 2017, posits a shadowy “deep state” cabal of satanic pedophiles controlling global events, with Donald Trump as its divinely appointed savior. Over the years, its core QAnon claims have been dismantled time and again by journalists, fact-checkers, and even law enforcement—yet they persist, mutating like a virus. Consider these thoroughly debunked examples of its most outlandish and goofball QAnon conspiracies:
- Adrenochrome Harvesting: QAnon believers claim elites torture children to extract “adrenochrome”—a fictional youth serum—from their blood. In reality, adrenochrome is a real chemical compound studied in the 1950s for schizophrenia research, but there’s no evidence of such harvesting. This trope recycles blood libel myths from medieval antisemitism, debunked repeatedly by scientists and historians.
- Body Doubles and Clones: QAnon followers have spread wild theories that prominent figures, like President Joe Biden, are actually “body doubles” or clones controlled by the cabal. These QAnon claims, often based on minor appearance changes or video glitches, have been thoroughly debunked as pareidolia or deepfake paranoia, with no credible evidence.
- Satanic Panic Redux: Echoing the 1980s moral panic, QAnon alleges widespread satanic rituals among elites, including child sacrifices. This modern version helped fuel political unrest, such as the events of January 6 at the U.S. Capitol, where a small number engaged in violence while the majority participated peacefully and took pictures. But investigations have found zero substantiation for these satanic claims, linking them instead to historical falsehoods that harmed innocent people.
- The “Storm” Predictions and Epstein Fantasies: QAnon promised a “great awakening” where Trump would arrest the cabal in a massive “Storm.” Dozens of specific dates came and went without incident, leaving followers disillusioned but undeterred. Even in 2025, as QAnon grapples with Epstein files—demanding a full “client list” reveal despite official confirmations that no such list exists—they twist partial disclosures into claims of total cover-ups. While unsealed court documents and recent releases (including over 33,000 pages from the House Oversight Committee in September 2025) have named troubling associations with figures like Bill Clinton, Donald Trump, Prince Andrew, Alan Dershowitz, Michael Jackson, Alec Baldwin, and Mick Jagger—often in flight logs, contact books, or depositions—these do not constitute a “client list” of criminal co-conspirators, and many deny wrongdoing. QAnon’s obsession amplifies real scandals into unproven global plots, distracting from genuine accountability.
These aren’t harmless quirks; they’re a pattern of “bonkers” misinformation that polls show ensnares up to 20% of Americans, eroding trust in institutions and each other.
The Harm: Distraction, Division, and Self-Sabotage
QAnon’s allure lies in its simplicity—a cosmic battle of good vs. evil—but its fruits are poison. It distracts from pressing conservative priorities like border security, economic reform, and religious liberty by fixating on phantoms. Families fracture as loved ones vanish into online echo chambers, with reports of divorces, estrangements, and even suicides tied to the despair of unfulfilled prophecies. Politically, it’s counterproductive: What begins as grassroots fervor ends in ridicule, alienating moderates and empowering opponents. Entrenched Republicans and Democrats alike weaponize QAnon to paint the entire conservative movement as unhinged, dismissing legitimate critiques of “the swamp” as tinfoil-hat ravings.
Worse, it’s infiltrated mainstream conservative circles. By 2025, QAnon echoes appear in MAGA rallies and GOP primaries, with candidates nodding to “deep state” cabals without irony. Trump himself has praised QAnon followers as “people that love our country,” stopping short of full endorsement but fueling the fire. This isn’t empowerment; it’s a stupid, self-defeating trap that hands ammunition to critics and sows chaos where clarity is needed.
Echoes of History: The Bolshevik Psy-Op That Mirrors QAnon
This isn’t new. During the Russian Revolution, the Bolsheviks orchestrated “Operation Trust” (1921–1927), a masterful psy-op by the Cheka secret police. They fabricated a clandestine “Monarchist Union” promising to overthrow the regime from within, luring exiled anti-communists back home with tales of insider plots and imminent victory. Dozens were arrested and executed, their resistance neutered by false hope. As one analysis notes, QAnon parallels this: a “digital cult” pacifying dissenters with endless “trust the plan” mantras, distracting from actionable reform while the powerful consolidate control. History whispers a warning: Conspiracies that demand blind faith often serve the very tyrants they decry.
A Christian Imperative: Disavow the Deception, Confront Real Spiritual Threats
For believers, QAnon’s spread is a spiritual alarm. Scripture warns that Satan, the father of lies, disguises himself as an angel of light, and even the elect risk deception in the last days. Its self-proclaimed “prophets”—anonymous “Q drops” promising divine timelines—echo the false teachers Paul condemned. Christians, called to test every spirit, must exercise discernment: Does this bear the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace—or division and fear?
And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.
For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.
Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
While QAnon’s “satanic cabal” narratives recycle debunked hysterias, the rise of overt Satanism and occult practices in our culture is undeniably real and profoundly troubling. A May 2025 Pew Research Center report reveals that nearly 30% of American adults now consult occult practices like astrology, tarot, or witchcraft, up from previous years. Barna Group’s February 2025 survey estimates over 5 million adults openly admit to worshiping Satan, alongside a broader spiritual confusion where more than 50 million venerate figures like Mary outside biblical orthodoxy. Groups like The Satanic Temple have gained legal footholds, establishing after-school clubs and public monuments that mock Christian symbols, signaling a cultural rebellion against God. This isn’t QAnon’s fictional elite rituals—it’s a grassroots drift toward darkness, preying on disillusioned youth seeking identity in rebellion. As Ephesians 6:12 reminds us, our struggle is against spiritual forces of evil, demanding we respond with prayer, truth-sharing, and winsome evangelism, not speculative outrage.
They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
QAnon deceives by blending partial truths (elite corruption and spiritual decay are real) with outright falsehoods, preying on our God-given desire for justice. Yet Jesus taught us to seek truth through prayer, community, and Scripture, not shadowy forums. It’s time for the Church to disavow QAnon unequivocally, reclaiming our witness as salt and light. Let Kirk’s untimely death—and the unresolved shadows of Epstein’s network—remind us: Real battles are fought with facts, faith, and fortitude—not holograms and hearsay.
You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
In a post-truth age, may we echo the Psalmist’s prayer: “Lead me in your truth and teach me”. The stakes are eternal.
Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.
